The Matter of Presence

On scene, what defines the quality of presence?

What makes an event exceptional or ordinary, given the variables implicit in the performance of those who embody it?

The concentration and commitment to the quality of presence, which we sometimes call the “delivery” of the protagonists, occurs in the here and now, in a particular, unrepeatable space and time. The importance of the moment imbues the performance with a temporal

intensity that transcends reflective consciousness or intentional thought, and the actor’s [in the sense of one who acts] dedication heightens the audience’s attention and response, in a phenomenon of empathy management.

In this saturation, one sometimes experiences a splitting; on the one hand, one acts, and on the other, one observes, and this duality sometimes leads to what can be described as an altered state of consciousness, a kind of trance, or a distinct existential dimension. This experience is so unique that it is often associated with something indescribable, mysterious, unnameable, or even esoteric.

This cycle aims to empirically explore this mystery.

In “9 Rounds,” Isabel Cordovil – an artist currently exploring the implicit power of movement – draws on the experience, sensitivity, and wisdom of Isabel Ruth, Bibi Dória, and Célio Dias, inviting them into a ring where, one at a time and without watching the others’ performances, they will execute a predefined sequence of actions in search of that exceptional presence, thus proving that they are authors as much as they are performers.