Research Catalogue - an international database for artistic research

Exposition

The Somatic Costume Dressing Room - Choreographing Attention Through Touch and The Poetic (last edited: 2025)

no media files associated

About this exposition

A PhD that redefines performance through the somatic politics of touch and attention. In an era grappling with profound disconnection and global crises, this PhD Thesis offers a hopeful counter-narrative, proposing that our very modes of perception are powerful political agents. Through a unique somatic, touch-based artistic research, it redefines choreography as the art of attending, moving beyond traditional visual dominance to cultivate a deeper, multi-sensorial engagement. Structured in three parts, this thesis traces a journey from Context & Definitions to The Somatic Costume Dressing Room, and finally to the performance of Give Them Wings & We Shall See Their Faces. Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Somatic Costume Dressing Room serves as a core methodology—a haptic-focused process where costumes are co-designed in the moment based on the wearer's arising psychophysical needs. The final performance, Give Them Wings & We Shall See Their Faces, introduces Travellers (guided by touch with eyes closed) and Witnesses (engaging visually). Their experiences reveal how the primacy of touch reshapes our sense of time, place, and meaning-making through Poetic Material-ity. This approach challenges ocularcentrism, offering a modern eye remedy by integrating vision anew through tactile and auditory foundations. Woven throughout the entire thesis are Somatic Acts, poetic, embodied invitations for the reader. These acts are more than just exercises; they are integral to the research, bridging theory and practice with sensory experience to make the thesis a participatory, felt journey. Ultimately, this research advocates for a quiet yet profound political act: using somatic practice and costume to cultivate a more holistic way of being in the world. Costume, in this context, transcends mere adornment; it becomes a core choreographic practice, a `Somatic Costume Landscape´ that fosters intimacy, agency, and embodied connection. It offers a vital path to resilience and resistance, redefining what performance can be by returning to the body's felt experience and a non-striving form of attention.

type	research exposition
date	18/09/2025
last modified	10/10/2025
status	in progress
share status	public
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
url	https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/2340259/3790995
external link	www.sallyedean.com

Copyrights

name	sallyedean
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture

name	Sally E. Dean PHD.pdf
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	pdf

name	Poetic_Home
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	MakingBalloonRing_edited
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	home page
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Somatic Costume Dressing Room Trailer - Sally E Dean & Kristina Gjems
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Home Page - Video Thumb
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	S. E. Dean PHD
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	pdf

