Performance Response Journal’s Aaliyah Christina reflects on SJ Swilley’s process for making “Who is SJ?” for the Chicago Artist Spotlight Festival. In January/February 2024, SJ held a production residency at the Dance Center of Columbia College supported by Chicago Dancemakers Forum. SJ invited collaborators Mawu Ama Ma'at Gora and Graciella Ye'Tsunami to help shape their work, Aaliyah Christina as an embedded writer, and Jovan Landry as the photographer to document some of the process.
SJ Swilley.
SJ Swilley.
“Let’s go on a journey, but let’s remember: just because you see this doesn’t mean you’re my intended audience.”
They’re up on the catwalk (in the rafters) and they’re speaking in what seems like a stream of consciousness, but it’s clear they’ve thought this through (at least to me). Now, whether they’ve written it down to be a script is up for debate*. They’ve thought it through over and over again. I cannot see them, but that’s only because I’m not sure where they are up there and don’t feel like trying to find them. The sound of their voice in its omniscience will do for now. A playlist of R&B sets a smooth, comfortable vibe for the run.
“I want you to bear witness to me in-process. I want you to see me. I want you to witness me. I want you to… *deep sigh* Perception is so hard.”
…The upper spine does most of the work. I wonder what will happen when they take their socks off and release their lower back and let go of the full control of their lower body. It's all so beautiful anyway. I just wonder what happens when they get ugly.
“Selfish, self-indul-gent… self-indulgent (x4) I’m in my selfish era. How’d you get your name? My momma, a lover, me.”
Repetition is the name of the game and the body is just the board piece. Came to chicago in 2021 and auditioned for Red Clay, presenting more femme, but this city changes you. It’s where dogma and indoctrination come to die. Well… maybe not die, but it’s definitely where they come to sink… drown… suffocate. No more head-tail connection. Release it for a bit. Not forever, just temporarily.
Banner image at top: SJ Swilley with creation collaborators Mawu Ama Ma'at Gora and Graciella Ye'Tsunami.
