Thank you to St Peter's.

Old friends from St Peter's Church, Newlyn, the main company rehearse in their hall, recently asked me to write something for the church magazine.

They are also seeking to publicise their work within the community. They are an extraordinary group and I am so grateful to them and it was a pleasure to thank them openly.

A Big Thank You

I have often wanted to say `A big thank you” to St Peter’s Church

however “do not let your left hand know what your right hand’s doing” applied to some of our loyal supporters and they wouldn’t have thanked me for it.

May I now say, as I often do to others, that without St Peters loyal support and understanding (always given in a Christian way freely offered in our hour of need, we never asked for it ), we would not have survived!

So who are we?

We are now an inclusive arts charity celebrating, diversity, ability and community.

We were for the first fifteen years of our life a community group based at St Peter’s Hall. Our initial group came from members of Penzance Gateway club and soon other local artists joined us.

At various times we shared the hall with the Luncheon Club and made way for The Monday Art group. Intermittently we have also worked at and had support from The Acorn Theatre, Penzance but moved back to St Peter’s for access when someone who uses a wheelchair wanted to join us ( before The Acorn had physical access) and at other times. We have been back in St Peter’s now for approximately seven years and I love it. It is spacious and light, has a lovely floor and kitchen and we have always had a warm and understanding welcome.

So more about who we are: we are Shallal main company, an inclusive community dance theatre company with ages 13 to 83 at present. Some of us have worked together for over twenty years, some a few weeks. We have all sorts of people working with us: some are artists, some have severe health conditons, some need support with their lives and independence, we do not use labels in any of our publicity, so I will not here, we are people first and we love working together. We believe in the richness that variety and vulnerability can bring to our lives and we share our creative journey and support each other, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”.

Marjorie and Zoe Wilton have been with us since the beginning. Shallal gave Zoe the platform to show the world some of her extraordinary creative talents, she is an amazing solo dancer but it never stops, described as a renaissance woman she is now exploring fashion, as we work with performance in the morning and different art forms in the afternoon.

We sometimes receive generous funding and travel and can perform wonderful shows, we sometimes nearly close from lack of funds.

As well as large shows and projects we continually receive invitations to perform: last year we were at New County Hall for three events.

We want to show what people have to offer, what they can give and a small example of inclusion and how society could be, with the right support.

For me personally to work in a building which is prayed in, which has Christian values and support is wonderful and makes coming to work even more of a joy. We are called to show / know each person is made in God’s image and likeness. The creative arts allow us to meet equally, the physical safety and simplicity of St Peter’s Hall helps that, we are all in one room together, we eat lunch together and we work together.

I would like to repeat a heartfelt “thank you” from the thirty members of the main company and their families and supporters, our trustees and friends to all at St Peter’s who have shown us such longstanding understanding and support.

We meet on Fridays in term time and pause for lunch between 12.40pm and 1.20pm. Do come and meet us say hallo and have a cup of tea.

Jo Willis

Who I am;

I am one of the founders and the Artistic director of Shallal.

I lived in Newlyn for sixteen years and St Peter’s Church was a second home for me. I was received into the Russian Orthodox church in 1988 but often worshipped on Sundays with St Peter’s as then our church only held services every two months. My husband and I were married in St Peter’s Church, in 1991 and we had four children. We lived with a view of the Mount, facing the sunrise, a continual blessing.

Our family moved to Falmouth ten years ago, as we had outgrown our Newlyn home and we now have five children. I am very happy to return to work in the Hall and to see old friends. Penwith is a special place for me and I often wonder if Shallal could have thrived and been understood as well elsewhere.

www.shallal.org.uk

www.shallal-arts.blogspot.co.uk

Bits and Bobs

Lou Brett came to visit Shallal's new Express Yourself  as she is writing us a press release.
It is interesting to see how the work speaks to people and this is from her:
"Firstly thank you for inviting me yesterday, it was an experience of expansion and joy and if you could thank everyone next week for me I would be really grateful!"

some of the first members of Express Yourself, good to have Miles and David with us and see Kirsty again.
(Anna comes to look after baby Ruby - who as you can see is happy in the thick of it)

Hoping to produce a Shallal 2 Showcase this summer at the Princess Pavillions / Gyllyngdune Gardens.
The aim is a friendly informal evening showcasing Shallal 2's new work and that of friends, Eddie's new band Travelling Time Wasters
https://soundcloud.com/travelling-time-wasters
with Stu, Eddie and Adrian..
Colin fooling/clowning and more.....

An interesting and informative meeting with Lois a week or so ago, much to share, support and explore.
www.loistaylor.co.uk
www.falmouth.ac.uk/content/lois-taylor

This is one of the areas we discussed, a potentially really exciting project.

