It was lovely to be at The Old Dairy
http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=26746
and to see old friend Colin Carbis and to be surrounded by Siobhan's beautiful and haunting paintings - i hope to buy one one day and recommend a visit to look at them.
http://www.siobhanpurdy.co.uk/#
I wrote a very long report mainly as i included numerous quotes and photos some of which have been seen on this blog and some haven't ..it had to be edited! but i want to place it on the blog in full, as much of the feedback we recieive goes into reports but isn't always available for those who work/perform in Shallal and the report and this blog is one way of sharing it;
Jo Willis
artistic director
The life of
Shallal it’s; news, insights,
highlights, images and audience reviews is now available on our regularly
updated blog.
Many good things
came together for us in this year. However we started with our now familiar
financial struggle to maintain the main companys flagship work. The support of
many people encourage us to go on, as shown by the following;
"Yes, I
know, it's unusual to send someone else's e-card to wish you a Happy
Christmas! But this one is special. It was designed by 11 year-old
Anna for Shallal, an inclusive community-based charity that makes dance
theatre and related arts accessible to a wide range of people in Cornwall,
particularly those with learning disability. Shallal was started at The
Acorn in Penzance, which I help to run, but later became a stand-alone
charity. They do fantastic,
inspiring work but, like many others, Shallal has this year lost
all the funding it had, not because it is not worthy of support
but because those with the gentlest voices are the hardest to hear."
Colin Rogers
A large plan for
a new Doorways project gave way to a smaller one, due to unforseen circumstances,
and with the bid writing support of the Works, the main company had The
Doorways project underway in the spring and on view in the summer.
Doorways saw Rory Mcdermott’s welcome return to the company as our BBC
funded dance artist, he brought an incredible range of skills and experience,
which we all benefitted from and we were very grateful to work with him again.
“My work with the company was partly
funded by the BBC community arts fund.They funded 3 rehearsal days and 3
performances. I donated 20 extra days in
kind to further my overall commitment to the project and to better the amount
of time spent building supportive relationships with the members of the
company, one of the key aspects and founding principles of Shallal......
My collaboration with Shallal is one of the most
inspiring I have experienced. Not only in terms of the quality of the material
created, all devised directly from the company through workshops and site
visits. But also the professionalism and hard work the company put into the
short intense sessions available to them.
This project was extremely successful,innovative and challenging. Although site specific
performance has become fashionable in the past decade it is rare if not unique
that an inclusive dance theatre company should place there work out in the
wider community at events and locations that allow Shallal’s unique voice to be
witnessed by an audience unaccustomed to seeing such authentic and emotionally
present performances. Shallal’s work is inspiring to say the least and at it’s
best transcendent.
I was surprised and moved by, how,
taking inclusive arts out into the broader community, into new areas of
engagement through site specific projects both performer and audience were
enriched and challenged.”
New members; Star,Trevor, Debs, Duane, Eleanor, Elaine ( returned ) and Jessie.
Alan left during the Doorways rehearsals, and Linda left at the end of the Doorways summer performances. We are deeply grateful to them both for all they gave to Shallal.
This
year saw the main company return to our old working day of Fridays and
developing into the afternoon.
The
afternoons are now dedicated to art and production. This allows more of the co
to be involved in creative meetings, and to show and share visual arts skills,
as well as poetry, photography and film.
Film
We made a short film from Chromatic thanks
to funding and support from The Performance Centre. A nice end to last years
work. Ian Bucknole filmed, helped by Chris Mason, a student at University
College Falmouth. Chris then edited the short
film to Jacqui Callis’s music.
Thank
you to Jacqui for her music and support.
"I had such a wonderful time with everyone and left the performance with
a spring in my step!"
Chris
feedback
from our patron Patrick Gale, " BEAUTIFUL!! ..........I so wish I could have been
there."
watch
the film on Vimeo
Film continued within the Doorways
project and Barbara Santi and
Chris created some wonderful short pieces with ideas and editing input on some
of them from company members.
