Performing Sacral Spaces – Spatializing Sacral Performance

Spaces are closely connected with actions. By implementing an artistic-phenomenological approach, the existing interplay between sacral space and performance (highlighted bodily actions) can be found in the idea of cultural performance, which integrates the interdependance of movement and lively space, the origin of one in another. As space is something in motion, something that is created, in sacral spaces human beings experience an impact of space on the body and vice versa the eThects of movement creating space. Performing „Artists in Church“ encounter a space characterized by actions generating knowledge and "nally intermediate: the idea of transformation, geometry, places, absence, threshold and transcending. Performance Art provokes and leads syntopically and sympathetically to an aesthetic way of understanding space and action.

Entering the Mental Backstage: Mindfulness and Mind-Wandering among Performing Artists

Existing literature has explored the role of mindfulness and mind-wandering on creative processes. However, it has overlooked the diversity in the creative domains as well as the experience of the artist while accounting for their relationship. In the present study, mindfulness and mind wandering- deliberate and spontaneous were explored among performing artists, i.e. musicians, theatre artists, and dancers. The study also looked at the artists’ experience in their field. After an initial screening using a creativity tool, 66 performing artists were recruited, following which two self-report indices that assessed mind wandering and mindfulness were administered. The data collected was subjected to quantitative data analysis in SPSS. A Oneway ANOVA showed significant effect of the creative domain on mindfulness for the three groups, with a significant difference between musicians and dancers. Among the musicians, a significant negative relationship between mind wandering spontaneous and years of experience was seen. Among the dancers, there was a significant positive association between mind wandering spontaneous, mind wandering deliberate and years of experience. The current study highlighted the need to approach the study of creativity using a contextual perspective. Keywords: Creativity, Dance, Music, Theatre.

Mapping the Canadian landscape : the performing arts and experiential perspectives

Focusing on a specific time period in Canadian performing art history--from the 1970s through to the late 1990s--this thesis "maps out" three artists' experiences in the landscape and the way these experiences are represented to an audience through performance. Using specific examples from the repertoire of Davida Monk, Paul Thompson, and R. Murray Schafer, I make a case for considering these performing artists as landscape researchers. I suggest that their performances explicitly and implicitly explore foundational questions about the meanings, uses, and affective power of landscape in ways that are analogous to the writings of cultural geographers during the same period. Like Yi-Fu Tuan, John Jakle, Denis Cosgrove and Jay Appleton, these performing artists examine the experience of humans in the landscape and focus on issues of place and space, homeland, and the meaning of landscape. Monk, Thompson and Schafer extend the perspectives of the geographers and bridge important gaps in their ways of knowing landscape.

Observations of Children With Disability During Arts-Based Multisensory Story and Rhyme Activities: Is It All Just Chimes and Perfumes?

It is generally acknowledged that alternative strategies are required to enable children with disability to access storytelling activities. In this study, we sought to analyse the benefits of one such strategy: an arts-based multisensory story and rhyme program delivered to children with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. In order to determine the engagement and impact of the program on the participants, data were collected through a series of multisensory session observations, focus group interviews with parents of participants, and interviews with performing artists delivering the program. The findings of this study revealed multiple benefits of using sensory stimuli to engage children with disability in storytelling processes, including increased engagement, focus, and interaction with other children and family members. The performing artists used their knowledge and skills to create an engaging environment that was responsive to the children’s needs. It was observed that language development could be further enhanced by integrating written text into the performance and increasing the use of nonverbal communication methods. Further, the engagement of siblings without disability in this program suggested that it could be developed to be inclusive of children with and without disability.

Mapping the Canadian landscape : the performing arts and experiential perspectives

Focusing on a specific time period in Canadian performing art history--from the 1970s through to the late 1990s--this thesis "maps out" three artists' experiences in the landscape and the way these experiences are represented to an audience through performance. Using specific examples from the repertoire of Davida Monk, Paul Thompson, and R. Murray Schafer, I make a case for considering these performing artists as landscape researchers. I suggest that their performances explicitly and implicitly explore foundational questions about the meanings, uses, and affective power of landscape in ways that are analogous to the writings of cultural geographers during the same period. Like Yi-Fu Tuan, John Jakle, Denis Cosgrove and Jay Appleton, these performing artists examine the experience of humans in the landscape and focus on issues of place and space, homeland, and the meaning of landscape. Monk, Thompson and Schafer extend the perspectives of the geographers and bridge important gaps in their ways of knowing landscape.

Dance Reviewers, 2020

The editors of Medical Problems of Performing Artists extend their thanks to the many individuals who have generously provided their time and expertise in reviewing papers submitted to the journal over the past year.