Moving Through

Is a research project aimed at increasing access to dance/movement through live-feed technology. Lois Taylor is a dance practitioner who has worked in health and community settings for many years and is keen to find new possibilities for those who can't access mainstream activities. The project will be aimed at those who for physical/mental health reasons are restricted to a home base. The project is also designed to work alongside and in partnership with their carers.

Lois would like to meet others interested in digital solutions, tackling isolation, setting up research projects, health and wellbeing, documenting the project.

She will be working alongside other arts networks and organisations such as Arts for Health Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and the Foundation for Community Dance to support and disseminate findings. Its early stages, so it would be great to meet to discuss ideas.

For more info contact Lois Taylor, dance lecturer and freelance dance artist | 07730586306 |lois.taylor@falmouth.ac.uk

www.falmouth.ac.uk/airstudio

Lots going on quietly behind the scenes, applications to: explore textiles/design/costume, take out the Shallal Sketchbooks to two venues, explore painting in the landscape.

It's spring and all the flowers are bursting forth and it feels like scattering seed and waiting to see what will take and grow.

Conversations and plans with The Performance Centre. Students needing placements, writing dissertations on inclusive dance, forming exciting projects inviting in Shallal dancers......a time for dreams to start to bud.

And I am enjoying my new meeting room Gylly cafe! 
Polly the dog had a grand time when we met Grace ( a third year choreography student) there, we were 2 hours sitting outside in the wind and sun, whilst she worked the crowd on the beach in front of us and had sticks continually thrown for her!

Off to the main company today, new theme arose last week which I am keen to explore "landscape" set pieces of music we all know well, and then taking it out as a Landscape which the dancers can people as they will, so the opportunity to engage anew each time with where and when and how you improvise to it.
What other ground rules, sign posts, boundaries might it need? it would allow whichever dancers are available to be in it.
So while we await pulling together our next big exciting project (which is half way there and on hold for some months) we are enjoying "playing" and finding new methods for us.
I am looking forward to the main company performing in the Courtyard at Godolphin this summer, and hopefully taking a version of the St Ives pop ups to Golowan/Mazey Day.
And we are off to Newlyn Art Gallery for the afternoon.

Last not least some really good updates from behind the scenes success and outcomes for remappingstives from Jo Mayes:
 ...some examples.......Glen and his family (who were involved in the performance) - his mother has been fighting to have access issues which she experienced with her husband, who was in a wheelchair towards the end of his life, addressed. The St Ives Accessibility Action Group, which was set up as a consequence of the project, gives a voice to local people who wish to affect accessibility within the town. The first meeting of this group, at the end of the project, was attended by both St Ives Cornwall Councillors (who are also town councillors), St Ives mayor, the chair of the St Ives Chamber of Commerce along with a representative of Glen's family and Jo Mayes (Remapping Project Director). Actions were agreed to contact the officer responsible for accessibility at Cornwall Council and ask for a review of the town as well as to provide specific web pages on the Visitor Information Centre for businesses to advertise their accessibility to people who visit or live in the town.

........
And last week was Colin's birthday, as a present he went to see his favourite team Manchester City on Sunday and they won at Wembley! he returned having lost his voice..... 
we look forward to seeing how this affects the already victorious elated painting he is doing!!

Express Yourself starts 26th February

Many Thanks to The Peoples Health Trust through whom we have funding to extend and develop our Wednesday mornings at The Dracaena Centre with the new group Express Yourself. We hope the group might name themselves in the future, but for now this is our working title!

We are very excited to go forwards with this project. Debbie O'Nyons who started the Healthy Living group from which Friends and Dancing blossomed, saw the need for this group and we look forward to it's development. Many people are interested and we are advertising from now!

It is local, addressing the issues for inclusion for people in our area and eclectic, determined by the interests of those attending.

HealthPerfect is a Community Interest Company committed to raising money to address health inequalities in Cornwall, Plymouth and the Isles of Scilly. www.healthperfectcic.org.uk

The Health Lottery is operated for and on behalf of 51 Community Interest Companies across England, Scotland and Wales, all holding society lottery licenses issued by the Gambling Commission. www.healthlottery.co.uk

People’s Health Trust is an independent charity addressing health inequalities across Great Britain. It works closely with each Community Interest Company distributing grants. www.peopleshealthtrust.org.uk

Dance and Communities BA Falmouth

Shallal have been asked to be involved with Dance and Communities.

We already host dance undergraduates on placement and work experience but they usually find us independently. 

Next week I am meeting with Lois Taylor who wishes to:

 *explore ideas and ways of working with partners.

           *make the course relevant to the sector and raise awareness of the range of work and working practice.  

 *to set up some opportunities for the students to shadow work, to research recent projects and in      their last module to deliver a community dance mini project, this could be a workshop or series of    sessions or a performance based project performed by them in community contexts or which they  have made with community groups.

              * know if having students with us on any of our projects next year would be useful.

I look forward to meeting Lois and will keep you all informed.

