Liz Aggiss 

Thoughts from Liz Aggiss

As a graduate (including the self-taught and people learning outside of normative structures), you have taken a successful first step. You have fulfilled your academic, or otherwise, requirements. You have been shielded and supported, or not, by an institution. Time to make choices. 

“Does anyone know the way, did we hear someone say
(We just haven't got a clue what to do)
Does anyone know the way, there's got to be a way
To blockbuster”
(Lyrics Blockbuster Sweet).

Ironically, or tragically, I didn’t have a clue ‘what to do’. 

Here’s what I didn’t do. I didn’t graduate. I didn’t get a degree. 

Here’s what I did do. When I was 28 I decided to study dance. I went to New York after reading Dance Magazine. I made it up as I went along.

I returned to the UK and started, what became, a cult visual cabaret troupe, performing in pubs, working men’s clubs, circus tents, nightclubs, outside and inside, day and night, on TV, and on tour to rock stadiums supporting The Stranglers. Reaching the zenith of millions of viewers on tv, and thousands in rock concerts, I switched to small scale black box theatre, then developed a screen dance practice, then returned into live performance.

I have never auditioned for another company.

For years I was an irregularly unfunded artist. Now as a mature artist I receive regular project funding.

Imagine your future biography.

This is mine. 

I am an award winning solo mature dance artist. I write, choreograph, direct and perform my own work. For the past 40 years I have been re(de)fining my signature style and presence in British contemporary dance theatre. My work is programmed nationally and internationally in: dance, dance theatre, live art, queer, age on stage, interdisciplinary and contemporary theatre festivals. I also choreograph and direct commissioned works for other companies.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Aggiss
https://www.lizaggiss.com 

I didn’t have a plan. My longevity has been positively served by: my eclectic irregular dance training: being comfortable with the label ‘classifiably unclassifiable’: being an un-disciplined and inter-disciplinary artist: by developing a rigorous performance research practice: by having a supportive group of producers, curators, artists and friends who champion my non conformity: by maintaining a political, expressive, grotesque and individual performance ‘voice’: by taking nothing for granted. 

And by the way, the academic titles: Professor in Visual Performance University of Brighton, Hon. Doc. in Interdisciplinary Practice University of Gothenburg, Hon. Doc. in Art, University of Chichester, were bestowed upon me to mark my contribution to contemporary dance practice. 

And finally, I am served by this maxim.

“Say what you gave to say and then stop. If you have nothing to say don’t even start.”

So. Off you trot! And remember. “It’s your party, you can cry if you want to!”

(Lyrics It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to. Lesley Gore)