Moving spaces: choreography, metaphor and meaning

Space is as integral to choreography as time, energy, and the body in motion. In this dissertation, Moving Spaces: Choreography, Metaphor, and Meaning, I ask how choreographic space acquires meaning, consider the kinds of meanings it conveys, and discover where those meanings are located within a dance. I explore, then, the ways our perceptions of space are influenced by culture, personal experience, and biology, and question to what degree our responses are universal or unique. I reflect on and analyse a selection of my choreographic work, view the work of other choreographers, and draw on the writings of scholars in dance and other disciplines to describe and think through my dances. I investigate these writers’ views on dance, space, meaning, and the body in motion and link them to my practical research. I see the views and theories of four scholars as particularly significant: Gaston Bachelard’s insights about imagination and metaphor, and how art reflects our sense of intimate space; Rudolf Laban’s notions of spatial geometry and the interconnections between space, time, and force; Ivar Hagendoorn’s discussions of neurological research, which offer insights into both the creation and perception of space in dance; and, Yi Fu Tuan’s illuminating ideas about the cultural influences on our experiences of space and place. I consider the meaning of space in my dances, and examine how these works articulate my own cultural and personal experiences of growing up and living in New York City and as an expatriate in Hong Kong. Through this close reading of my choreography, and with an understanding that there are no universal terms for viewing space, I suggest the importance of taking into account a multifaceted approach to understanding space in dance, including the reflections and insights of artists.