news .....

This week:
meeting with Lou and Jasmine Cole, really helpful.

Just sent out draft timetable for Back Lane West BLW November residency - big smile - love it!
No funding is :/ but it gives freedom, and can't complain as this year i didn't apply for any in time.

New member in Shallal Dance Theatre just shared her degree was Visual and Performing Arts at Brighton and she did an animation of a model dancing through abstract landscape - FUN -, a returning artist/dancer.

Always nice to drop in on Friends and Dancing and Express Yourself and this year they are seriously engaging with the residency thanks to Barry this year and the seed of it with Colin, Yvonne, Phil and Harry last year.

Possible new venue, for Embodied Spaces, Tremenheere Gardens gallery ....i'm still in love with art galleries and unlikely spaces.

The poetry book draft travels with me...and has some good responses.

Our friends work is inspiring . ...http://nigelmaynard.weebly.com/
saturated colour, abstraction...love it.
He came into BLW last year.

Anna and Annis are photographing again ....and I get our back terrace cleaned by Anna so they can photo shoot!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhgzblVH7pe/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1vfb6zoh6qe9h
Pleased to give them a chunk of time in BLW this year.

Trustees meeting tonight! 2 new local skilled trustees to welcome on board.

Liskeard group today and this time i have charged the camera battery but it sounds like rain, so light might not be as good as it can be.
 The group of talented dancers stretches my skills and is very good for me, i learn so much from everyone i work with. Anna and Luke coming today.
Masking tape on the floor week. One of my favourite things.

Miles and Jane at Express Yourself

Good news re Studio space available for Shallal Studios at St Peters Hall more on studio blog!
http://www.shallalstudios.com/blog

And eventually i will stop going on so much about my dear brother and his wife's film as going to see it on Sunday. Looking forward to meeting again the people from their camp who worked so hard for the vision of it.
http://film.britishcouncil.org/the-elephant-queen


Good news we will be part of a performance project Operation Neptune at Trebah Gardens wait to hear more soon and the opportunity to work with lovely Harry Theaker again.

Embodied Space at Porthmeor Studios

Well, "i am so pleased" a dangerous thing for an artist to say.
With it comes congratulations to all the performers and artists in Shallal Dance Theatre.
Lovely George gave us beautiful recorded music as he was heading for the South of France that day and could not be with us, however he dropped into the morning to see his music first responded to.
Thank you also to Chris Hibbert it feels like a nicely established relationship now, our fourth event with them, 3 months studio residency, Shallal 2 show and a photography exhibition and now this!
Thank you to a great audience and for all the helpful feedback.

The dancers held it beautifully, responded to the space, music and each other with all the skills needed.


Audience response in Comments book.

"Moving uplifting, stunning"
"Fantastic! really enjoyed it all"
"Inspiring and beautiful!"
"Brilliant - loved it!"
"What an uplifting show. The talent and togetherness was lovely"

a message to the company
" This has been so beautiful, I have been on an emotional journey today I did not expect, the care, love and respect present in your interactions is so uplifting.  So many beautiful moments developing in the space, it was so inspiring and left me wanting to watch more."

Thank you to Star and Jacob for snaps from Jonathan and Stars duet.
I was to preoccupied and nervous to organise film and photography and thinking the back light would be too strong, however with windows into ceiling the light was far better than i had imagined and we missed an opportunity, never mind next time!

The space was more exciting than i had remembered so the treat of different levels ( window seat and stand on ledges) with the stunning backdrop of the waves and the sky! and the white walls with the then rubbed back wood.
One of our trials was to let people dress for the occasion/event, often we notice in sessions that people are ' colour coded' in matching hues and tones, so we let that happen with minimum guidance and it worked so well!
"I am so pleased" this is the style of work we put on hold while immersed in Doorways, it ticked on quietly in the warm ups but couldn't be fully explored, it opens a world of possibilities for performance, touring artistic freedom and independence, embracing different venues.
With less George time of improv music i was scared to be DJ'ing so much but feedback was it was ok and we interspersed with song, poetry, voices this enables us to bring in so much, Kerry T has a wonderful poem ( and Toby has a haiku for next time ).
We can build on things we have done before and revel in something completely new.

