Warming up in the Cold
by Nolan Boggess
How do we warm up in the cold? This was my research question when approaching this work. Being from Iowa, I am familiar with the shark grey, cold days at the beginning of December. I knew I was going to be presenting this work at this time and began to wonder how to create a site specific work for an audience with the knowledge that they would most likely be very angry for having to sit outside for over twenty minutes. So…I made this whole concept the focus of this work.
I was interested in dissecting the phrase “to warm up”. In how many ways could I warm up my audience. There are of course bodily warm ups like the hot tea that I knew I wanted to serve, but I went beyond that and included some vocal warm ups, physical warm ups, conversation warm ups, and emotional warm ups.
I chose a courtyard in an academic building to be the location for this performance, as it is surrounded by glass and a tea party in the freezing cold would be hard to ignore. During the performance other people stopped, took pictures, scoffed, laughed, and rolled their eyes. I loved that these people were now part of the performance too.
As for the audience, I believe I did warm them up! And not even with just the tea! As we made our way through the tea, conversation cards, vocal exercise, and finally the game of charades that led into a dance party, I could tell people’s initial fears about the cold had subsided. Everyone’s spirits were shining bright at the end of the performance and I began to wonder what it would be like to do this performance elsewhere and not for a dance class. So many possibilities! A traveling tea party that happens only in the winter? I am interested!
Until then, I will continue to use places how we “shouldn’t” use them and continue to involve my friends in the process. Without a community of support, where would I be?