On a more superficial note I am trying out Gylly cafe as a meeting ground. 
Luke is now at school, Anna preparing for IGCSE's on home ed and Peter not very well, so home is less appropriate for some meetings. So this multi tasking ( now unfortunately uncovered as multi failing- thanks to Outnumbered on TV!) means (until Easter) I can also walk our dog Polly on the beach and stare at the sea - always a favourite past time.

Scratch Night Feedback Forms

Sadly I don't have any images from this piece to post but we hope to show this new piece more in the future.....helped by useful feedback.......thank you to all those who contributed to it.

1. How did the performance make you feel?

2. What did you like / feel / positive / enjoy about it?

3. Is there anything you’d like to see more of, develop or change?

     2. It was full of powerful dynamics and form.

     3. More contact I really enjoyed the contact

     2. Similar dynamics and moments of contrast

     3. maybe some unison?

1. Captivated
2. It was inspirational
3. More interaction between performers

1. Emotional, cute
2. I did but the movement could have expanded more with the climatic point in the music score.

1. happy, happy

1. Was moving and lovely to watch
2. Was great to see a duo and solo contrasts, and there was great expression throughout  movement
3. I would like to see the group come together and create a section of unison or a dynamic climax.

1. Inspired. Loved looking at the intricate movement
2. I loved the opportunities the pieces created .....the possibilities of where it could go....
3. Develop the climax possibly ...more level changes.

First feedback from Scratchnight

First bit of feedback from Wednesday Scratchnight

"So lovely to see you, I really enjoyed the piece last night, ......... Particularly the young girl who was in the duet should feel really great about her performance. She has a determined fragility on stage and I really hope she keeps at it because she’s such a joy to watch and it’s a unique quality as a performer."

Alex 
www.hope-anchor.co.uk
Alex is off exploring and creating see this link to her work.

I didn't get to see any act* except Ellie Larke and I am off to buy a song of hers on itunes,
well worth a listen: beautiful, haunting, lovely voice, style and songs.
https://soundcloud.com/ellielarke

*I sat in the cafe with Zoe having her glass of wine and had a lovely catch up chat, though we all work together the chance to enjoy a longer conversation often only arises around outings and events and when travelling.

Thank you to everyone for turning out for a 4 minute piece, it was worth it and the verbal feedback was very helpful and confirming of what i am hoping for with the work.

Last session before half term today, lots of plans in the pipeline.....

Scratchnight Wednesday

Scratchnight at The Performance Centre, Tremough Campus, Falmouth University
This time we are taking a short piece from the main company.
Last time we took Shallal 2 and had a good evening and we are looking forward to being involved again.

Wednesday, February 12, 6:30pm in UTC, entrance free

Scratch night is a series of fragments of performance in-the-process 
by established, emerging and student artists. 
The intention is to share work and 
try things out with a supportive audience who are encouraged to give feedback.

https://www.facebook.com/events/637573556302102/
http://www.falmouth.ac.uk/content/scratch-night

Zoe, Skye, Anna, Colin and Katie are our performers.
Zoe and her mother Marjorie are founder members of Shallal, we have worked together for over 25 years now!
Zoe has performed solo at many events and we are always looking for opportunities to showcase her work. 
Anne and Skye are 13 and 14 they have been in Shallal for ( I'm not good on dates but) approx 4-5 years. I am delighted that they have successfully made the transitions from childhood dance into adolescence and now regularly attend Freefall classes http://www.freefalldance.co.uk/ gaining technique which supports their improvisation skills. I am aware that in 2-3 years time they could be busy with further studies, they are both educated outside school except for very short trials in school - Anna lasted 3 days! I want to provide them with interesting challenges to increase their experience and support their creative development.
Colin and I have worked together now also for a long time! 7-8 years maybe, originally coming to Open House Penzance, he then went onto facilitate it with Phil Jacobs and now supports the main company sessions and much more within Shallal. He is enthusiastically back from performing solo at The Secret Fools Show.
Colin is working with Katie in this piece.
Katie is new to the main company but has attended Shallal sessions over sometime. Her first performance was at The Performance Centre some years ago with Penryn Improvisation and Performance group which has gone onto become Shallal 2. We hope she will enjoy being back on the stage again.

The piece has only been danced twice! 2 weeks ago and today and so this is the Scratchnight value.
The question: How much rehearsal / practise does a good piece of improvisation need?
so a gentle challenge to the performers. 
They know the music and they know each other and that is the structure, there is no more instruction/suggestion.

I am still chewing over:
Structure
Stimulus 
and Suggestion
for exercises


Structure
Freedom 
and Intent
for performance quality

We are coming straight from Shallal 2 and should be on around 7pm and hope to see you there.

Time flies, it was 16th December 2011 when we performed Works In Progress  at The Platform Festive Performance Feast, and here they are from that time!
http://shallal-arts.blogspot.co.uk/2012_04_01_archive.html

 Skye and Anna

Colin and Zoe

Katie