THE AUDITION | WHAT A FEELING! is an intimate experimental dance performance exploring the concept of ‘acceptance’. Christian Noelle Charles conducts a very present performance that introduces conversations on topics of identity, intimacy and closure - words of vulnerability that she loses sight of and personally finds difficult to claim, as they redefine hurdles in realising the position of one’s place in society. This act is framed as a 20-minute live audition where Christian featuring dancer Emmanuella Damptey, produces an atmosphere and a moment for the audience to witness.
The performance is a reflection of the surreal experience she had at the Centre of Somewhere Residency supported by Take Me Somewhere (Glasgow) in Johannesburg, South Africa in early 2023. As a Black American with her Roots and Community in New York, this was the first time Christian was visiting the Motherland and connecting to the city as if it were home. Visiting The Centre for the Less Good Idea as part of this, had a further impact on Christian’s overall creative practice and developed unforgettable bonds with fellow artists Thulisie Binda, Kaldi Maku Makutike and Nussatari.
This performance is in continuation to her exhibition at Edinburgh Printmakers entitled WHAT A FEELING | ACT I, where as part of the creative process, she had engaged in conversations with Female Creatives of Black Heritage in Scotland - such as artists, dancers and performers - who shared their reflections of working within cultural institutions, the experiences of the hustle in the progression of their careers, and encounters with Self-Love and Self-Worth. These conversations were composed into a collection of videos and audio recordings, and a series of screen-printed portraits, that were exhibited at the Edinburgh Printmakers during the Edinburgh Art Festival 2023.
A live performance was renditioned as WHAT A FEELING! | ACT II At the Take Me Somewhere Festival October 14th, 2023 Tramway, Glasgow.
This is a Video Edition of the Performance. FULL FILM UPON REQUEST.
“Once we recognize what it is we are feeling, once we recognize we can feel deeply, love deeply, can feel joy, then we will demand that all parts of our lives produce that kind of joy.”
– Audre Lorde
TEAM
Artist/ Director: Christian Noelle Charles
Performer: Emmanuella Damptey
Director of Photography: Alexander Storey Gordon
Curator/ Producer: Shalmali Shetty
Technical Manager: Paul Sorley
Outside Eye/ Support: Aisha Oyedepo
FUNDERS & SUPPORTERS
British Council
Jerwood New Work Fund
Creative Scotland
The Work Room
Take Me Somewhere
Project X Team:
Ashanti Harris, Rhea Lewis, Carine Barinia
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO
Alberta Whittle, Mele Broomes, Saoirse Amira Anis, Cass Ezeji, Sekai Machache, LD Davis,
Edinburgh Printmakers, Glasgow Sculpture Studios, The Centre for the Less Good Idea,Thulisie Binda, Kaldi Maku Makutike and Nussatari