Concrete experience: Parkour as a culture of agential learning

Abstract

The field of performer training remains closely entwined with the authorial vision of twentieth Century practitioners. Performers in the context of theatre and dance are still trained to embody specific ways of being and doing, defined in relation the aesthetic and philosophical concerns of artists making work in the last century. However, as industry practices and scholarship move further away from paradigms of single authorship, or ensembles tied to the vision of auteurs, conventional, studio-based training practices have come under scrutiny. This has led educators and institutions to explore alternative models of training, prioritising student agency and choice. This article analyses the decentralised training practices of Parkour. It examines how Parkour practitioners use video sharing to spread innovations in practice and technique, establishing a training culture that promotes agential learning and experimentation. By looking at online documentation of training and video sharing from the Parkour team Storror, the article argues that Parkour training establishes models of experimentation and innovation that are decentralised and rooted in the agency and curiosity of the practitioner. The article concludes by considering how culture and practices from Parkour might inform the broader field of performer training – articulating strategies for encouraging student agency in learning.