Performance Is Revealing Series: What are Your Pre-Performance Rituals?

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From my experience, the time period prior to a live performance includes intentional times of reflection and often ritual. Pre-performance time is sacred. Non-performers can often feel alienated and confused when trying to engage. The truth is, most of us just need to do, our own thing. But what is... that thing? What are y/our pre-performance rituals? I thought this was a perfect topic for our first #PerformanceIsRevealing Series. Throughout this series, we will pose unique questions to current performance practitioners as a way to archive and share y/our practice.

My pre-performance rituals involve days of replaying the performance over and over and over again in my mind until I can actually reach a half-way point. I never see the end of the performance but you better believe I know the color of the room, the smell and my proximity to the audience. I also like to scour Home Depot or Art Supply stores for inspiration and never  buy anything.

I am pleased to begin this post series with three artists well known to the Performance Is Alive community: Ernesto Pujol, Kara Rooney and Christopher Unpezverde Núñez. I hope you enjoy the series and consider revealing your process with us too.
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​-Quinn  Dukes

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What are your pre-performance rituals?

ERNESTO PUJOL

Ernesto Pujol | Image courtesy of the artist.

  ​I'm normally engaged in gardening, reading, writing, walking, and meditation. Sustainable daily life practice. A meaningful menu in which every gestural part is as important. But as I get ready to perform, I seek even more solitude and silence than usual. I reduce my food and water intake. I fast, creating resiliency for inhabiting a deep desert. I slow down to stillness. In fact, I slow down everything around me. I do not want to be surrounded by speed. Because the performance starts long before it is publicly enacted. I cannot perform what I do not live.

- Ernesto Pujol

MORE ABOUT ERNESTO

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KARA ROONEY

Kara Rooney | Reverb | Image courtesy of the artist.

  Vigorous am yoga practice. 2-day juice cleanse. Meditation and long walk prior to performance.

- Kara Rooney

MORE ABOUT KARA

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Christopher Unpezverde Núñez

Christopher Unpezverde Núñez | image courtesy of the artist.

  The same day of my performance I write 5 questions to ask myself on a piece of paper. I fold the piece of paper in five parts. I keep it for five days. Then I unfold the paper and answer the questions, 5 minutes before 12 am of the fifth day.

- Christopher Unpezverde Núñez

MORE ABOUT CHRISTOPHER

​Care to share your pre-performance rituals with us? Click here.