I am a dance artist and set designer interested in finding ways of adapting work to new environments, and engaging with audiences in new ways. The work I create is humorous and highly physical, making it both accessible and entertaining.
Artistic Objective
When creating work I want to make something that is gripping for an audience, but without them necessarily understanding why. As such, my work is often a contradiction in terms. It is incredibly physical, but places an equal emphasis on subtle gestural moments and outlandish exaggerations of pedestrian action. It moves seamlessly from the minimalist, to the fantastic, to the completely nonsensical. This juxtaposition, though bizarre, provokes a sort-of understated humour by coaxing the audience into an acceptance of the inexplicable, and delight in the non sequitur.
I have a background both in dance and set design, and I am interested in finding ways of adapting work to new environments. Over the past year I have been collaborating with a lighting designer, a sound designer and a composer, to see if we could create a mutual coexistence between movement, light and sound. The three different elements should work in harmony together, whilst also being independent from one another - like a conversation.
I believe that each of the works I create are accidentally linked to past experiences of mine. In 2003 I had a brain tumour removed from my left temporal lobe, which badly affected my aural and visual memory. The different works I create are like a journey through my own forgotten past. I recently discovered that a work I choreographed in 2014, was heavily inspired by my grandparents.
Teaching
The classes I teach are release based, with aspects of physical theatre, choreology and David Zambrano's flying low technique also integrated. The movement I teach has a constant flow of energy, even when in stillness. I am interested in discovering how the velocity of movement and the use of weight can make an action more effortless. The classes I teach are self exploratory, and often include improvised based tasks.
When working with set material I am interested in seeing how new bodies can adapt movement to make it their own. I give an outline of what the movement looks like, paying particular attention to it's pathway through space, for people to use as a rough guide. I am interested in seeing the decisions different groups and individuals make. My classes therefore require a strong internal presence and spatial awareness.
I work as an education outreach teacher for TrinityLaban, at a range of different secondary schools across south east London. In 2016 I worked as a guest teacher and choreographer at University of Cumbria for a two month period. During my time there I choreographed The Village of Lazy (pictured below) on the BA2 students.
