Trajectories of intensity. Looking at structured improvisation in 'the weight of the thing left its mark'

This article examines the intentions and implications of ‘structured improvisation’ in relation to my work 'The weight of the thing left its mark' performed in Melbourne in April 2009. The performance piece is premised on the dancers maintaining a performance improvisation practice but to frame these and add predetermined context as a choreographic overlay. In so doing the aim was to create spaces within the work where improvisation could authentically exist while striving for a definable and repeatable ‘work’. The presentation will examine some of the complexities and difficulties inherent in this aim and grapples with the different expectations and conflicts that exist between performance improvisation and choreography.