This year I asked some of visiting artists and
collaborators to write something, i include Barbara’s;
"Working with Shallal is such an honour. A big family with a big
heart, the process is always mesmerising, I laugh, I cry and laugh some more.
It challenges me as an artist and I learn more from the group than they learn
from me! Performances are the best - always real, in the moment, intuitive and
life changing...thank you Shallal!"
Barbara Santi
Director awen productions cic
"Shallal is a statement! About the buzz of inclusion, the
space for individuality and the potential of a community. It goes well
beyond itself, infecting others with its warmth and passion and infusing a
sense of community good will from the inside out.
Shallal has given me an opportunity, through working with the dancers,
to engage in that rare commodity – the moment – which is the real stuff of
life, and the meeting point found so readily in shared creative
improvisation."
Ruth Boulton, music therapist
Dates;
7.10.11 Another successful Big Health Day at The
Eden Project, Zoe supported me in a workshop and performed.
16.11.11 outreach
performance as part of Magical Christmas Cracker Variety Night at the Princess
Pavillions, Falmouth
16.12.11.
"Works in Progress" within The Platform Festive Performance Feast, at The Performance Centre. We were pleased to be invited to be part of this Community event and included Penryn Improvisation and Performance group’s first performance.
"Excellent and heartwarming performance at Tremough!
It's very inspiring to see the freedom of expression the performers have."
"Fantastic - moving and inspirational
totally inclusive"
This was also the first time Andy Parker, photographer, met and worked with us and was the beginning of a fruitful and exciting creative relationship recording and documenting the work, relationships and ethos within Shallal.
9-3-12 Diversifest, UCF at The Performance
Centre, performance of Bridal Gift a compilation of old and new
pieces
Mid
Cornwall Diversity Action group gave us funding to support this performance.
13-2-12 to 15-2-12
I recieved a
bursary to attend the State of the Art, Arts Council Conference, Manchester.
30-3-12 Exhibition at Studio 61, Truro,
planned as part
of a larger project, that didn’t happen, we went ahead with no funding, as we
are keen to begin to promote and give exposure to the visual arts talents
within Shallal, and had so much support from Studio 61. Already established
artists, Zoe Wilton, Eddie Callis and Toby Bridge were joined by Andy Parker.
Sadly Steve
Tanner was unable to participate at the last minute but we had a successful
opening and exhibition, many thanks to Studio 61.The show had good exposure and
sales. From it a painting by Eddie and short film by Zoe were included in the
exhibition Soaring Spirits at
Falmouth Art Gallery later in the year.
Over this time we
were joined by Stephanie on work experience from her dance degree at Swansea.
19-5-12 outreach performance at Olympic Torch
Event Sq Falmouth
22-5-12 Radio
interview Falmouth
1-6 -12 Doorways at Gyllyngdune
Gardens, Fal River Festival
6-6-12 outreach/workshop and performance at Holi-day
Festival at Holifield, Gweek
27-6-12 Coffee
Morning at Sundial House, Truro fund raiser
thanks to Anne,
Michael and all at Sundial House
6-7-12 Doorways at Sea Salts and Sail
Festival, Mousehole
7-7-12 Doorways at Godolphin House
24-7-12 Meeting
at The John Daniel Centre, Penzance re potential studio space
24-7-12 Main
company outing to see Kneehigh’s production of Steptoe and Son at The Asylum;
free tickets from Connections thanks to Kneehigh and old friend Anna Murphy
27-7-12 Attended
Pearl Autism Conference at University College Falmouth
Doorways surpassed our expectations
wtih amazing work and enthusiasm from the company, all rising to the
inspiration and challenge of the site specific work.
Thank
you to;
Gyllyngdune
Gardens, especially Sarah, who couldn't have been better hosts, it was a
fantastic space to work in on all levels; inspiration, access, hospitality,
support.
Godolphin
House, Malc and team, everyone fell in love with the place, it was like a
fantastic film set.
