Wolfgang Stange RIP - letter reposted

 

FROM  Turtle Key Arts and Amici Dance Theatre ... It is with great sadness that we need to let you know that our beloved Wolfgang left the world on Tuesday 3rd December 2024. Wolf's life and work has touched the hearts of us all and many others around the world. He will be missed so much but we know he would want us to share our memories and laugh and cry and stay dancing together.  If any of you would like to share your thoughts or stories with us, please click the link to leave them here.   Our thoughts and love are with you all,   Hilary, Barb, Lynne, Elaine, Ingrid, Colm, Ali and all from Amici and Turtle Key Arts. The Funeral of Wolfgang Stange will take place on Thursday 16th January 2025 at 11am, St Andrews Church, Fulham Fields, Greyhound Road London W14 9SA, which will be live streamed. The link will be on the Amici website homepage: www.amicidance.org

Wolfgang Stange - 1947-2024 Choreographer, Founder and Director of Amici Dance Theatre Company “This is real theatre, of which it can truthfully be said that it changes the way you see the world” - The Observer Wolfgang Stange, world renowned artistic dance director and choreographer in integrative dance theatre, innovator and friend to so many, sadly left the world on 3rd December 2024. Born in Berlin in 1947, a witness to the suffering of war he was profoundly influenced by Hilda Holger his first dance teacher. Going on to train at the London School of Contemporary Dance, Wolfgang lived in the UK dividing his time between the UK and Sri Lanka alongside his lifelong partner George Bevan, tap dancer, renowned Sri Lankan artist and Wolfgang’s rock of stability.  Wolfgang was visionary and groundbreaking in placing utter faith and respect in the potential of everyone to dance regardless of personal, emotional or physical limitation. Able to awaken the joy of spontaneous movement however small and overcoming what may seem impossible he could engender creativity out of chaos. In 1980 Wolfgang founded Amici Dance Theatre Company which will celebrate 45 years together as a company in 2025. Based at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London and supported by Turtle Key Arts, Amici’s productions challenge and inspire audiences confronting issues of war, genocide, isolation, insanity, oppression and exclusion to name but a few. Uncompromising in the direct portrayal of cultural taboos Wolfgang’s creativity and honesty speaks to the triumph of humanity, compassion, care, love and hope over brutality and adversity. Audiences leave exhausted, moved but enheartened. In 1982 Sir Ben Kingsley collaborated with Wolfgang for a TV play called “Feel Free” by Nick Darke based on Wolfgang’s work and Sir Ben Kingsley became Amici’s patron. In 1993 Wolfgang won the Vaslav Nijinsky award from the Polish Artists Agency for his choreography of “The Journey” which was performed in Warsaw as well as London. Wolfgang was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Roehampton University in 2023 and a lifetime achievement award from Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council in 2022. Wolfgang became an acclaimed workshop leader and dance director teaching in Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia, America, Egypt and Europe. In Sri Lanka he created four productions for the Butterfly Theatre Company with the Sunera Foundation working with refugees, disabled soldiers, ex-Tamil fighters and Tsunami survivors. His work has touched the hearts of so many. Wolfgang’s passionate humanity, profound respect for each individual and strong sense of the power of community resonates in all his work. He changed people’s lives. Many people who have worked with Amici or attended a workshop have gone on to create and work with people with abilities and disabilities having been awakened to the potential we all possess to dance and express what is meaningful, regardless of diversity. A touch, a gesture, movement and stillness, humour and suffering, brutality and hope - these are the themes Wolfgang evokes in his work. “What some might see as disabilities, Stange sees as traits to be harnessed and used. He’s a showman, wholly unsentimental, with an exceptional gift for drawing truthful performances from his cast. He’s also one of British theatre’s great unsung heroes. Few artists make a real difference. Stange has.” - Luke Jennings, The Observer Wolfgang’s personality was irrepressible. His many friends around the world would be regaled with repeated stories told in words and gestures from his colourful life. Faced with the adversity of eliciting funding he would say “we will find a way” and he always did. His compassion for others, his generosity, honesty and strong sense of justice shone through in everything he did. His boldness at times could cause discomfort as well as laughter. He was uncompromising in his fierce dedication to creative truth and the dignity of everyone. Now, sadly, the lives that Wolfgang touched must bear his loss. It is a great loss, and it is right to grieve and miss him, but his legacy remains vital and alive within the hearts and bodies of so many people around the world who have played and danced with him. In Wolfgang’s own words “Without hope we would be very lost indeed. Even with the tragic conflicts and wars going on, we must have hope, hope for a better future, I believe our only hope for salvation is acceptance and tolerance.” Wolfgang’s creativity, compassion, care and humanity remains. This dance will continue…

