Pretending Make Believe / If You Look Close Enough You Can See My Thoughts reflects on why we dance, exploring the untouchable qualities of performance and what lies behind this deeply human process, from the perspective of a dance-obsessed non-dancer.
The work developed through a series of filmed conversations and performances with dancers, using Beauchamp-Feuillet Notation (1701), a historical dance notation from the early 1700s, as a prompt to create a dialogue and shared language through which choreography and reflection could unfold. What has emerged is an exploration of the dancer’s inner world: how movement is felt, remembered, and translated into their bodies.
Credits
Dancers: Amber McCartney, Kyall Shanks, Janelle Tan, Enzo Nazario, Marylla Powell, Anika De Ruyter
Director / Writer: Gilda Jones
Co-writer: Jamie Walsh
Producer: Maddy Galea
Assistant Director: Jack Bell
Director of Photography: Gracie Dephoff
Steadicam Operators: Madi Southorn, Jacob Potter
1st Assistant Camera: Claire Guiffre
2nd Assistant Camera: Cat Hoang
Assistant Camera: Austin Gilbert
Camera Assistant: Ella Sowinska
Gaffers: Hamish Palmer, Bree Horwood
Grip: Lotte Sweeney
Composer: Alex Olijnyk
Sound Designer: Lee Yee
Sound Recordist: Olivier Savrimoutou
Set Designers: Eli Giannini, Christ Jones
Stylist / Costume Designer: Charlie Collard
Unit Manager: Sam Blomley
Stills Photographer: Tom Fisher