Sea
Salts and Sail, Mousehole the festival organisers, poet Sally Crabtree, and the
owners of Keigwin House.
"If I’m honest I
thought that the performance would be charming but amateur and I had no great
expectations.
However, I was completely mistaken in my opinions, everyone was so
professional and accomplished and the final performances were both moving and
inspirational. The whole event; performances, set dressing, costumes and music
choices were extremely high quality and considered and the professionalism and
skill of everyone taking part shone through. The Doorways project completely
changed my understanding of what Inclusive Arts could be and can achieve."
Sarah
Spiegler WIlliams
"I came across Shallal at Godolphin House .... and
was really moved by their performance.
The setting is
wonderful of course and the performers used the space really imaginatively.
There was a very
real sense of enjoyment and excitement as well as team spirit from all
involved. It is rare to see this level of pride and joy in a performance.
There were particular solo spots from certain performers, one by a woman who
was an incredible dancer and communicator, but it was the company spirit
as a whole which really bowled me over. The music/sound scape was cleverly put
together without being dominant and the simple props were brilliantly
used. I was so impressed I watched the show twice."
Ruth Wall
harpist
Shallal continues to reach people;
"I was lucky enough
to be invited to watch a rehearsal of this inclusive dance company, and was
amazed to see such inclusivity in action. The troop of dancers, some with
disabilities some without, worked as one – the level of emotion shown was
breathtaking and the movement and co-ordination of the dancers stunning.
It was a powerful, inspiring example of how barriers can be removed and I look
forward to seeing Shallal perform again."
Jessica Corby, Equality and Diversity Consultant.
At the end of the year
we feel more robust, we are learning to weather the vagaries of funding, how to
source it for the different strands of Shallal’s work. We have all increased
our skills and confidence in this area, thank you to all who have helped us
with this and continue to. We are now back to self employment for everyone
which helps Shallal as it supports our way of working and enables us all to be
more flexible and responsive.
Trustee Tim Bouton and
Peter Weigand helped us return to self employment status. We are grateful for
the time and support Tim gave us through a difficult transition time, he
recommended Diana to us and was always
understanding of the artists perspective. Thank you to Peter, who sadly died, his humour and experience lit up our meetings and he brought a lot of
insight to it all, our condolences to Viv and his family.....a big thank you for a last
generous gesture by remembering Shallal through donations from his funeral.
Thank you also to Gill our chairperson who gave so much to us in many ways, all
their support helped us turn a difficult transition into a creative time of new
possibilities balanced by caution.
Thank you to everyone, for all the unseen
work that enables it to happen especially from the Trustees and Diana in our
‘office’, to all the facilitators, volunteers, participants, performers,
visiting artists, supporters, family and friends and thanks to you we are still
here and flourishing!
Penryn
Improvisation and Performance Group
Shallal was really pleased to move it’s
Improvisation and Performance group to The Performance Centre. Thank you to
them for free studio space in exchange for free spaces for students.
Winter and spring term we had funding
from the Woodward Charitable Trust to enable: artist Candy Kemp, musician Jamie Mills and composer Roger
Pinsent to visit and work on ideas with the group.
The second term onwards we unfortunately had to change timings and had
changes in support artists, however some wonderful work was done and the
nucleus of a performance group was forming. The space was beautiful and a
pleasure to work in.
Friends and Dancing
The Performance Centre generously hosted our Christmas gathering to show
work to family and friends. Some of the
dancers are unable to perform in other groups, and it is very moving to see
their work.
This group continues to grow and develop. It inspires and informs my
thoughts on Improvisation and group dynamics, many thanks to all who support it and
participate in it. Colin replaced Debs for some
of our funding and everyone enjoyed working with him.
Somewhere you can meet and see people and catch up,
when you haven’t got many places to meet and see people.
Yvonne,
participant
The
highlight of my week, being able to join in and dance with like minded people
in an inclusive setting. This must never stop!
Debra Hocking
community support
worker, participant
July 2012
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