Connecting Forms film by Bobby J

 Hurray!

After a year we get to enjoy the beautiful film Bobby made from Connecting Forms...

Thanks and more info below the film.

Grateful thanks to George at the Tate as when she asked who we would like to work with it happened, Matthew and Bobby!

Wolfgang Stange - departed

What can i say?

Most people who know Shallal have heard me talk of Wolfgang some have travelled to meet him in London or met him on zoom in the pandemic.

Meeting Sapphire Sumpter evoked a connection again, through the pandemic via zoom, which was never lost but not very active, greetings over the years, Christmas cards (i love them for keeping us lightly in touch ) and a visit years ago,  but i never could afford or spare time to go London* and we had a dream to get Wolfgang here via Hall for Cornwall and training early this year, but he had already started to have declining health so sadly it was put on hold and never happened.

Thank you to Ali at Turtle Key arts through whom i heard about his parting on the following morning, it helps, comforts, to have some details, as i was considering visiting him tomorrow!

* i did go once when Shallal first became a charity, someone offered me training expenses and i went to watch Amici's tribute to Hilda Holger, my teachers teacher.

So i can't say much, I love him as a person: an inspiration, one of the most humble loving souls i have encountered, Wolfgang showed me humility, honesty, fragility as strength and love in action. I cherished the time i spent with him running around London from class to class watching in awe and for once i was quite quiet!

THANK YOU.

he was and is my yardstick

when you come out of as session think, 'what have you learnt?' 

He brought joy, fun, depth and community of the heart.

Meeting him could quietly change your life and he claimed nothing, just told you another story!

there are some on here...https://youtu.be/dajN4pELOQU?si=jXg4jsCSM4ThePsC

I have been blessed to know (early on in my career) three amazing story tellers: Wolfgang, John Miller the artist and Fr Benedict a priest, all changed lives by walking alongside others.

Wolfgang https://www.amicidance.org/about/drop2-2

John Miller https://www.messums.com/artists/view/49/John_Miller

Fr. Benedict https://www.comae.org.uk/about-us/our-story/

Everyones story is a lesson, a meeting, a privilege, many thanks to everyone.

Exhibition Sunflowers and Water liIlies ...Costume Sharing Performance

 'so much going on' as i keep saying, that nowadays the blog is not always up to date, 

the instagram account is so please do follow us there for more information in real time...

www.instagram.com/shallalarts

Krowji Christmas Open Studios 

Big thank you to Helen and Therese, now such an established part of so much of Shallal, for decorating, tidying, meeting, greeting, introducing explaining, and Helen for beautiful varied exhibition.

250 visitors

 and Colin has made a wonderful map, we hope to share soon, so we can show where our sessions/groups are and explain the range of opportunities Shallal provides.

Followed swiftly by

Costume Sharing - Performance

Big Thank you from us all to Bunny Ladd for wonderful workshops and opportunities to create our own costumes. Everyone enjoyed it, were keen to do it and very impressed by Bunny's work.

We did a first outing above and hope to do more.

Each costume is such a strong statement and tells a story, evokes a response.

