Archive for the ‘Dance’ Category

Yorke Dance Project. Figure Ground

Sunday, January 26th, 2014

26th January 2014

On Wednesday I completed the 3 canvas’s for the back-drop to No Strings Attached, the dance choreographed by Causeway Young Artist in Residence  Charlotte Edmonds for Yorke Dance Project‘s upcoming performance at the Lilian Baylis theatre February 27th and 28th. They measure 4m x 2m, too big for my studio walls, so I worked at No Format Gallery, which is on the same site as my studio, with a high ceiling and lots of wall space.

Because of the size I worked in a landscape format, even though they will hang Portrait. Although tricky, easier than climbing a ladder, because Charlotte Edmonds, the Choreographer and Yolande Yorke Edgell, the Artistic Director, haven’t seen the backdrop yet I cannot post a picture, however I’m sure its ok to post a close up of me in action.

me_edited-2

I have never worked so large, but I hope I have the opportunity to so again, I loved it.

Lewisham College, BTEC Dance

Friday, December 13th, 2013

13 December 2013

During the Autumn Term I worked 1 morning a week with the BTEC Dance students at Lewisham College, South London. They were devising short works for the Choreographic Platform examination and performance, I drew them as they progressed through the task.

In my studio, using my drawings of the students as reference I painted a back-drop for their performance of 3 banners, painting directly onto canvas with acrylic.

lewisham11

lewisham 12

lewisham8

I asked the students to draw each other to encourage them to observe movement through a different means and look closer at their peers while they worked.

lewisham drawings

Student’s drawings of each other dancing

In September 2012 I invited Lewisham College BTEC dance students to dance in no format gallery where I had a solo exhibition, they created dances inspired by my work which were performed in the gallery at the end of the week. A video was made of their performance.

Vigil outside South Africa House for Nelson Mandela

Saturday, December 7th, 2013

7 December 2013

Last night I joined the hundreds outside South Africa House to sing, to dance, to mourn and to celebrate the life and extraordinary person Nelson Mandela.

1 Mandela

2 Mandela

At the door to South Africa House in Trafalgar Square flowers, candles and messages to Nelson Mandela. In front of the flowers people danced, clapped and joined in the continuous beautiful songs sung by a large and growing group of men and women.

On the way home I passed a busker with his guitar outside Charing Cross Station he called out ‘Madiba this one is for you’ many people stopped rushing for their trains and stood still, some sang along, some gently smiled, some danced or swayed as he sung Bob Marley’s One Love.

In 2010 my talented cousin John Gardner created a large bronze sculpture of Nelson Mandela from life, now in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town.

 

A Maker’s Dozen. Christmas Pop-Up

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

2nd December 2013

Today I hung 10 framed etchings in a Christmas Pop-Up shop at Craft Central, Clerkenwell. Work includes my framed and un-framed prints, artwork, jewellery, furniture, cushions, hand-made wood boxes, wood framed mirrors, greetings cards and decorations.

Join us for the

Opening Night Party

Tuesday December 3rd, 6-9pm

Free entry into our raffle to win a £40 voucher to spend in store

3rd – 8th December 10am – 9pm

Craft Central33-35 St John’s Square, Clerkenwell, London EC1M 4DS

FAllen

Participating Second Floor Studios & Arts members: Abigail Dace / Bertram Whitford / Celina Garcia-Leoni / Chris McGee / Karina Cabrera / Rhian Mclaren / Sarah Claxton / Sally McKay / Nikki Pearson / Stephanie Ross / Jane Cairns / Netti Birch / Laura Grain

Fang-Yi Sheu and Yuan Yuan Tan

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

14 November 2013

Edwaard Liang / Russell Maliphant / Christopher Wheeldon. An Evening Featuring Fang-Yi Sheu and Yuan Yuan Tan

Dancers Fang-Yi Sheu, Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith and Clifton Brown perform at Sadler’s Wells.

3b Russell Maliphant1

3c Russell Maliphant

PresentPast. Choreographer Russell Maliphant, lighting designer Michael Hulls, dancer Fang-Yi Shue

6 Russell Maliphant

After The Rain. Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, dancers Yuan Yuan Tan and Damian Smith

8 Russell Maliphant

Five Movements, Three Repeats. Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon dancers  Fang-Yi Sheu, Yuan Yuan Tan, Damian Smith and Clifton Brown

9 Russell Maliphant

Two by Two. Choreographer Russell Maliphant; lighting designer Michael Hulls, dancers Fang-Yi Shue and Yuan Yaun Tan

Yorke Dance Project

Sunday, November 10th, 2013

10th November

A Sharing at a Sadler’s Wells studio to an invited audience to see sections of three of the dances Yorke Dance Project are developing for their 2014 Tour. Last year I created a life size wire sculpture to be on stage with Yolande Yorke-Edgell while she danced in Noted.

For the 2014 tour I am working on a backcloth for a dance choreographed by young choreographer Charlotte Edmonds.

YDP sharing 5s

YDP Sharing 9s

 

No Strings Attached, choreographed by Charlotte Edmonds

YDP sharing 17s

YDP sharing 21s

Yolande Yorke-Edgell dancing Canciones Del Alma choreographed by Robert Cohan in 1978 and being reconstructed for her for the 2014 tour

Robert Cohen Robert Cohan in the rehearsal

 

Rambert Dance Company at Sadler’s Wells

Wednesday, October 30th, 2013

23 October 2013

Rambert 1

Rambert 8

Subterrain choreography Ashley Page

Rambert 2

Rambert 7

The Comedy of Change choreography Mark Baldwin

Rambert 6

The Castaways choreography Barak Marshall

Rambert will celebrate the move to a new home on the Southbank with two weeks of free events, 2 -14 December

The Big Draw. Drawing Dance

Monday, October 28th, 2013

This week I am working with New Art Club’s Tom Roden and award-winning dancer choreographer Anna Williams to research and develop an interactive touring project of Drawing Dance at Greenwich Dance where I am Resident Artist.

Drawing Dance 1

Drawing Dance 2

Help create a giant picture, test our ideas and be part of the unfolding story

Saturday 2nd November 11am & 2pm at Greenwich Dance

Pay What You Can

Part of The Big Draw and Family Arts Festival

Dance Umbrella. Trisha Brown Dance Company

Sunday, October 13th, 2013

11th October 2013

Trisha Brown Dance Company. Proscenium Works, 1979-2011

Platform Theatre at Central St Martins to see three works from the Trisha Brown Dance Company, part of Dance Umbrella 2013.

Trisha Brown.1.copyright Sally McKay

Astral Convertible (1989) with sound score by John Cage, Visual Presentation & costumes by Robert Rauschenberg.

Trisha Brown.2.Copyright Sally McKay Watermotor (1978)

Trisha Brown.4.Copyright Sally McKay

Trisha Brown.5.Copyright Sally McKay

I’m going to Toss My Arms – If You Catch Them They’re Yours (2011)

In the corridor entrance to the theatre a treat was in store,  an exhibition from the enormously talented dance photographers Hugo Glendinning and Chris Nash.

Wayne McGregor Random Dance. Atomos

Thursday, October 10th, 2013

October 10th 2013

Random 6

random 9

Random 5

Atomos, Wayne McGregor‘s new work with his company Random Dance is thought provoking and stunningly beautiful, danced by ten extraordinary dancers. Lighting by Lucy Carter.  Next performance is at Brighton Dome November 8th.