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SPIDERFLOWER

1999 - 2019

SWEDEN

Sweden, in essence, has been the place where the earth / body dialogue became more fluent and saw concentrated development of the role of rhythm and percussion inside the work.

 

A key factor has been the level of support Spiderflower has received. Sweden is progressive as a culture, green matters are important to them and they invest in their creativity and well-being.  Venues are incredibly well equipped, while the land is alive.  I have found it a real joy to work in this environment.

ÄNGSBACKA

Spiderflower's Swedish journey began at Ängsbacka near Molkom in 2010, in response to a random invitation for BABU GAIA! to join a Christmas event.  By chance, there was an opening for some adult sessions which Spiderflower filled, and really all I can say it was like lighting a touch paper - and saw Spiderflower on a roll here for quite a few years.

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Spiderflower worked an ongoing basis with this holistic, eco-minded, arts based centre - perhaps the largest in Scandinavia - providing bespoke blocks of work.

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  • The Sun Child / (Christmas 2010)

  • The Alchemy of Silence / (Easter Dance & Yoga Festival 2011)

  • Life. Is. Beautiful. / (No Mind 2012)

  • The Naked Dreams Longing For Light / (Easter Dance & Yoga Festival 2013)

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Image Source - Courtesy of Angsbacka

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SHAMBALA GATHERINGS

The Flower Drum

Spiderflower moved on from Ängsbacka to Shambala Gatherings where THE FLOWER DRUM has been the main focus, and has worked through several cycles of development.

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On one level, The Flower Drum was an exploration of the relationship between the body, earth and rhythm. When we look to that relationship in detail, this gives rise to the need to look into who we are and where we come from in ancestral terms - as the body will find its root through any ancestral rhythms belonging to the culture we come from. The Flower Drum is then accompanied by a quest, and invites a dancer to research their ancestry in relation to the rhythms they may find existent within it. Once on the floor, this dance is an absolute immersion into rhythm and the drum.

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The quest has been an incredible feature, where stories coming into the space have unearthed some obscure and very nearly forgotten treasure. As these stories have gathered over time, they, like the journey at Avebury, have begun to build a more complete picture of the human relationship with percussion throughout history.

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The Flower Drum as a dance has then morphed into a deeper research project due to move into theatre through TONGUES IN THE FLOWERING TREE, where stories can be shared with the wider whole.

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Our base for The Flower Drum in Sweden has been Shambala Gatherings at Skinnskatteberg.

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With the greatest thanks, and huge amounts of love to Melissa,

Johan and all at Shambala Gatherings.

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PERCUSSION &

PAST

DANCES

2013

Kirby, Rico Persson & Jonas Larsson

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2015

Rico Persson, Bouba Souma & Johan Svanborg

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The Flower Drum - 2016 - Kirby & Afra Bell
00:00 / 00:00

2016

Kirby & Afra Bell

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STOCKHOLM

DANSCENTRUM & FOLKUNIVERSITET 

​​Regular classes and day dances complimented the longer dances at Danscentrum Stockholm and Folkuniversitet Stockholm which became home and base to the 1 YEAR FOUNDATION COURSE - 2011 - 2012. 

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