Deconstructing Creativity: Non-Linear Processes and Fluid Roles in Contemporary Music and Dance

The stereotype of creativity as an isolated, individual activity has given way to a more nuanced understanding of creativity as a social process. Our interview study of 23 contemporary music composers and choreographers focuses on the role that physical artifacts play in shaping creative collaborations with performers. We found that creators and performers form relationships where the creator acts as \textit{an author, a curator, a planner, or a researcher} and the performer acts as \textit{an interpreter, a creator, an improvisor, or an informant}. Furthermore, we found that creators sculpt, layer and remix artifacts, moving fluidly across these different forms of interaction throughout the creative process. We conclude that the "slippages" that occur at the seams between roles and interactions drive creativity forward by opening up pathways into the future.