Pig’s Milk #2 (For Montpellier)
Pig’s Milk #2 is a dance about making and loss. A 40 minute machine that writes, re-writes, and unwrites itself on stage. The choreography arrives prefabricated - a collection of small motions transmitted by Elliot Reed to the four other dancers joining on stage. Prior to the performance, the dancers learn all the parts but can only perform a maximum of 6 each night. The audience sees a work writing itself onstage and performed in one variation. But the entire dance holds the present performance, and any potential version within.
After the audience is seated, the performance cards are shuffled and “dealt” to each dancer. The choreographies are then transcribed onto post-it notes, pasted in rows at the front of the stage, then performed top-to-bottom. At the end of each row, a dancer is allowed to take a short break on or off stage. Afterwards, the dancer performs the next row to their right, interpreting the other’s notes, performing any misspellings, drawings, references, or translations.
Pig’s Milk references the profane edges of what is natural. All mammals produce milk to feed their young. Humans have domesticated certain animals to produce milk products for consumption, but milk from pigs is commonly seen as taboo. In Occidental culture, the pig signifies gluttony, sloth, filth, and sloppiness. Whereas dogs, cows, and horses are at least acknowledged as having feelings. Pigs Milk #2 embraces its perpetual brokenness, forever existing as a version of itself. "
Choreography, Stage Design, and Direction - Elliot Reed
Dancers
Rob Bridger, Salah Chikh, Rubén Proline, marion storm, Elliot Reed
May 25th 2023. ICI-CCN Montpellier, France