FEATURE
CONT FROM PREVIOUS PAGE extremes are what I am interested in.‘
Whilst living in New York in the early 70s she was exposed to the deconstructionism of post-modernist choreographers. particularly Trisha Brown. Steve Paxton and Lucinda Childs. ‘There I found the idea that dance could be anything. It took me away completely from making movement through a technical means. I do it through images. even dreams or people‘s imaginations. I work with the idea that you must see yourself doing something before you do it.‘
Her refusal to join the mainstream has no doubt alienated potential audiences who might find the work bare and untheatrical. Yet. laments Butcher. the same audience might be more patient with Fine Art. Mark Rothko can present a canvas with just a line down the centre. but a choreographer will be chastised for choosing to have someone lie down for ten minutes. ‘People who train in a visual art form have a more creative approach.’ says Butcher. ‘Dancers and choreographers are much more narrow. They shut themselves off from the rest ofthe world and concentrate on their own bodies.‘
Following an interest in other art forms. Butcher has collaborated with architects. fine artists and musicians. Applauded by many for linking different disciplines she confesses that true collaboration is a bit ofa myth. ‘On the whole people have their own things they want to express and ifit comes together that‘s fine. Otherwise you move into stage design. where you end up with a theatrical set. which I always wanted to avoid. I think we may be moving into the age ofcollage. this is my philosophy. It is better ifwe take what we want and don’t try to fit in with it. or ask someone to fit in with us.’
3/) has involved architect John Lyall and musician Jim Fulkerson. Lyall‘s set incorporates two bridges. one ofwhich protrudes into mid-air. ‘l have such a conflict in myself about this whole thing of presentation.‘ states Butcher. ‘I can see how other people might have used the bridge. You could have extraordinary lifts. but that would be totally out of context. It was really meant to achieve the idea ofsplit level. ofseeing the same thing in slow motion and fast motion underneath.‘
The more we talk. the more it becomes apparent that Butcher has lost respect for most dance. ‘I must have thought a long time ago that it was the be all and end all.‘ she muses. ‘I can still see dance and think “that‘s rather beautiful" but it does nothing to me. I‘d rather read the newspaper.‘ Battling against a powerful lineage. she still remains within the discipline that body of tradition has set up. The result is a lot of guilt and determination. ‘It took me almost ten years of guilt to get rid of it.‘ she says. ‘In the weaker moments I move towards the mainstream. I think "why not soften this or have some more accessible music.“ Recently I was tempted. I listened to Beethoven‘s Quartets and in my head I had the whole scenario.‘
It is impossible not to admire her honesty and tenacity. Rosemary Butcher the person may be gentle and sympathetic. but Butcher the choreographer is nigglingly obstinate. 31) is likely to be loved and hated according to taste. though the shrewdest judge will probably be its own creator. ‘I can be moved to tears by my own work.‘ she admits. 'Sometimes it is because I feel it has been solved. Other times I just don‘t know what it is doing - I just think “I haven‘t reached anyone. What are they doing out there?” '
31) is on at Tramway. Glasgow Fri 1 4—30! 14 Sept.
PR-I'N'CES SQUARE 4'8 BU'CH'AN-AN ST G-L‘A'S‘G O~\X/
Specralrty Shopping Browse through five levels of fashion, accessories, leather goods. bookshandcrafted designer Jewellery and specialist gift boutiques - Princes Square - a beautifully restored building dating from I84i and now, probabiy,$cotland's finest speciality shopping centre.
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And there's no need to rush a visit to Princes Square - you can shop. dine, or just soak up the atmosphere in the evening and on Sundays too. The Terrace Foodcourt and the Princes Square shops are open until 7.00pm Monday to Saturday and the Foodcourt is open until 5.00pm on a
Sunday with the shops closing at 4.30pm. The licensed restaurants are open until midnight (excluding Sundays).
THE DIFFERENCE lS DAY AND NlGl—lT}
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The list 14 - 2T.Btijiteriilit~r190013