Claire Cunningham (born 1977) is a Scottish choreographer and dancer who performs on crutches. She creates dances and sculpture that involve crutches for people of all abilities. She identifies herself as a disabled person.

Life

Cunningham was born with osteoporosis, a progressive

bone disease Bone disease refers to the medical conditions which affect the bone. Terminology A bone disease is also called an "osteopathy", but because the term osteopathy is often used to refer to an alternative health-care philosophy, use of the term can ...

and as result she labels herself as disabled. She lived in Ayrshire, but now lives in Glasgow. She has created work with the

National Theatre of Scotland The National Theatre of Scotland, established in 2006, is the national theatre company of Scotland. The company has no theatre building of its own; instead it tours work to theatres, village halls, schools and site-specific locations, both at h ...

. Claire Cunningham is one of the UK's most esteemed

disabled Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, ...

artists. Cunningham's work challenges normativity and explores the potential for experimental dance techniques. Her work, as a choreographer, is conscious of the non-normative body and the societal implications of living a

experience. Cunningham works in multiple art forms including intimate solo shows to large ensemble work. Her 2014 dance "Give Me a Reason to Live" is based on the depiction of " cripples" in the work of the Dutch painter

Hieronymus Bosch Hieronymus Bosch (, ; born Jheronimus van Aken ; – 9 August 1516) was a Dutch/ Netherlandish painter from Brabant. He is one of the most notable representatives of the Early Netherlandish painting school. His work, generally oil on o ...

. She dedicated this work to protest at the British cuts to funding and the

Nazi Euthanasia Programme (German, ) was a campaign of mass murder by involuntary euthanasia in Nazi Germany. The term was first used in post-war trials against doctors who had been involved in the killings. The name T4 is an abbreviation of 4, a street address of ...

Works include

* Guide Gods "Guide Gods", performed in the Church of Our Lady & St. Nicholas, as a part of Dada Fest, was developed through a research trip to Cambodia. There Cunningham was exposed to the ideas of

reincarnation Reincarnation, also known as rebirth or transmigration, is the philosophical or religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death. Resurrection is ...

and also the dated idea that disability is punishment for sins committed in a previous life. The resulting piece seeks to bridge a gap between cultural ideas and the shared human experience. It combines interviews with religious leaders, music, and Cunningham's unique experience. * Give me a Reason to Live "Give me a Reason to Live," is a 2015 dance based on the artwork "

The Garden of Earthly Delights ''The Garden of Earthly Delights'' is the modern title given to a triptych oil painting on oak panel painted by the Early Netherlandish master Hieronymus Bosch, between 1490 and 1510, when Bosch was between 40 and 60 years old. It has b ...

," by the Dutch medieval painter

Hieronymous Bosch Hieronymus Bosch (, ; born Jheronimus van Aken ; – 9 August 1516) was a Dutch/ Netherlandish painter from Brabant. He is one of the most notable representatives of the Early Netherlandish painting school. His work, generally oil on oa ...

. The piece is in protest against British funding cuts. This piece explores the role of

empathy Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another's position. Definitions of empathy encompass a broad range of social, co ...

, religion, and the judgment of bodies and souls. * The Way You Look (at me) Tonight created with Jess Curtis and Dr

Alva Noë Alva Noë (born 1964) is an American philosopher. He is Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley. The focus of his work is the theory of perception and consciousness. In addition to these problems in cognitive science a ...

"The Way You Look at Me Tonight," is a choreographed duet with Cunningham's long time collaborator, Jess Curtis. The piece is performed as a tutorial in how to deal with age, ability, sexuality and the intersection of

gender Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to femininity and masculinity and differentiating between them. Depending on the context, this may include sex-based social structures (i.e. gender roles) and gender identity. Most cultures ...

. In one act of the dance Cunningham and Curtis perform on crutches and sing a Scottish Hymn atop a ladder. *ME (Mobile/Evolution) (2009) "ME (Mobile/Evolution)" is a solo performance where she creates a spectacle of her mobility from the ground. Treating her crutches like old friends, she takes the audience on a journey of their history and "slowly begins to build them into a swinging mobile structure" * 12 *Beyond the Breakwater "Beyond Breakwater" is an on-site, seaside, performance that explores the 'choreography of work' and the multi-use of crutches. Cunningham uses the crutches in her piece as a 'sculpture' allowing for the spectacle to be viewed over the passing of time. * Thank You Very Much "Thank You Very Much" is a choreographed performance that explores the question, "What does it mean to try and learn to move like someone else?". Cast is dressed as a sea of

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

impersonators pelvic-thrusting and gyrating rebelliously while celebrating their imperfections. * Resemblance (2014) "Resemblance" is a solo performance centering around Cunningham mirroring the assembly of a crutch as a soldier would a gun. This ritualistic statement piece was performed in a series of short films called 'World War 1 Shorts: Does It Matter?'. * Ménage Á Trois (2013) "Ménage Á Trois" is an intimate piece about loneliness, love and the manipulation of her crutch. Through the use of

dance theatre Concert dance (also known as performance dance or theatre dance in the United Kingdom) is dance performed for an audience. It is frequently performed in a theatre setting, though this is not a requirement, and it is usually choreographed and p ...

, Cunningham depicts a story of a woman constructing her perfect male companion from the one thing she relies on daily, her crutch. Both a clever metaphor for a companion and an everyday item she relies on, she explores the question, "Is it possible to find love when there are already three of you in the relationship".

Collaboration

Jess Curtis is an experimental dancer based out of California. Curtis and Cunningham have collaborated on the piece " The Way You Look Tonight."

Awards

Cunningham received the

Creative Scotland Creative Scotland ( gd, Alba Chruthachail ; sco, Creative Scotlan) is the development body for the arts and creative industries in Scotland. Based in Edinburgh, it is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government. The o ...

Award in 2014. Cunningham received the ' Best Design- Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland (CATS)' in 2013. She was in May 2021 honoured with a German Dance Price distinction (including 5000 Euros).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Claire Scottish choreographers People from Ayrshire 1977 births Living people Dancers with disabilities