“The animator knows that movement is essential to the illusion of aliveness. The rise and fall of a chest, the flutter of eyelids, the grip of a hand: we move, and we appear to be. When an animator or puppeteer brings something inanimate ‘to life’, both puppet and puppeteer embody the mystery of creation itself.
Running through all of my work is the question of what moves us. This question is embedded in both the choreography and content I explore, and has often found expression in the mechanics of puppet and puppeteer. I want to understand and demonstrate the difference between ‘dancing’ and ‘being danced’. I’m interested in the appearance and qualities of consciousness.” — Crystal Pite”