The transmission-translation-transformation of Doris Humphrey's 'Two ecstatic themes' (1931)

The notion of transmission is gathering momentum in the dance field, and beyond, in relation to staging the work of another. This chapter considers how a process of transmission can operate via a staging of Doris Humphrey’s signature solo, Two Ecstatic Themes (1931). From a directorial perspective, arguably, the essential task is transmitting knowledge from a range of sources to form a coherent whole for the performer’s artistry to inhabit. The performer, likewise, goes through a process of transmission, making sense of the received knowledge intrinsically and being able to then convey that knowledge outwardly, to the audience. To examine how the transmission process unfolds to the point of performance, the chapter considers the interconnecting ideas of transmission, translation and transformation; and the performing of Two Ecstatic Themes, including reflections from dancers with a long performance history of the work.

© The Author(s) 2017