This is how i have always wanted to explore work so for me a real treat, to take improvisation as far as it can go and the team of performers recent and experienced rose to the challenge.

Here's to more!

(One new person warmed up but sat out for the actual show with understandable reasons and for some performers such close proximity to the audience and risk can be too much, so the freedom in the structure/approach can hold that and they enjoyed watching. 
Physical or emotional/psychological reasons for not feeling able to perform are able to be accommodated, this is really important for real inclusion, we all come with our support needs and issues, challenges in the day or lifetime!) 

Also in the past when faced with small challenging venues we have taken a smaller group, this way of working enabled everyone who wanted to to come and again, "I was so pleased" as we managed it and the performers really used the space very well.
Warm up has also been a factor and we had session in the space as well as in the morning at our rehearsal hall.

So this continues this year with other intriguing venues in the pipeline including Minack Theatre car Park!!
Kestle Barton garden now moved to Spring not this October! hoping for good weather....
Newlyn Art Gallery and i really want to get into that beautiful new space at the Tate!

And finally 'so pleased'- again!- that Chris Hibbert said this should be "going into Schools and we should be an NPO", that is what we are working towards, to have the freedom to go where needed and share the work more widely not always constrained to projects.
We need to be able to pay people and develop the work, to seed it on further.

I'm off to a possible studio meeting, fingers crossed.
Annis and Anna have offered to volunteer in their Gap Year..lots for them to do!
Lou is writing an interesting short project bid, ( she brings her creative and thorough brain to fund hunting) which we would love to do, as many of the company also relish getting stuck into a theme and research. This time we might be able to work with Hypatia Trust - fun. http://hypatia-trust.org.uk/
Draft copy of potential poetry book returned and our learning curve continues, thank you to Anna for pulling it together, really need funds to take it further, but good to see the poems in print, and its one of source materials for our Illustrations theme performance and exhibition this Christmas, by Shallal 2 and friends.
Falmouth Art Gallery December ...oops date not in calender, another 'post it' job to do...

Embodied Spaces, groups and The Elephant Queen movie!

Well, I can now clearly enthuse about our new 'show'
Show is the right and wrong word.
In artistic response to the fun and structure and joy of responding to heritage ( our last project Cornish Doorways) we now go ... freeform!
It's definitely 'showing', and possibly the nearest to seeing a session in action, we are back into Dance with the story emerging from the responses: it is driven by environment, people, music (and audience i guess but that remains to be experienced!)
Shallal is the sum of its parts.

I recently found a CD of an old show i thought we only had on video, Midnight Feast about the third or fourth show we ever did. Music by Roger Pinsent and new work inspired by Rory Mcdermott! Poetry, song, characters/story telling, relationship, abstraction, whacky props, wonderful to revisit.

In conversations i have heard professionals say you never see work as 'good' as you get in workshops. This 'show' wants to bring that workshop experience of 'in the moment' fun/drama and performance/sharing to the audience.

So this new work is built from Always New, Shared Spaces and Pop Ups. It involves everyone in the company who wants to be in it on the day and dancers who were unavailable, having seen the improvs yesterday are now talking about just 'popping' into it from the audience!
It stretches the role and freedom of each artist, subject to the discipline of mutual support and the 'giveaway/gift/offering' to an audience.
So the dancers are authentic, spontaneous, have clear intention and performing!
The last one stretches the experience, how does what they are doing/want to do: build the picture, support/enhance the whole. Pep made a good comment a while ago that we are a company. While feeding back to each other after a 'run' cos you can't really rehearse it as there is a process not a 'show.' We spoke about levels of trust and support i joked it took over 3 years to build it between Colin and Kerry and Colin said "and more"!
Also the levels just keep increasing, yesterday while workshopping everyone did some fantastic partner work, trust levels and risk taking increasing all the time and we all still appreciate and enjoy each others work, watching is as important as doing!
So come along and see! We are excited! The dancers are keen, pleased to do it!


