Dear & Sincerely

collection of epistolary improvisations

by Corina Iona Dalzell

Dear Investigator,

Welcome to the ‘Dear & Sincerely’ collection. It is truly an honor to have you here.

Below are elements documented through a year long investigation into written correspondence and performance.

Since a formative solo project titled “Dear Gladstone” in 2011, I have often returned to letters as a foundation for choreography. Something about the rhythm of syntax speaks to my body. Something about how a single voice illustrates human relationships keeps me searching to create relatable and sincere performance. So I chose a question both broad and specific to guide my next artistic endeavor: What does performance reveal about letters?

I began rehearsing this project in October of 2017 while in residence at Studio Current, with a commitment to work through October 2018. It is the single longest process of my artistic career and an intentional practice of rigor, reflection, and refinement.

Being a collaborative creature I immediately sought a team. In an effort to work with a broad range of artists, I kept the rehearsal commitment small engaging different artists three weeks at a time. In total the project will completed 10 cycles. Seattle performers of all kinds (movers, writers, musicians) joined me to investigate new ways to both create performance from written letters, and create letters from improvisatory performance.

Our data is collected here in all its accidental perfection. Navigating these slide galleries you will find written thoughts, images from rehearsal, and video excerpts of amazing unplanned moments. May it fuel your own curiosity and connect you to something sincere and dear.

Sincerely,

Corina Iona Dalzell

Cycle I

Jordan Macintosh-Hougham and Margaret Behm joined the investigation. We worked with choreographed movement, constructed from written text. Letters we wrote became dances we moved. Solos became duets, experimenting with role and relationship.