Creating Connections is a collaborative research project funded by British Council International Collaborations fund. North Wales-based Kate Lawrence of VDKL, Venice-based Wanda Moretti of Il Posto and Brighton-based Lindsey Butcher of Gravity & Levity are all internationally known vertical dance choreographers, dancers and educators. We aim to build on our collaborative practices for vertical dance and draw on the approaches developed in the experimental dance scene of the 1970’s (think Trisha Brown, Simone Forti, Robert Morris) to deepen and develop our practices around inclusion, participation and inviting different and new audiences into our work.
The first took place at the Vertical Dance Centre in Marghera, Italy, hosted by Il Posto, working with a group of 15 male refugees aged 19 to 56 from Afghanistan, Columbia, Eritrea, Gambia, Libya, Pakistan, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Ukraine, from the Rossarol Centre.
We explored moving together in an atmosphere of mutual trust, sharing space with respect and care and laughing a lot. We discovered how important dance is to mutual well-being, empathy and understanding.
Participants said:
How I looked into your eyes!
Since I arrived in Italy it’s the first time I dance
Even I, who have sadness in my heart, ended up laughing.
The second workshop takes place 5 – 7 October, hosted by VDKL. We will be working with groups of children with multiple sensory and physical disabilities and their teachers Ysgol y Gogarth in Llandudno, North Wales.
The final workshop takes place 10 – 14 October, hosted by Gravity & Levity. We will be working with D/deaf and disabled dance artists at South East Dance‘s gorgeous new building The Dance Space.
In these final 2 weeks, aerial designer Mish Weaver will be joining us and responding with simple design propositions for participants to work with in the vertical dance space.
Creating Connections: in conversation.
We’ll be sharing the outcomes of each stage in a film along with a public online discussion in a FREE seminar on 9th December 2022. Booking: https://www.facebook.com/events/405129911826864/?ref=newsfeed