Shallal Studios website and Ideas Factory and catch up

Well babies do command centre stage and Ruby's photo wants to be here! so...who's to argue..... she looked so cute and was so bonnie that Annis and Anna took many photos the other day at the main co......

Lots to blog about and some lovely photos, but lots going on.....

Inspired by the ease of launching the new Shallal Studios website - thank you Lou !
www.shallalstudios.com

 I went onto investigate creating a new one for Shallal, we hope it will be with you soon in basic form!

So the energy that normally goes into our blog has been side tracked to that.

Also pleased that The Ideas Factory panel has selected our Shallal Studios proposal for further development at the AIR facilities, Tremough campus (see http://www.falmouth.ac.uk/academy-for-innovation-and-research) June 10th.
The Ideas Factory is from http://cornwallvsf.org/


Lots of bid writing, also going on, thank you again to Lou and to Barbara.......

 and lots of creative thinking, HELP as still in mid process, with Shallal 2 and main co - always crisis time but also fun! -  slowly emerging into form as we looked at costume last week, it pushes it further on.....helping to define the pieces and content...

and finally the highlight of my week at present ( i love all of it ) but to be working with Debs, not leading the session just supporting, till replacements are fully in place again. I am supporting Aiming High ( our project in Special Schools ) - oh bliss, such lovely young people, just the joy and the fun of it, finding ways to move together and alone. Also the unexpected pleasure of working with Bobby, who worked with us about 10 years ago in Swanbake one of our first shows after reforming in 2003 or 2004. Bobby reminded me that she signed a song i sang! as well as tap dancing!

Moving Words is on it's last part and we were excited to go to The Deaf Centre last week, and Debbie Harvey came to visit beforehand. Anna and i went to watch As You Like It at HFC which Debbie  provided BSL for.

Thankful to have Toby back with us after  his terrible fall, love to Sam for speedy recovery from his fall, (none of these are from dance - just life!)

Express Yourself,  Colin brought in some more art approaches - and thanks to Lucinda for coming to give us yoga taster - www.yogainpenryn.co.uk we all enjoyed it.

 couldn't resist these photos of Colin i found recently, Annis and Anna take a lot of photos so i don't see them immediately...these were on the day Dylan visited!

Maybell in Shallal 2, we are back with some new younger members, last week 3, 4, 6 and 13..lovely!

When we first worked at that hall we attracted a lot of young families for Open House with Art ( Terri who had just completed her Fine Art degree) ran it with me! they made lots of masking tape patterns on the floor - still one of my favourites!

Interesting debate on: http://www.creativemindsproject.org.uk/post-it-notes/

Happy Easter

The main company last Friday wearing Colin's Tea dance selection of Easter bonnets and sporting feather dusters!Happy Easter to you all

love from Shallal

last week and snaps and ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnNR162KI0Q
Deafinitley Theatre's exciting new hub.

Blog from last week i didn't post in time!

Last Friday afternoon Barbara came into main co to continue work on a Moving Words edit, lovely footage of young people signing their simple poems, BSL and Makaton are such beautiful languages.

Fantastic day, some people away, and Colin on exciting CPD painting course with Paul Wadsworth the first of 3 days.

I have so enjoyed working with Colin in Express Yourself the past 2 weeks and the exercises he has given us. He recently also ran an insightful introduction to Creative Listening for associate artists and facilitators in Shallal and this showed more of his many talents!

Back to yesterday, George came in around 11am with a new toy - i have no idea what it's called but it can give 200+ textures to the sounds created on it it looks like a small portable drum and amp...
well we had a wonderful time the calibre of the work from everyone was fantastic. I was far too involved to film but Annis and Anna were taking photos on our new camera..thank you so much to ....
Shallal 2 are much in need of photos and we are beginning to collect some. Rosie and Maybell joined us last week and we hope they will come again. We met Maybell at 2iis in May when her dancing - aged 2 or 3 - captivated everyone and her photo is on the blog from that time.

George's new toy gave a fantastic resonance for movement and the open improvisations had a narrative quality and strength with people showing the skills we have been developing recently. Although we are under funded at present we have had time to work on these open improvisation skills and it is now showing.
Looking forward to performing in the courtyard at Godolphin, I need to go and describe what our palette will be, and to The Performance Centre for Shared Vision with Shallal 2.