On Friday we settled for abstract connection and music, but we hope to work more deeply in time, being led by the outfit.

I look forward to sharing the images from it with you.

Thank you to everyone involved in making it happen.

 We had a good audience of about 30 people which is excellent for a Friday afternoon.

Feedback

Audience

'Best thing i've seen in years shoud be at the Hall for Cornwall'

'Brilliant'

'Beautiful'

'Wonderful'

Performer

'Joy'

Shallal Studio Artists Sharing & New Film

 Shallal Studio Artists Sharing

flowers by Karen Mitchell

quick view on

 https://www.instagram.com/p/DCo_MjvI-0E/

Artists

Eden Harrison

Erin Gatrell-Armstrong

Karen Mitchell

Mads de Lord

Laura Godwin

Zoe Wilton

Jason Morris

Janet Holland 

Steve Clark

Julia Wonnacott

Rita Baker

Sam While

New Film from BLW residency

Shallal Dance Theatre dancers in Daniel's installation

Thank you George https://youtu.be/bndcMC2Mzls

A comment by Vicky Stone and Ellen Richardson's blog post

Every so often, a few years or more ago, i mentioned elephants in this blog ( i went to Tsavo, Kenya to visit Mark and Vicky and see their camp in the bush and new home ) and i have interviewed my brother Mark as the first person on our 'Passing on Passmore' podcasts...

so i return to that theme in a personal way.

My sister-in-law Vicky died on Sunday night and leaves an extraordinary legacy.

https://www.deeblestone.com/

I followed her career, obviously, but as with many busy successful people, i'm not sure she followed mine!

However many years ago now, about twenty or so i think, she and my brother did come to see one of our shows at the Acorn theatre and she said one of the nicest things ever in the interval.

I passed her and she said she was enjoying it and as she was always forthright she asked, 

" Which dancers have disabilities?" 

i said, "can't you see?"

"no" she said

"great," i said "thats how it should be" and "i'm not telling you, as they are all really good."

We carry on making art, trying to aspire to access and equity, listening, changing, developing ,holding fast to our ethos but also challenging ourselves, society, community, it's an ongoing dynamic, not static, we like to dance, move respond, 'in'joy, to dance through this life in companionship, in art. 

I have a note in my diary to make sure i post Ellen's blog link.

Thank you Ellen.

"The above image shows a collage I made during the art studio session at Krowji. It explores the critical foundations for improvisation, as explained by Jo Willis, through Structure (the room, the music, the opportunity), Freedom (the space to create), and Intent (that artists make only purposeful movement)."

Do read it...

https://erichardson897.wixsite.com/ellenrichardson-1/post/shallal-dance-theatre-creating-accessible-space-for-artists

*

I think it echoes well what Vicky's comment pointed to, we are here for a good experience for everyone, not just one section of society/community, we are all of value, all need support, opportunity. By putting those people who might need more support at the centre, heart of it all, we radiate support for everyone, and we share our gifts, and enable everyone to give, to be seen.  Shallal is just an option, it doesn't suit everyone, but those who stay feel it.

***

*The end of Ellen's blog
What have I taken away with me?

• Individuals hold endless potential, there just needs to be a space in which to access this.

• 
  

• Providing structure and a framework for creativity that allows for freedom and expression can enable beautiful, cohesive art without limiting artists through demands for long-term focus, memory, energy, repetition, and movement that entangle ableist ideas of what art is.

• 
  

• Establishing positive reinforcement for creativity through listening and, critically, acting on feedback and suggestions that allow for the artists or community members to lead their own practice.

• 
  

• Bridging practice, including around socio-political and cultural conversations, to individual interests and potentials enables equitable engagement and community involvement that actively envelopes and celebrates diversity.

Art, News and BLW on you tube

 Shallal has expanded and although i hear the news from groups and artists it is so much more than i can pay homage to or record fully and yet i don't want to miss capturing them so...

