Summer School
for Stockholm
DANCE MOVEMENT THEATRE
7 DAY COURSE
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STOCKHOLM SWEDEN
21st
Celebration
EVENING DANCE
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HAMILTON HOUSE
BRISTOL - UK
The Flower Drum
2019
4 DAY DANCE INTENSIVE
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CORNWALL
UK
The River That Finds
Us
1 YEAR FOUNDATION COURSE
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CORNWALL
UK
RESOURCES
SPIDERFLOWER
2019
TURNING TWENTY
As Spiderflower entered its 20th Year, the work had reached a plateau and an important gear change lay ahead.​​
THE IPCC REPORT
Taking Stock
In 2019, Spiderflower reached a plateau in terms of development and needed to step into a new working structure. Much work had occurred within classes or courses, producing a significant body - but it was vital this was made visible, in order to reach a wider audience.
Spiderflower had been self-sufficient since its conception, which meant it had operated without external funding for all this time. This was a huge achievement in one respect, but on another level, limited the work to courses and trainings in order to sustain itself.
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While many valuable findings had been made with regard to Spiderflower's form, its application to theatre, dialoguing with the land and the role of percussion. A new cycle was due to start in 2020, with the intention to move through a major period of consolidation, before heading into new work for 2021.
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IN RESPONSE TO THE IPCC REPORT
This planned shift was also in response to the 2018 UN report from the IPCC. Spiderflower's work had always held an awareness of climate change. The IPCC report was shocking. On one level it left many feeling powerless, as much of the change needed is in the hands of corporations and governments. As the IPCC report landed, I needed to sit back, take stock and ask the question - 'What is the most effective road to take?'
Activism was one route - but - there was a different and vital element Spiderflower's work could offer; this was and is to hold to the course for beauty.
This meant to stay with what Spiderflower had been doing all along. But it had to become more visible. I did not want to give into forgetting how deep the relationship between body and earth is, and felt Spiderflower's role is to constantly remind people of the phenomenal beauty that is present in the relationship between human and earth, to show that there is a relationship, how real it is and by engaging with this, evolve and bring the effective structures Spiderflower had developed over time through in a visible form - in order to offer future generations something credible for the future.
I felt it did not just have to be about survival.​​
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At this stage, THE CENTRE FOR EARTH-ENGAGED PERFORMANCE RESEARCH was also set to collate Spiderflower's findings as a central resource, whilst developing original work further for performance . . however, as the world turned . . .
COVID-19
Deep Change + Crossing the Bridge
As we reached this juncture, the Covid-19 Pandemic hit.
Everything stopped. Everything changed. ​​​
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During those deeply uncertain times, I held the course of the boat to stay true. I had imagined the change of structure would take place with others, but within the confines of Covid-19, it meant I needed to travel alone.
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Up until this point, I had never, ever considered myself as a solo-performer. The thought was utterly terrifying to me - I felt it to be audacious. But as lockdown and the seriousness of the pandemic bit in, and in the light of what I have said above on climate, I simply felt it ever more critical - to push on.
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Staying real inside how things were, I found my audacity and used the opportunity to take a deep dive into my creative process as an artist, ask the questions needed, explore as a performer in my own right and, in those moments, allow what needed to happen to happen.
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A PECULIAR SHADE OF BLUE : A FILMIC STUDY ON THE NATURE OF GRIEF
In these times, A Peculiar Shade of Blue: A Filmic Study on the Nature of Grief was conceived and supported through its early stages of development by Henry McGrath, along with creative contributions from Rob Purday, Nooshka Storm, Linden Gledhill, Willa Harlatt, Bernadette Kearns, Maddy Morton and Sandra Falkeborn. Thanks go to The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust, The National Trust and our wonderful Crowdfunders for making it all possible. So many gratitudes go to all.
Unfolding since that time, A Peculiar Shade of Blue has reached depths I never anticipated and in all truth, I have needed to travel alone to reach them - with the journey ultimately enabling Spiderflower's work, as intended, to cross the bridge and flower into visibility.
It is now the response to this work that carries the journey forward into its new cycle.
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