Jessie is moving on from facilitating for Shallal and we all thank her for all she has given to Doorways, and the main company, fund raising, Shallal 2 ( we will really miss her ) and Aiming High, and we hope to be able to invite her back as an associate artist soon, - just need to write the darn bids! I have one to finish that needs to go in soon / now!

On another note in the past 2 weeks i attended Meet the Funders, excellent event and Great Ideas, fantastic talk from Chris Innes, Surfers against Sewage and now working with A grain of sand . All really helpful short relevant presentations.

Some snaps from last week: 
the improvisations were so strong i didn't think to photograph till near the end as i was so absorbed. This week also very strong work so Colin and Tina were able to see the potential and we may try to find another drum for Glen and co to use!
double the sound! so exciting
Dylan also visited and joined in beautifully.

( A damp grey spring dawn shot through with the strong colours of spring flowers from my window, seagulls calling, I love the dawn rather like i have loved walking into some empty dance studios before work, a waiting space full of potential, a new day!)

on with the snaps...

Glen, Zo and Kerry.
Glen is unsure of dancing but has as they say transferable skills as a musician he interprets really well, has a huge range and is now producing wonderful art, photo in next blog!

Joseph  and Skye 

Katie and Star

Skye caught in a creation

 The teenagers in the room have their own vibe going on!

Jewel in another nostalgic creation

with teenagers comes attitude!

sisters!

and fidgeting they practice Freefall routines every spare minute and don't keep still!
They also kindly take lots of the photos with our lovely new camera!

It's lovely to have Annis with us I think this is probably her 8th week

recent art afternoons

Images from recent Art afternoons.

Women's world day of prayer so we left the hall early as it was being used for the event and strolled to the Newlyn Art gallery, interesting art, discussions, possibilities and tea and cake in the cafe with art materials and views 

We try to give time to look at each others work at the end of the session.
Joseph's well considered painting, Zoe photo shoot of her orange costume, and the teenagers - what are they doing? I think Arron is pretending to punt on/by the stream! Arron has a good idea for an installation which he is developing with Glen and we hope to find the right venue and opportunity to do it........it involves sticks!

Katie modelling Zoe's work with orange material which Zoe created for her.
It is only a draft, is mock up the right word in dress making /costume?
It is tacked and pinned.
We need to develop our skills and are putting in a textile, costume design bid which if successful will help us move Zoe's and others skills forward.

from Linda and Giles last day and snaps

Gifts come from out of the blue and yesterday Linda sent me a wonderful email ..
I'm quoting some here and taking in a copy to the main co on Friday as she has included lovely appreciative messages for everyone she worked with. " I've  written something to let you know that you are all not forgotten despite my absence and you all share a place in my memory and heart."

"I am often thinking of you all and imagine you all dancing to heavenly music making connections and shapes laughing and lying on the cold wood floor whilst occasional spots of sunlight splurge areas warming them. I also visualise the massive bags and baskets that follow you around Jo like children all needing attention. The last minute panics and the laughs and camaraderie through rehearsals and performance. There was also the frustrations and limitations of the body whose moves when seen in the mind soar so easily but in reality rebel and I remember the aching limbs from trying to break free. But the sacrifices were so worth it. I remember the sweet tears on audience faces and the light and wonder in their eyes. I remember the dream of dancing unknown until it came true and the passion that drives despite the tiredness and doubt. It has been magical, thank you all for that. And Thank you Jo for keeping Shallal alive not giving in to your doubts and fears and tiredness thank you for believing in us all and giving us the wings to soar."

Each person brings so much to Shallal and we are about to also say Good bye but we hope not Farewell to Giles as he moves home to Bodmin. I will leave this blog to write him a letter. Here are some recent images.

Giles saying goodbye

Daniela, Kerry and Alex
Kerry was pleased and excited as she achieved 6 steps unaided in their warm up together. They created some lovely work with balance and support. Skye and Kate in the background Kate is at last working more at her potential and it is exciting to see.

trying to capture the variety of movement and relationship produced in open improvisation
structure, freedom and intent

Dylan with his puppet, it just so happened to be Downs Syndrome Awareness Day and Puppet Day!

Dylan with his Dad George creating wonderful music for the improvisation, (joined by Lydia and Demelza not in view)