Helena Hunter
Tracing Shadows
An intensely imagined performance that goes beyond narrative and representation to the rumblings of the unconscious and the conflicts that lurk in the shadows of the mind.
The performance is based on a cruel and magical tale about a young girl’s struggle with an enchanted blue dress, as it steals her voice, sews itself to her skin, and takes over her body. Helena Hunter presents a solo movement piece that explores the process of female initiation addressed in the tale.
Tracing Shadows was created in collaboration with Chiara Ambrosio (lighting design) and Mark Wright (sound design). The performance was first developed at Chelsea Theatre, London for the Sacred Season, and has been developed with support from Artsadmin’s Bursary Scheme.
Helena Hunter makes movement/body-based performance that explores ideas of initiation, transformation and metamorphosis. Her work is concerned with the imagination and its potential to incite change. In 2005 Helena received the Artsadmin Bursary to research her ideas on the imagination. This period of research included studying with Marina Warner which led to Helena writing ‘The Girl and the Blue Dress’ a fairytale that forms the basis of her new work Tracing Shadows.
Tracing Shadows is a ghostly, delicate and translucent performance, evoking the dark and beautiful feminine psyche. Helena Hunter is a poetic and surreal performer. Manick Govinda (Artsadmin).
With thanks to the Live Art Development Agency and Chisenhale Dance Space for their advice and support.