Quotes I Love: Ethan Philbrick
“Performances don’t just start for audiences when performers make their first gestures in front of them; they start with the first utterance of invitation, the first conversation about whether to go or not, the first speculation about what the performance might be.”
—Ethan Philbrick on Anh Vo’s Possessed by Capital
Such a great quote by Ethan Philbrick that resonates well beyond the arts. The whole experience matters.
It made me think about shows I’ve attended, and how having a personal connection with some of the performers heightens the experience. It also reinforced something I’ve always valued about the Creative Dance Retreat: the studio tour and chat that happens long before you walk through the door. When we spend an hour (give or take) looking around the space, talking through your ideas and goals, and learning a little more about the creative process, you begin to sense the possibilities. You feel more confident and more connected to what a Creative Dance Retreat can mean to you. Even dancers with a decade of professional experience have commented on how valuable that time is.
It also had me thinking about how we collaborate on an idea from opposite sides of the lens and from different backgrounds. Your vision will always take precedence, but sometimes you need more options—that’s where having someone who experiences your art differently can open whole new worlds of exploration.
And finally, looping back to the totality of the experience: the image is only part of the retreat. The creative journey that begins with an inspirational image or a piece of improvisation is every bit as valuable as the final result. Sometimes, more so.
I receive a daily dance news summary from Dance Media called the Dance Edit Review. One day, this little nugget was their highlighted quote from one of the stories. Wow.
The full article can be found on The Brooklyn Rail.