After Anna's exhibition we have the shared Studio Artists Exhibition which came so closely after October Back Lane West i knew i had set us a 'task'.

We managed so well collectively collecting work and i called it a 'Showing' not an exhibition as wasn't sure till the last how we were presenting the varied work. The beautiful high ceiling of Grow box cafe enables you to hang more work and also need to find someone tall enough to reach ...thank you to Kerry's husband Warren for 'stepping up' and helping us at the end of his day, and to Colin for coming back again.

It's a lovely show i hope you get to see it.

Good news that Eden plans a solo show in St Ives this summer, her work is compelling and beautiful. We hope they do turn her pictures into card and prints for everyone to enjoy.

Honor Cicely Crane had a residency in our studio the first of many independent artists, we hope, using the studio.

"Dear Shallal,

Thank you kindly for offering me your electric studio over the October half-term holiday. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend in Redruth and the opportunity to exercise my creative ideas in your spacious studio. After graduating from art-school, I have faced multiple challenges in securing a space to explore and develop my practice within. I feel very grateful for Shallal’s generosity and it enabling my practice by allowing me to revisit ideas and progress them in an inspiring space." 

 Mel plans to use it in the Christmas Holidays and we have six new artists join our groups recently.

Helen is also taking it over for a solo show in the Christmas Open Studios at Krowji. 

Many thanks to Helen and Therese for re painting white our colourful ( from dripping paint ) walls.

Plans for new dance work

and currently Shallal Dance Theatre are enjoying a 

wonderful project with @bunnyladd

creating costumes 

we are loving it 

a free public Sharing 

which we plan to photo and film

 2-3pm on Friday 6 Dec 

at The Centre Newlyn

some of Back Lane West on youtube 

https://youtu.be/ckU1Mch5i5k?si=AsZUrNMKawn4AOBW

Eddies talk

https://youtu.be/xPOrCEKmCkA?si=BEvJTM6nu5fZ88X0

mark making music and movement

https://youtu.be/MklgI1N3Xkk?si=662VH5hH_GUi2K3j

Dress up, dance and pose!

Homage to Andrew Brown

 Homage to a friend   24.10.24

Andrew Brown

Today we received the news of the departing of an old friend and as we remembered so many stories of such a humble, loving, sensitive, serving man,. I immediately thought of a piece of performance we created that he was pivotal in.

So that is why i turn to this blog and as well as wonderful, family and friendship stories, there flood in how he quietly helped Shallal.  How he willingly became a trustee for a short time when we first became a charity and was always quietly supportive with wise gentle insights when asked for.

So back to the performance, as always, she has always kept us on our toes, agile, inquisitive, I was looking for a platform to showcase Zoe's dance skills, that would stretch her and give her visibility, and I thought of Andrew. Why? Because one of his many and main talent was music he had studied in Cremona, Italy, the home of violin making for seven years learning Italian and how to make violins, https://www.myluthier.co/post/violin-making-in-cremona

He was often seen cycling along the seaside 'prom' in Penzance with his cello strapped to his back. He would often sit and improvise for us and had an innate sensitivity. So we asked him if he would play for Zoe, at the same time i met Victoria Field who had just finished a poetry residency in Truro Cathedral and her poems were beautiful, insightful and, again, sensitive. So then we had a trio and then we needed space. We had no funds for it so we asked local churches to be our venue and toured to three! It suited the quiet, respectful, beauty and peace.

http://www.poetrypf.co.uk/victoriafieldpage.shtml

Thank you to Andrew for sharing his love of music, for his sensitivity as a musician and a person and his innate, kindness and generousity.  He moved into a care home a few years ago as he had increasing dementia and Parkinsons, however his brother recalls that he still would sense when someone was unhappy and just go and hold their hand. 

All the best communication with him was within silence and stillness. He was also an Alexander teacher.https://alexandertechnique.com/

We are considering doing some dance pop ups inspired by him and his care for others.