Tell us what you think, we'd like to know.
The idea for Embodied Space was originally an R&D and then became formed into a tour and now is what it is? as we have not yet achieved full funding ( so our other venues rest in the balance) and will have to reapply!? ( Bother! - in the background we need to pay ourselves, 'mouths to feed' level) but the 'show' goes on and ( creatively we have freedom and we need to progress, keep pushing, part of that this time is with the audience, so as i write this it reminds me that we will need to evaluate it for our own interest ) we continue.

The space is small and inspiring with a window out onto Porthmeor beach.
Look forward to seeing you there.

It's busy with the new term.
This week.....
Lovely to return to cover for a session for Debs at Express Yourself and Friends and Dancing FAD!
A lovely big, friendly, fun, well established group, and in a dance studio, spacious, light, good floor. The Dracaena Centre is impressive, constant community groups, small cafe and many people stay on for sports session in the afternoon.
Participants can progress on to Shallal 2, that evening 5-6.30pm at Emmanuel Baptist Church Hall.
This group is again friendly and diverse, it's always interesting to see how new people respond to Shallal and a new ( Argentinian)  mother and baby daughter responded by this week bringing along a  Roumanian friend and her toddler son and the visiting granny from Argentina! we felt very international! and everything stops for babies.... we are gently working towards our Christmas show/sharing.
David, Esme, Miles, Emily and Leigh all came to Shallal 2 via Friends and Dancing.
Emily, Miles and Esme do FAD and then come on to Shallal 2, Emily then goes for 3 sessions as she also comes to Shallal Dance Theatre on Friday.

We wish Peter Kirby well, we hope he is recovering and hope to see him in one of these groups soon. He has come the same route and we wait to see which group he chooses to go back to.
It is good to be able to offer a range of experience/involvement to suit different needs and times of ones life.

New possibilities for Shallal Studio in the wings, a meeting coming up to explore it, more news in a few weeks time.
Shallal Sketchbooks dreaming and scheming with Kerry T: 2 workshops waiting to go and 2 artists to interview and an exhibition coming soon!

Then my week goes on to Liskeard group and conversations with Gemma from Wheal Martyn around an arts festival this term. I look forward to working with some of the same and some new groups. A conversation with Thomas about how much he wants to further his career/experience, he has done a lot of training/performing with Far Flung http://farflungdancetheatre.co.uk/.
.and while watching the group, the question,  How to get their work more widely seen?
It takes time to embed Shallal into a community, one of the ways is to do small performances, as it works by attraction, also word of mouth recommendation, the best advocates are those who enjoy it.

Lois has been busy rehearsing for:


Lois is the associate artist in Liskeard "Out There' group. When she can't come i have had the pleasure of working with other amazing local dancers, Sarah who is in Physical Postcards and was already one of my favourite dancers to watch,  Miranda https://www.facebook.com/MirandaHowardDanceArtist/
and Sam Lawrence http://samlawrencedance.co.uk/

i've always wanted to film on hard sand and found this .....
http://samlawrencedance.co.uk/project/bodies-on-the-beach

Demelza shared this recently watch from 4.40mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YH4-cyt-04&feature=share

On Thursday mornings while Out There happens in Liskeard, at the other end of the county Colin and Kerry are at the Acorn, Penzance with Open House.


