​Britt Ford Dance Artist

Piece #3 is a visceral, deeply embodied quintet about the “ness” of being alone, being lonely, being empty, being full; being each of these things and finding strength and power. This work is hugely informed by the use of somatic practices, specifically Alexander technique, which was the starting point for the improvisational process that resulted in the choreography titled “Piece #3.” In my experience in this very human body of mine, I have found that my emotions like to find little spots throughout my body to hide. Alexander technique refers to these spots as little emotional blockages. I believe when I dance, when I move my body these emotions are fully realized and given the ability to achieve freedom from their containment in that one spot of my body. Loneliness lives in my ribs, in my collar bones--loneliness is like a little bird that hides behind my heart, sometimes spreading its wings across my chest. Alone-ness lives at the axis of spine to skull; when I am alone and not scared I feel my jaw relax, and the base of my skull widen. Power lives in my belly, in my pelvis. It is difficult to feel the width, depth and power of the bottom of my torso, while feeling the delicate little bird in my chest, and the airy space at the base of my skull. It is difficult to move with the intention of feeling all of these and allowing them to be interchangeable, to be moveable. That is what this dance is about.