Amber Downie Back works in interdisciplinary performance and creation as a mover, creator, collaborator and dramaturge. Interested in integrating dance in collaborative contexts with other media, such as sound and video art, Amber's practice views the reflection of physical spaces in the digital world. Creatively, Amber focuses on Murphy's Law and the contrasting adage Yphrum, exploring the many combinations of what can and will be, investigating perceived boundaries between process/product and performer/audience.
PERFORMANCE
Amber in Martin Messier's Innervision. Photo Credit: David Wong (2019)
Amber has worked professionally as a performer on various projects including numerous personal and collaborative creations. In movement, Amber's approach and style embodies the dynamic qualities of energy transfers, repetition, and contrast between isolated staccato and fluidity. These opposing push-pull patters demonstrate the cyclical effect of feedback loops in the body. Inspired by the connection between sound, rhythm and movement, Amber explores musicality and its influence on physicality. Amber demonstrates a keen kinesthetic awareness, mindful of the uncertain nature of performance which often requires instant problem-solving. Amber strives to work in inclusive and equitable environments that value safe and transparent approaches to work.
CREATION
'Willow' (Collaborative Creation). Photo Credit: Ian Rogers (Kalyx Collective/Cross-Pollination, 2017)
With experience creating professionally both personally and collaboratively, Amber offers choreography to companies and collectives. In creation Amber works with durational improvisation and instinctual movement pathways, often exploring approaches to chance choreography. Amber is attracted to unconventional performance spaces; here, there is more room for an intimate engagement with the architecture and provides a lessened separation between performer and audience. Amber's process is heavily documentation based and so, a large part of the work is a presentation of methods used. Amber strives to create engaging and unexpected creations with clear subject matter presented honestly and in a way that opens bother performer and viewer to the possibility of individual and collective reflection.
In addition to choreographic and personal creative endeavours, Amber also offers curatorial and dramaturgical services. Amber has assisted in curating galleries and events with the likes of Kalyx Collective, with the goal of creating safe and immersive environments for artist and audience engagement. When offering dramaturgical services, Amber treats invitations into creative processes with the utmost respect and care - assisting others in achieving their creative vision and artistic goals rather than inhabiting a creative or directive role. Amber strives to help others investigate their material and make connections to further understand their own work - asking questions, offering perspectives, and building bridges between the imagination and what can be accomplished. Most recently, Amber was honoured to be asked in Sierra Megas' process during the Performance Lab Residency at Impulse Theatre's Peek Festival, for her in-development work 'Beach Studies'.
For a list of performance & creative credits, awards and training education - see the detailed CV below.