classify as ‘belonging’ to anyone. If choreo-
makes it ‘ours’. I notice the movement
graphic practice is a manifestation of
vocabulary that I see as uniquely mine or
the individual artist’s thoughts, performed
the movement of mine and O’Brien’s bodies
versions are all embodiments of such ideas
together, which looks to my editorial eye
(Pavis 2014). This is particularly pertinent in
as a representation of our friendship. I
the case of our duet as it is the culmination
can also see all of our creative research
of decades of conversations, shared
manifested in the film. For example, the
thoughts, shared experiences and dancing
scattered, rejected props in the frame
together. It ‘feels’ highly personal and it
signify our process of trial and selection.
‘feels’ like ours.
The easiness between us as we move and talk simultaneously while we remember
Through engaging in the process of
or rehearse our ideas. It is strange to me
making a new film based on the creative
that this work could be anything other
collaboration with O’Brien, I discovered,
than ‘mine’ or ‘ours’. We are the dance
and what I want to assert here, is the
and the dance is us. In my perception
important link between ownership,
they cannot exist indep-endently. The
authorship and leadership. To be author
rough-cut film seems to respond to this
and owner of one’s own creative work
idea. In documenting the process I am
is integral to identifying as a leader.
cementing the duet, ‘Famuli’, as belonging
Conversely, feelings of not owning the
to myself and O’Brien. It is crucial to note
work in which your body is a central
that although the live work is derived from
instrument may be detrimental to feeling
my collaboration with O’Brien, I am the
leaderful. In the process of making the
author of this work. It feels like a tangible
film, this sense of ownership is brought
artefact; a document that has the potential
into focus. I look back at my work and
to speak for us. It is a visual representation
witness the details that I perceive as what
of a process that led to a product. The film
Film Stills from ‘Becoming Leaderful’ by Kate Marsh
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