a performance is an emergency, it’s breathless its voice is shaky its heart races panic sets in
it’s a constellation of trouble, a tight corner
the facts the places the way it smelled and who found the way there
never becoming one always separate but still together
performance is time sensitive, like your family
. . .
his life was a series of unsung emergencies
it’s no wonder he was always getting ready
it was nonstop an ongoing rehearsal
that’s how he saw himself, the consummate performer:
only yesterday thousands clamoured for my appearance
almost in a puff of an explosion I disappeared from the scene
I miss the days when everyone knew me wherever we went
performance is time sensitive, like your life
Karen Christopher is a collaborative performance maker, performer, and teacher. Her London-based company, Haranczak/Navarre Performance Projects, is engaged in the dynamics of collaboration. She is devoted to paying attention as a practice of social cooperation. Her practice includes listening for the unnoticed, the almost invisible, and the very quiet. She was with Chicago-based Goat Island performance group for 20 years until the group disbanded in 2009. www.karenchristopher.co.uk
Something Other 