Which could link into our new On Board project...more soon

post....https://www.instagram.com/p/DBhukdkIisk/?img_index=1

Women of Cornwall features nominations for Shallal's chairperson and creative director!

 Women of Cornwall

TAKE PART IN WOMEN OF CORNWALL! Find out more and suggest a woman to feature in a new collection of plates for Art Centre Penryn 

https://www.instagram.com/womenofcornwall/

A friend told me I was 'on' instagram, "no "i said, then yes was the answer as i found the post and more importantly the post for Hennie our chair person.

For those of you who don't have access to instagram i'm copying them into here!!

Henrietta Boex 
Arts, Culture, Activist 
 
Suggested by Janet Mitchell 
 
Janet says, “Before taking up the post of Director at Falmouth Art Gallery in 2013, Henrietta Boex was project manager of a major redevelopment at Porthcurno Telegraph Museum. During her 10 years in her ‘dream job’ at the gallery she used her energy, enthusiasm and tenacious spirit to create an ethos of inclusivity. She adopted innovative approaches to accessing the gallery, underpinned by a belief in art as a source of inspiration and wellbeing for all, and opening it up through exhibitions, events and activities for all. Henrietta was particularly interested in the Cornish marine artists, notably Charles Napier Hemy (1841 –1917) and Henry Scott Tuke (1858 – 1929) and curated some terrific exhibitions of their work.  
 
As head of cultural services for Falmouth Town Council, Henrietta has been involved in the restoration of the Dissenters’ Burial Place, the regeneration of the Princess Pavilion as a cultural hub for Falmouth, and the Kimberley Park Lodge project, revitalising the building for the benefit of the community in partnership with the local, community radio station, Source FM. 
 
Henrietta’s love for art, Cornwall and life in general bubbles over infectiously. She makes me want to join in, find out, explore. I think other people respond to her in the same way. 
 
Henrietta is only one eighth Cornish, but that strong thread goes deep and a long way back through a connection to Nicholas Sara shipbuilder (d.1894), one of the oldest members of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society.” 
 
On her retirement in 2023, Kirstie Edwards then deputy Mayor commented “her patience, tenacity and kindness … has been hugely helpful and supportive”.  Henrietta is Chair of Trustees at Shallal and a consultant at the Royal Cornwall Museum.” 

JO WILLIS
Inclusive performing arts

Suggested by Deborah O’Nyons

“Jo Willis established Shallal, an inclusive dance theatre company in 1985, welcoming everyone regardless of age, ability or gender. She was ahead of her time in recognising the talent of people society chose to isolate and cast aside. Shallal is an improvisation performance group and a family, supporting members through loss, change, ill health and hard days.

Jo enables people to connect with parts of themselves long forgotten, to awaken joy in movement and dance. With a gift for holding space and bearing witness to things that everyone brings to a group, Jo has a vision of equality and the ability to see beauty in everyone. Meeting Jo changed my life: her open invitation to dance with Shallal brought such joy and connection.

Jo’s home is embedded in community, a place where she welcomes people, offering shelter. During covid she connected with communities digitally and coordinated visits to people’s homes where an individual dancer would perform in the garden for an isolated individual.

Born and raised in Cornwall, Jo says she has the heart of a Cornish gypsy. Her connection with the land has driven her creative vision. Passionate about environmental protection, signing Shallal up to culture declares a climate and ecological emergency, she educates the group about climate action, and seeking ways of working that will protect Cornwall.

Shallal has grown from its beginnings in Newlyn into community groups across county and a studio at Krowji, Redruth. They have created artwork, dance and poetry performances in libraries, church halls, outdoor spaces, heritage sites and theatres in Cornwall. In September 2024, Jo accepted a prestigious Awen Medal from the Grand Cornish Bard, on behalf of The Shallal Dance Theatre

Jo has created an amazing legacy of visual, signed, spoken and written art by people living and working in the county.”