Refllection on recent events

Today saw the culmination of a lot of planning and collaboration for two small but significant Shallal Dance Theatre events.

Saturdays procession with Make and Mends and todays 10 min performance at The Ladder for a visit from the HRH Duchess of Gloucester, who stayed to chat with everyone immediately after the performance.

Dean Evans greeted her with some Passmore words and Jo L was there story telling ( for Writers block ) to a room full of under 5's and parents, so it felt a 'family affair' with tea and cake afterwards. Thank you to Felix and Josh for inviting us, it's inspiring to see The Ladder develop and open up more and more.

I have heard many good comments from the dance performed in response to Janets paintings and Amys soundscape, on Saturday at Back Lane West, congratulations to Becky, Anna, Miles and Zoe.  We work to give dance artists autonomy and confidence in their style, process and collaborations and it works, as shown by how well they did and the wonderful feedback from the audience. 

 Since the pandemic the cross over between groups which Zoom enabled and the relative availability of Shallal artists has meant we sometimes feel more like a loose collective,  today the feedback was how much joy and freedom people can feel from the performers even from a short performance, we are like a family and are a strong community. This always requires work, it is never something you can take for granted, and we need the special 'holding' understanding of each persons unique needs, but once our vulnerabilities are accepted/held then wonderful things can happen, in the creative space/moment.

Eddie and Zoe represent many of the sides and talents in Shallal and were there today, with Demelza signing the Lighthouse poem, Star and Colin in the puppets, Debs, and Jilly dancing  and Kerry T speaking her moving Silent Voice of Nature poem, which we ended with.

We managed to mention Signing needing to be taught in schools from early years onwards, and What  would Passmore do now?, some of our favourite topics!

Also playgrounds for people with disabilities might be a new one, Debs mentioned it today and i know Stewart worked on one in London. We might join it up with our research and Situated Action thinking, ' play ' is vital. Toilets that's another topic and oh so many!

Very nice to be asked on Creative Communities Advisory group, going in with Universal Design, Equity, Access, Culture Declares Emergency, Doughnut Economics, circular sustainable approaches and global crisis responses hats on!!

Podcast 8 out now 

Back Lane West Sharing on Saturday 1-4pm, Anna and I will be there with coffee and cake do drop in to have a chat and see the range of art produced.

HRH Duchess of Gloucester with everyone
Jilly, Andy - supporting Eddie -, Eddie, Star hidden, Duchess of Gloucester,
Ruby, Debs, Colin, Zoe and Demelza

Dean with Amanda from Writers Block,
 who have their installation at The Ladder

Josh and Dean
Passmore bust inbetween

procession paused outside Make and Mends

Debs at Back Lane West - photo George