Joseph Mercier

Gallery

Abstract

If dance as performance is ‘of the body’, how can it be re-imagined through queer eyes (or perhaps more appropriately: queer bodies), (re)sexualized, (re)gendered and politicized, to find strategies for creating performances that challenge and resist structures of complacency, moralism and normativity.

This research project experiments with dance’s relationship to the body and contrasts this with the corporeal relationship developed through performative sexual practices such as BDSM, fetishism and pornography.

Profile

Joseph Mercier is a choreographer and director from Canada. Originally trained in classical ballet, he now works and teaches primarily in contemporary modes of dance and performance. He is the Artistic Director of dance-theatre company 'PanicLab', which focuses on contemporary issues around gender, sexuality and the body.

Apart form his dance training, Joseph has also trained and is well versed in Ashtanga Yoga, Capoeira and Thai Boxing, which he draws on in his work and teaching.

At CSSD he currently tutors on BA Drama, Applied Theatre and Education and has lead workshops or lectures for the MA Movement, MA Performance Practice and Research, and MA Advanced Theatre Practice.

Joseph has also worked as a journalist for a number of cultural and fashion magazines.

More information can be found at:
www.paniclab.co.uk
www.josephmercier.com

Publications

2009 Perverts!: Dancing Through the Ethics of Sexual Shame, co-authoured with Murray Healy at the Performing Queer Subjectivities Conference, Queen’s Universty, Belfast

2010 Dancing for ‘Non-Dancers’ Workshop at Theatre Applications, Central School of Speech & Drama