The world of the Pose: Introducing Pose Dramaturgy.

Posing

  • Detail from the Italian painter, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's work, David and Goliath (1610)

    Caravaggio work has inspired artists such as filmmaker Derek Jarman, Photographer Cindy Sherman, Playwright Samuel Beckett and many more…

  • Billie Whitelaw posing in Samuel Beckett's Footfall

    Whitelaw’s pose is based on Caravaggio’s David and Goliath painting.

  • Kabuki actor, Bando Tomasaburo posing in 'Wisteria Maiden'

    The pose in the Kabuki theatre is called a ‘mie’ pose.

  • 'Paris is Burning' (1990) Jennifer Livingstone's documentary about the ballroom scene in NYC.

    The act of posing is in the forefront of contemporary popular culture with shows such as ‘The Pose”, ‘Rue Paul’s Drag race,’ … Voguing.

    On social media poses are used as the primary mode of communication. One pose image to highlight your day/mood.

    ‘Break the internet with a pose!’

  • Growing up posing

    We have been posing our entire lives and have a deep love/hate relationship to the act of posing.

  • Caravaggio. 'Seven acts of Mercy'

    An example of a pose template

  • Seven Acts of Mercy, pose template

    Using a pose template

  • Seven Acts of Mercy, pose template used in a different context

    Here, the ‘seven acts of mercy’ pose template is used for a commissioned work for Stirling-Maxwell Centre and the Beniba centre for slavery studies, Archives and special collections.

What is pose dramaturgy?

Pose dramaturgy uses pose moments as a dramaturgical tool to create a performance. It is a theatrical artform that invites performers and audiences alike to engage in the performance with their imagination.

Pose dramaturgy offers,

  • a sensory approach for engaging with a play text.

  • a sensory approach for exploring character.

  • a sensory approach for creating a performance.

  • a sensory approach for engaging with character/s

  • a performance for the audience to co-create.

Pose dramaturgy reflects on the creative exchange between the theater and visual artists. The pose templets are therefore sourced from paintings and asks, what can the actor learn from a painting about the pose as an expression of a present moment.

Performances:

Lights and soundscapes are used as representation of spaces and other characters.

Sensing Blanche, live solo performance. (40min)

The Solo performance is based on Tennessee Williams play, A Streetcar named desire (1947). The performance has been created with pose dramaturgy.

Sensing Blanche review.

Sensing Medea, a live solo performance. (40 Min)

A solo performance based on Euripides, Medea. The performance has been created with pose dramaturgy

About

Nicole Kovacs is a NYC based Danish/American actor. She earned her practice-led PhD in Theatre Studies from University of Glasgow. PhD titled, The world of the pose, constructing a dramaturgy of the pose.

Pose dramaturgy reviews:

’gratitude and compliments for your performance piece. I found it incredibly powerful and I do hope that others felt the impact and meaning as well.’

‘It was absolutely magnificent!’

Sensing Blanche review