name	SCDR - Kristina
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	SCDR - Rachel
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	SCDR - Tactile Reflections
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	SCDR - Workshop
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	SCDR - Clare
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	SCDR - Header Image 2.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	wings - droplet - thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	wings - costume - thumb
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	wings - feathers - thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	wings - pour - thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	wings - nest - thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Somatic Act 1: Touch of Our Water Bodies
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 2a: Touch of Breath
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	icons_shoe
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Somatic Act 3a: Touch of Shoes
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 3b: Touch of Invisible Shoes
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 3c: Touch of Shoes: Character
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 3d: Touch of Shoes: Contrasting Tactilities
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Stagen duet2.png
copyright	Sally E, Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Somatic Costume Dressing Room - How to Wrap & Wear Your Stagen
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	somatic - wear stagen - video preview.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Act 4: Touch of Stagen
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	somatic - 4 - video preview.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Act 5.MP3
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 6a: Attending to Nature
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 6b: Attending to Crow & Ant
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	spine_2
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Somatic Act 7: Touch of Spine
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 8: Aware-Wearing
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 9: Touch of Place
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 10: Attending to Eyes
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 11: Attending to Sensing into Feeling
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 12b: Touch of Skin & Clothing
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 13a.MP3
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 13b.MP3
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 14: Touch of Poetics
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 17: Touching & Moving Attention
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 18: Touch of Balloon
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	somatic - 18 - video preview.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Act 19: Making the Balloon-Tight Ring
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	somatic - 19 - video preview.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Act 20: Wearing & Moving in Balloon-Tight Ring
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	somatic - 20 - video preview.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Act 21: Undressing: Balloon-Tight Ring
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	somatic - 21 - video preview.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Act 22: Resting with Balloon-Tight Ring
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	somatic - 22 - video preview.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Act 23. end cut.MP3
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 24 end cut.MP3
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 26: Calming vs. Activating Touch
copyright	Sally E.Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 27: Touch of Invisible Costume
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 28: Facts into Fictions
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 29: An Invitation into Give Them Wings & We Shall See Their Faces, Performance Ritual
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 30a: Touch of Compressive Finger Sleeves
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	somatic - 30a - video preview.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Act 30: Dressing Room - How to Wear Compressive Finger Sleeves
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	somatic - wear sleeves - video preview.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Act 34: Inside a Water Droplet
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	The Somatic Costume Dressing Room - Kristina Gjems & Sally E Dean: with Dialogue
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	SCDR - Kristina - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	1. Balloon Pelvis Half Circle- Sally Making.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Tactile - 1 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	2.Balloon Pelvis Half Circle 2 Rings Front – Sally Wearing.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Tactile - 2 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	3.Balloon Pelvis Half Circle Tube Back- Sally Wearing.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Tactile - 3 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	12.Balloon Torso – Sally Undressing.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Tactile - 12 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	11.Balloon Torso - Sally Lying and Resting.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Tactile - 11 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	10.Balloon Torso – Location of Costume – Sally Wearing & Moving.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Tactile - 10 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	9.Balloon Pelvis Tube Stagen – Joan Walking.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Tactile - 9 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	8.Balloon Pelvis Tube Stagen – Sally Walking.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Tactile - 8 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	7.Balloon Pelvis Tube Stagen – Sally Wearing & Moving.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Tactile - 7 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	6.Balloon Pelvis – Sally after Undressing Tube.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Tactile - 6 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	5.Balloon Pelvis Half Circle Tube Front- Sally Wearing & Moving.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Tactile - 5 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Costume Dressing Room: Workshop
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	SCDR - Workshop - Video - Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Costume Dressing Room - Clare Ballard & Sally E Dean
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	SCDR - Clare - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	The Somatic Costume Dressing Room_Dr. Rachel Hann_Part One.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	SCDR - Rachel Sitting - Video - Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Costume Dressing Room_Dr. Rachel_Hann_Part_Two.mp4
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	SCDR - Rachel Lying - 2 - Video - Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	GTW_Give Them Wings & We Shall See Their Faces - 1 minute Trailer - updated
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	wings - trailer 1 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Give Them Wing & We Shall See Their Faces - 1 Minute Trailer
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	SCDR - Preview Image - Costume Agency
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Give Them Wings & We Shall See Their Faces - The Touch of Sound
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	give them wings - sound - video preview.jpg
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Give Them Wings & We Shall See Their Faces - Full Length Documentation
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	give them wings - full - video preview.jpg
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Give Them Wings & We Shall See Their Faces - 11 minute Somatic version
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	wings - trailer 2 - Video Thumb.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Act 2b: Attending to Stillness & Movement
copyright	Sally E Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 3e: Touch of Somebody Else´s Shoes
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	icons_hand
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Somatic Act 12a: Attending to Skin & Touch Direction
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	compressive_sleeves_1.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	compressive_sleeves_2.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	compressive_sleeves_3.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	compressive_sleeves_4.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	compressive_sleeves_5.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	compressive_sleeves_6.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Somatic Act 30b: Attending to Tactile Finger Collaboration
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	somatic - 30b - video preview.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

name	Somatic Act 31a: Attending to Timing
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 31b: Attending to Order
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 32: Attending to Clouds
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Somatic Act 33: Touch of Lentils
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	somatic - 33 - video preview.png
copyright	Sally E. Dean
license	All rights reserved
usages	image

Comments are only available for registered users.