The Hoofer
The Hoofer is a relentless en masse unison routine, which we produce and perform with multitudes of the dancing public. Its part showgirl part metal head banger, and becomes over time both a rhythmic soundtrack and test of endurance. The choreography is a cross between a ‘skank’ and a soft shoe shuffle that is stuck on the spot and stuck in time. There is only small variation and change in the choreography and, as it is performed in silence, the rhythm becomes central, and highlights the ongoing and durational sense of the work. This work over-emphasizes the effort required and undoes the notions of ease and elegance prominent in much chorus girl work. However,at the same time, it makes use of the almost militant precision of that genre in terms of timing, action and spacing. We work against the idea of dazzling the audience with skill and tricks, but dazzle them nonetheless with an ongoing, relentless and almost ritualistic virtuosity.
The Hoofer has evolved from an exerpt from The Fondue Set’s work, The Set (Up) performed in Japan and at The Studio, Sydney Opera House in September 2006. In Japan, we taught the choreography to 14 university students who performed it as part of a larger work. Since then, The Hoofer has been performed with 30 volunteers in The Carriageworks foyer for Performance Space at Nighttime #2; as an event with 40 volunteers within our work, Evening Magic II: Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough at Performance Space in October 2007; at Festival First Night Movers & Shakers at Martin Place as part of the 2009 Sydney Festival; and most recently at the Campbelltown Arts Centre Program Launch with hundreds of local school children.
