Douglas Dunn may not be as well known as some artists, but he certainly has made a distinct impact on dance. His overall story about how exactly he was introduced to dance and how he developed himself as a performer and a dancer are inspiring. The answers to what does it mean, why does it matter, and what is it about can be interpreted in this quote that Douglas Dunn has on his website. He lays it out better than I could for him."I dance to obliterate duration.
I dance to dignify form as content.
I dance to equalize figure & surround.
I dance to put intuition in conversation with thought.
I dance to demonstrate the great facility & ridiculous limits of the un-accoutered human body.
I dance not to be stuck in one position.
I dance in order to stand up straight.
I dance because you don't have to carry your instrument.
I dance because I can't wait to be asked.
I dance to achieve a vital, non-heroic presence.
I dance to shrink to an irreducible kernel of purified being.
I dance to arouse things out there that have not yet done so to enter my mind.
I dance to have a say in what I submit to.
I dance to forget why I dance."
I dance to dignify form as content.
I dance to equalize figure & surround.
I dance to put intuition in conversation with thought.
I dance to demonstrate the great facility & ridiculous limits of the un-accoutered human body.
I dance not to be stuck in one position.
I dance in order to stand up straight.
I dance because you don't have to carry your instrument.
I dance because I can't wait to be asked.
I dance to achieve a vital, non-heroic presence.
I dance to shrink to an irreducible kernel of purified being.
I dance to arouse things out there that have not yet done so to enter my mind.
I dance to have a say in what I submit to.
I dance to forget why I dance."
-Douglas Dunn
Link to his website with this quote:
Website with a list of his works:
This links to an archive of reviews on him:
My favorite quote of his is "I dance to demonstrate the great facility & ridiculous limits of the un-accoutered human body." It shows that he is willing to go to what ever limits to discover something new.
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