Performing Body, Space, and Place

The Performance of Body, Space, and Place

offer a groundbreaking methodology for performance in the Anthropocene, addressing the spiritual and ecological crises of our time through a fusion of Indigenous knowledge and contemporary practice.

This book is the culmination of 35 years of international fieldwork with Indigenous communities—including the Yup''ik and Inupiaq peoples of Alaska, the !Xuu and Khwe Bushmen of the Kalahari, the Sakha of Siberia, and the Miao of China—alongside experimental productions with Dead White Zombies in Dallas. It unfolds in three interconnected stages: Body, which emphasizes sensory presence and reconnection with the more-than-human world; Space, which critiques anthropocentric narratives and contrasts them with cosmocentric perspectives that honor the sovereignty of all beings; and Place, which explores performance as a tool for transforming modern placelessness into lived integration. Through practical exercises, theoretical insights, case studies, and field observations, the book equips practitioners to craft performances that transcend human-centered narratives and foster participatory engagement with the living world.

Intended Audience and Themes

This essential resource is for artists, educators, and students in theater and performance studies, environmental humanities, Indigenous studies, drama therapy, and cultural anthropology. It will resonate with anyone interested in exploring the intersection of performance, ecology, and community, offering tools to reimagine our relationship with the embodied world and the spaces we inhabit.