Really happy my dear brother and his wife have success from TIFF...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMwdW7c2in4
https://deadline.com/2018/09/apple-acquires-global-rights-to-documentary-the-elephant-queen-toronto-international-film-festival-1202460419/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3UQzxAVErw

and i'm so excited to see it in London in October, now its finished ( i have seen an early edit)
and the composer Alex Heffes http://alexheffes.com/news
has provided our groups with ongoing inspiration through his CD Face to face
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/face-to-face/id579649755

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jyPePALmIo

Which leads me back to the power and beauty of Improvisation!
Come and see Embodied Spaces..

new term...news....

We are back after the holidays revving up for the start of sessions next week.

Straight into preparation for St Ives Festival for Shallal Dance Theatre...


and
Shallal 2
R&D for Illustration theme commission from Falmouth Art Gallery and, oh yes an exhibition as well to accompany it, a challenge,
and how to maintain all the good work until more funders support us.....

We take solace in we have survived thus far!

£600 was raised for Shallal Sketchbooks -  thank you all who supported it.

A potential studio was visited but we need to follow it up and even if we can reserve it we need the rent!!!

And thank you again to Kneehigh for our annual trip to the theatre on Monday 10 September, twenty of Shallal will enjoy free theatre with a drink! generousity and inspiration combined!

Studio needed and more generous contacts

Zoe sends me many lovely photos, this is one of how Al's guitar travels in surreal style on his bike.

Yesterday i received a phone call from Margot who was travelling in UK and found a flyer about us at Krowji.
She is off to Russia so we look forward to hearing about it from her on her return.
Her website:....http://www.bodywisedance.com/

i googled her mentor Liz Lerman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkXeMuJrXrQ

As always something happens to keep me semi alert through the holidays, many thank to all Shallal's friends and supporters ..........we are looking for STUDIO SPACE

Shallal Studios are asking for HELP
We need a low cost or free accessible studio that we could hire for a minimum of 3-6 months? 
or can we share your studio space? 
have you any ideas/suggestions ..
we would love to hear from you as time is running out.
WHY
As Shallal Studios has secured funding for £10,000 worth of equipment,
however as our new studio space has unexpectedly become unavailable
we are in danger of having to let go of this opportunity if we can't set up our studio and use it soon.

Please consider giving if you haven't already to support Shallal Sketchbooks

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/shallal-sketchbooks-1

Last few sessions before the holidays.

It's been a good year and we look forward to our next project.


..............................

So here i am in holiday type mode, or nearly, the joy of self employment! and some threads to tie up - all nice.

Morning phone call with lovely Johnny Mars and permission to use an original piece of music and hope to do much more...i do love harmonicas and he has covers of some of my favourite jazzy/blues tunes....as well as a beautiful original piece - so it looks as if the film ideas are going to reappear!
www.johnnymarsfoundation.co.uk
A generous sharing spirit and a lovely connection from Toms' mum Judy ..we also have permission to use Sarah Flossy's amazing tune, both played at the service celebrating Tom's life.
https://soundcloud.com/sarahflossy/a-bridge-to-tom

Hope to tidy the short film for general viewing over the holidays.

Even more:
http://www.together2012.org.uk/activities-programme/together-2018-disability-film-festival/
i don't always warm to things with Disability in front of people but this sounds like a great festival!
Thanks to Barbara for sharing it with us.
I'm off to read her elegant report on Doorways with Lou Brett's appraisal as well.

One of Shallal's 'proteges' is doing film so i won't put her off by mentioning her by name but i hope she and others might take on this idea so we can do more 'arty' films.
We have such agreat film maker/editors in Barbara, and Lou and George are also really good so now just want to do more art/dance film with music and cross art form etc.....

