015: Choreographer and performer Nicola Bullock travels the distance for IMAGO

IMAGO is “A phatasmagorical sci-fi dance theatre experience” that “reckons with the distance between what we are and what we believe ourselves to be.” Choreographer and performer Nicola Bullock describes the creative and practical development of her solo-piece IMAGO, the impact of living abroad on her identity as an ‘American’ artist’ and tips for creators who yearn to make their own singular piece.

Nicola Bullock is a dancer, choreographer, and performance artist. She’s lived in Chapel Hill, NC, New York City, Durham, NC and most recently Berlin, Germany. Her work investigates the range of human expression as a means to create potent images and meaning. She holds a degree in psychology and dance, and is an original co-found of DIDA (Durham Independent Dance Artists). IMAGO is her second evening-length show. 

IMAGO info: performances January 11-13 and 18-20, 2018  at The Durham Fruit Company, 305 S Dillard St, Durham, North Carolina $10 before / $12 at the door *No one turned away for lack of funds* tickets available here!

This episode is brought to you by the Soapboxers, the official patrons of the Artist Soapbox. If you like these episodes and want more, get on the Soapbox! Podcast recorded at the ASBX home studio.

Mentioned:

005: Director JaMeeka Holloway-Burrell gives voice to the value of community

Time break-down:

[0:00] Episode intro and Nicola bio

[1:08] The inspiration for IMAGO

[6:35] How does Nicola take an idea and translate it into physical movement?

[7:40] How has IMAGO transformed over the various showings in the last year?

[8:44] “The creature struggles to adopt “identity-appropriate” behavior while remaining connected to its wild nature.” What is identity-appropriate behavior?

[12:00] Preserving the spirit of collaboration while being a solo performer. Bringing on a team. Long distance collaboration – how does that work?

[15:36] How has living abroad influenced the way Nicola thinks of the US and making art? Why bring IMAGO to Durham? What has it been like to make art in Germany?

[20:11] What makes a piece dance-theatre vs. dance?

[21:35] The development and significance of the IMAGO mask.

[24:44] Nicola reached out to Tamara from Germany in October. Since then, they’ve been working together in a professional capacity with Tamara as creative coach/witness/companion. Nicola talks about her expectations for that relationship and how it’s served her and the piece. Balloons!

[29:35] Self-care leading up to opening

[30:54] These are raw topics to wrestle with in front of an audience: “animal instincts contending with social constructions of femininity, ageing, and desire” and “the distance between what we are and what we imagine ourselves to be.” Why go there?

[33:27] What has Nicola learned during this process that would be helpful to others?

[34:30] What’s next for IMAGO? What’s next for Nicola?

[35:38] Thank you and sign-off

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Artist Soapbox

Artist Soapbox is a platform for original scripted audio fiction and an opportunity for artists to discuss their creative work in their own voices. We do this through our interview podcast, our blog, live events, and original audio dramas.

Artist Soapbox is an anti-racist organization. We believe Black Lives Matter. In addition, as a podcast production company, ASBX has signed the Equality in Audio Pact on Broccoli Content.

Artist Soapbox is more than just a podcast.

We lead writers groups, accountability support, workshops, and events. We produce and create audio dramas too! Listen to the Master BuilderThe New Colossus Audio Drama, Jesus Pancake, Declaration of Love, Food for Thought, and ASBX Shorts. Stay tuned to hear about more projects written by the Soapbox Audio Collective Writers’ Group.

Audio Dramas

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Jesus Pancake is the newest scripted audio fiction series from Artist Soapbox. Nine episodes of zany dark comedy.

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The New Colossus Audio Drama is a totally unhinged dark comedy reboot of Anton Chekhov’s classic play, THE SEAGULL.

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Master Builder

This audio drama was adapted from Tamara’s 2018 stage play produced by Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern and inspired by Henrick Ibsen’s classic, The Master Builder published in 1892.

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Declaration of Love

Co-producers Aurelia Belfield and Tamara Kissane of Artist Soapbox commissioned eleven NC playwrights to craft short audio scenes based on the prompt “Declaration of Love.”

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Food for Thought

Three pilot episodes of new scripted audio fiction series inspired by the prompt Food for Thought.

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ASBX Shorts

ASBX Shorts are six short audio fiction pieces created and produced by North Carolina artists. Artist Soapbox Shorts were specifically contributed by the artists to aid in fundraising and to get everyone excited about Jesus Pancake, our new audio fiction series in development.

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