The Oxford English Dictionary defines touch as “an act of intentionally placing a part of the body (especially the hand or finger) or an object, in contact with something,” but as practitioners, educators and scholars, we recognise that there are varied ways, including unintentional ways, in which touch plays an essential role in the training and creative exploration of working with aerial apparatus and scenographic materials. Touch and tactility play a crucial role in training for both professional, student and recreational aerialists. Ben Spatz notes that embodiment “is the first site at which the dialogue between agency and materiality takes place” (Spatz, 2020, p.76); Tim Ingold argues that embodied technique, such as a focus on touch, yields “knowledge born of sensory perception and practical engagement, not of the mind with the material world […] but of the skilled practitioner participating in a world of materials” (Ingold, 2007, pp.13–14). This embodied engagement with aerial practice clearly draws on McKinney and Palmer’s (2017) tenets of “expanded scenography”: relationality, affectivity and materiality.

As such, for our inaugural symposium, we invite those working across aerial arts and scenography to contribute the following as we examine how we approach and conceive of touch and tactility in our varied aerial practices. Please indicate whether you would prefer to lead a practical workshop or deliver a demonstration under the following types of explorations.

The above is only an indicative list of potential proposals – if you have something else in mind, please feel free to get in touch to discuss this with us.

Where possible, we are striving for a practice-based and participatory gathering where delegates are actively engaged, but we will also accept traditional, paper-based presentations. Additionally, if you would like to perform a work-in-progress with a chance to discuss your approach and practice, please also indicate this in your proposal along with technical requirements.

The symposium will be low-cost at £10 per day and there will be bursaries available for travel and childcare. Attendees can attend one or both days.

The event is supported by the University of Leeds’ Enhancing Research Culture fund and the University of Chichester Dance department.

To submit a proposal:

Please describe your proposed activity in no more than 300 words and email it to aerialarts.scenography@gmail.com with the subject line “Symposium proposal”. Proposals need to be received by 31 March 2025 at 5pm GMT. Successful proposals will be notified by 11 April 2025.

References:

Ingold, T. 2007. Materials against materiality. Archaeological Dialogues, 14(1), pp.1–16.

McKinney, J. and Palmer, S. 2017. Scenography Expanded. Bloomsbury.

Spatz, B. 2020. Blue Sky Body: Thresholds for Embodied Research. Routledge.