Ana Dance

Author Archive

We’ve begun editing ‘Puppet’ .   Lots of great material but still lots more to create when this is done.   This edit will form the the introduction to a longer film in which the relationship between puppet and  master through light, body and camera movment will continue to be explored.

Friday showing of the beginnings of the duet ‘P.S.’  in the feedback forum at Siobhan Davies Studios. ‘ P.S.’  Is the first part of the triptich  ‘A suitcase for all Occasions’ by Paulette Mae being performed as part of Dancin Oxford Festival at The Old Firestation, Oxford on 17 March.   It was a good opportunity to try the material and get feedback.  Really interesting and useful to hear what people saw/felt.  We also enjoyed seeing the other work and being part of the feedback process.

Meeting and workshop yesterday at Old Firestation for Oxford Dance Forum members.  Meeting chaired by Claire Thompson.  This was also the  first opportunity for the group to meet Kyla who has just taken up position to oversee the homebed programme.    Great to see all the dancers there and hear everyones contributions/ideas for the dance training opportunities we’d like to put on here.  Sue Davis led workshop for artists wanting to apply to the Arts Council funded ‘Homebed ‘ programme at OFS.  This is a really exciting stage of development for dance and dancers in Oxford.

Second shoot for Puppet this Monday with Dariusz Dziala.  Finally got to use a crane thanks to Dan via Gary at Ofvm.  Looking forward to seeing the rushes and what we can make of them.   Lizie Giraaudeau was great and very patient again.  As ever there is never enough time to do all that you hope to and resources mean some things are just not possible…. Next job editing!

Teaching a short Butoh taster workshop at Pegasus Theatre as part of Dancin’ Oxford Festival Sunday 26 Feb 2.00-2.45.  Always difficult to fit the essence of a genre into 45 minutes, especially Butoh but I hope people will have a chance to experience their bodies differently and experience a bit of the play, discipline, curiosity, presence and wonder of Butoh.

link to Oxford Mail article after the event

Good session today exploring drawing, dance and music interaction.  We had the projector and were able to  work with the projected images/drawings.  Discussed was the difficulty of multiple awareness -relation to fellow dancer, to space, to the music, to the creation of shadows  and to the artists via the drawn/painted marks appearing on the screen.  Also trying to identify different performance modes and ways of being whilst in the space.  A challenge!

Great to have spent the weekend in Yael Karavan‘s workshop which Cafe Reason hosted at the Old Firestation Oxford.  Lots of new tools and games to use.  Especially appreciated exercises in rhythm and dynamics and ways of connecting through these with partners and group.  Always good to have Yael’s vibrant presence and inspiring teaching style.  Much positive feedback on the workshop.   Hoping to get her back for more!

It was a busy weekend dance wise in Oxford with the launch of Dancin’ Oxford and performances out in the streets on Saturday and the intergenerational workshop on Sunday running next door at Old firestation in the theatre with an evening performance by Crossover.

At last we began filming for ‘Puppet’ .   Lights, camera, tracks -thanks OFVM, great!   Wonderful dance and bodywork by Lizie Giraudeau.  Real pleasure to work with.  Good to be creating again with Dariusz.  As ever there is never enough time and there are always more shots one wants to get!  Next time set and crane.  With time and budget constraints this really is a taster of what we could do and develop with some funding.

Have finally secured the venue to host Yael Karavan‘s workshop ‘The Body Speaks’  Serendipidy -the performers pleasure-improvisation and presence.   The Old Firestation, Oxford  Sat 18th and Sun 19th Feb 10.30-4.30.  Should be a great workshop with lots of tools for artists drawn from Yael’s unique mix of dance, butoh, mime and physical theatre.

Sunday was part two of the CPD training offered by Oxford Dance Forum at The Old Firestation.  Organised by Angela Conlan and led by Cecelia Macfarlane it was another lovely and inspiring workshop day.  Both useful and enjoyable Cecelia actually took away the emphasis from ‘older people’ to be far more inclusive with her intergenerational and as she helpfully terms it ‘translatable’ activities.  With a real and obvious commitment to empowerment and the belief in each persons uniqueness and creativity she communicates a real joy in dance and the pleasure of learning from each other.  It was great to see the happy faces of so many teachers and dancers.