Gaby Reuter - Inventory

Gabriele Reuter performed this extended piece at Coventry University (19/01/12). She is a well-known dance artist who works in Germany and also the East Midlands. In this piece Gabriele explores space, time, philosophies and her own existence within performance.
This solo invites the audience into this exploration at the same time as concealing elements that are personal to the performer. At first Gabriele defines the different spaces around her, identifying places for text and spoken word, political and critical thinking, props, obvious things and an area for her height. She also describes a large, soft, round area for dance and an accompanying one for music. Her movements are linked with words to describe her thoughts and ideas as she journeys across the empty space.
This work embraces the Post-modern celebration of everyday movement used within dance. She uses the style of pedestrian movement and explores the sounds that her body makes on the floor. Within her ‘Clipping Space’ section, Gabriele incorporates chopping arm movements with straight hands. Movement is juxtaposed with stillness as seen when she stands still saying ‘something is happening in the other side of the space, that doesn’t involve me’.
‘Inventory’ engages the audience with the idea that movement and expression is a valid dance form and anybody is a dancer. Doors only she can see are opened and defined spaces painted in the audiences mind. Some of these spaces are described as personal to the performer. For example, Gabriele tells us about a small box up high with a lock and golden key. She keeps her thoughts and ‘genius’ ideas hidden away within the box, and only lets them out occasionally. This example also reveals the humour within the piece, alongside vulnerability and honesty.
Time is explored in relation to space. She uses her body to convey the image of a clock, and states that she can show us time passing. A series of repetitive arm movements leads to the thought of what happened previously in this space. She questions ‘What was in this space?’, ‘What is above this space’ and ‘Where was I when I wasn’t in this space’?
This piece centres around Gabriele’s relaxed, natural performance style where she is at one with the audience. Within the work she says ‘the space between performer and audience is not empty, but we cannot see it, it is invisible’. This allows aspects of the performance to have no barriers at the same time as leaving some doors closed or slightly ajar.