What has become of practice?

In this text, I attempt to trace the possible transformations of the concept of artistic practice due to an exhausted use and appropriation by institutions and how this might be connected with the dominant social and economic structure which – let’s call it by its name – is neoliberal capitalism. The text emerged from a need to think further on the question of ‘what dance practice can and could become in our wider environment at this moment in time?’ included in the editorial letter of Choreographic Turn #7: Deborah Encounters, a 5-day event organised and produced by Nomad Dance Academy Slovenia which took place in Ljubljana in April 2023. This edition was focused on the notion of dance practice and was curated by Dragana Alfirević in collaboration with Jana Jevtović, Dejan Srhoj and Jasmina Založnik. ‘Deborah Hay and four of her collaborators from different periods of her and their work’ were invited ‘to expose the notions, forms of work and outcomes associated with dance practice.’ I participated, as part of the 5th round of the project Critical Practice Made in YU.