Sophia Cleary / REHEARSAL

Sophia Cleary is a performance artist based in Brooklyn, NY. She is the founder and coordinator of the works-in-progress series REHEARSAL and is co-editor for Ugly Duckling Presse's performance annual Emergency INDEX. She has worked with the Kate Bush Dance Troupe, Ann Liv Young, Dynasty Handbag (Jibz Cameron), Neal Medlyn, and Alexandra Bachzetsis. She has presented her work at the Bushwick Starr, Center for Performance Research, Danspace Project, and Dixon Place. She holds an MA in Performance Studies from the Tisch School of the Arts.

 
REHEARSAL a works-in-progress showing of various types of performance works wherein I invite an artist to show a performance piece. At each of these events, the artist presents her work, and then a modestly sized audience and I engage the artist and each other in a feedback session. What happens during these exchanges is an event that is supportive, generative and nurturing for all of those involved. We come together under the absolute expectation of respect and concern for the artist, disregarding considerations of quality. As the moderator, I provide a structure that supports audience members to express their experience of the performance event. These showings/feedback sessions are not meant to be a critique of the work; rather, they are meant to be a collective processing of a shared moment. Individuals are able to see how they connect to one another through the object of the performance, and provide rich feedback to an artist in an early and perhaps vulnerable stage of their work.
 
Find out more at www.sophiacleary.com