PHOTO-DOCUMENTATION Dying Swans and Dragged Up Dames

<p><i>Dying Swans& Dragged Up Dames</i> is an exhibition of photographs interrogating imagery and authenticity of dance photography as disclosed in expressions of agility, ability, age and gender. The photographs are parodies of original iconic vintage dance imagery: we have, to borrow Rebecca Schneider’s phrase, ‘dragged up’ the past (2011). These are camp parodies created with a sense of play in fond homage to the originals, but by replacing an athletic body in its skilled prime with a wobbly one beyond its prime, the inherent tragedy of dance imagery is foregrounded: that age-related corporeal decline will eventually overcome athleticism; that moments of technical, physical and aesthetic perfection do not last; that only photography can ultimately save performers from ageing.</p><p><br></p><p> </p><p>The original photographs that we have reconstructed were themselves constructed: such were the limitations of photography at the time when Pavlova, Nijinksy were dancing that only held poses were possible: still images were not captured in the flow of an on-going performance but were – often still are – set up shots, the technical perfection depicted made possible by controllable conditions and the possibility of repetitions until dancer and photographer are satisfied. Dance imagery is often thus a beautiful lie capturing a micro-performance for a camera rather than a full performance for an audience. Our images do not depict the performance of a ballet but the sweaty repetitions of a move and the airbrushed presence of personae, gender and glamour: in our images, our protagonists are dragged up versions of original fakes.</p><p><br></p><p><i>An accompanying text description document has been provided to enhance to enhance the accessibility of this collection.</i><br></p>