Groups and Blue Light day

Really pleased to have Thomas with us now, he has had a great career so far in dance http://farflungdancetheatre.co.uk/ and we met him when he visited Shallal Dance Theatre on work experience many years ago, since then we kept bumping into each other and last year at the Blue Light Day we discussed his coming along and now he is with us every Thursday at The Liskeard group http://www.shallal.org.uk/out-there-liskeard-community-group.html

The Liskeard group is currently 'small and beautiful', every group determines its personality by character and preferences of the participants.
Sadly i can't be with Alice, Lois and Tom tomorrow (but am not there for a good reason as we have visitor from a potential charity funder to Friends and Dancing, who are practicing for their Sharing next week 11.30am Wednesday in the dance studio at the Dracaena Centre, Falmouth, everyone welcome - free )

So do get along to see 'Out There' if you can, as they work in an exciting choreographic open improv style. Alice is a natural and Tom and Lois have a lot of experience and know each other well, all of which adds to the show 3 new pieces of work!
photos on FB ttps://www.facebook.com/ShallalDanceTheatreCompany

Miles and Barry portraits... we are enjoying having Barry share his expertise with us in the Express Yourself session before Friends and Dancing
http://www.shallal.org.uk/friends-and-dancing.html
Wednesday morning
http://www.shallal.org.uk/express-yourself.html

Shallal 2, Wednesday evening warm up exercises in 3's
this group is a progression from Friends and Dancing with performance opportunities and a more mixed group it's time allows families to attend. There are currently 3- 4 families attending!
http://www.shallal.org.uk/shallal-2.html

Luke's foot

 'Out There', lovely floor, light space Thursday mornings Liskeard
floor warm up

I don't have a photo for Open House Penzance which is also on Thursday morning at The Acorn Penzance. However i met a delightful man on a trolley in A&E in the springtime who had been to Open House Penzance and waxed lyrical - he was Irish - about the group and how much he had enjoyed it and it had helped his movement  - he had acute and chronic health.

Thoughts .....

written on the morning of the 22nd June
posted on 23rd 

Deep calls to deep

I often use the phrase 'non verbal art forms' then 'gestural communication'...

All this and more 'soul'  (don't speak that one often but would like to collect essays on it..another project for the bucket list!)

What is this place where we can meet?

It is a place of privilege to watch people be authentic, spontaneous, collaborative , considerate...

Yesterday Pam said,"is it giving or being given?".

Symbiotic is another word i often use....

I think the work evokes/ provokes these questions/ responses...

It goes past the head ...the head arrives after often, when we think ...why we still come? are still engaged? not bored?

I don't claim this 

, people move on and leave

Some of us remain...

So yesterday with the death of Tom I am considering, where does this deep love and meeting come from?

I don't have the answers but I wonder at the surroundings to it...

Sharing at depth, risking, showing vulnerabilty, mutually supporting, joy , fun

Pam also mentioned a Greek word which encompasses happy/ sad...a good one for me at this time.

A place of connection, with oneself with others...with ' the other' that can come through art and creativity.

Mutual respect.

And often to be able to make work, meet in a 'real' place, you share difficulties as by naming them you can then move....not therapy but sometimes therapeutic! And art can take us out of ourselves give us beauty, 'move us'..

So many thanks, Marjorie, Helen, Eileen, Tom.

We make the work today with love for Marjorie our ' matriarch' a real servant and celebrator of life...

'Mind the gap'was in honour of Eileen particularly Phosphoresence.

Anna and I are working on a poetry book it's been a long time in the wings and Helen was our first poet! A zany wonderful creative spirit...

I write soon to ask Sarah if we may use a beautiful piece of music composed in memory of Tom to make a short film...

Marilyn shone on stage with a joy of dancing that her dementia couldn't dim...

Paul Gosling was a sublime performer moving a friend to tears as he improvised outside Truro cathedral I had placed us on the pavement outside ( Truro dance festival,, he chose to dance the whole square solo to a tune for him by Charlie Heykoop as he gestured up to the cathedral bringing it into the dance, neither he or Marilyn had clear speech they didn't need it when they danced they touched depth, as did dear Jean who danced in Friends and Dancing and helped me look more at ' gestural communication' as when she danced with you she gave you her heart in its sweet generousity..a privilege to meet in those places.

So that is why I keep working...