Dance Futures
By Ruth Pethybridge
Dance Futures Oct 13, 2020
Dances of Resistance with Anno Bolender and Marilia Coelho
Dancing with Discomfort - Stuart Waters
In this LAST episode of series three I had the pleasure of chatting to Stuart Waters about his work Queer Collisions, and how his neurodiversity informs his practice. We spoke about identity and tokenism and how to bring all of yourself to a rehearsal process as a performer or facilitator and how we need more cushions but not to get tooooo comfortable...
New Beginnings with Taos Berttrand
In this episode we discuss Taos' new work 'Brutal Syntax' commissioned as part of Meltdown festival - we explore the relationship between dance and language and I have a fan girl moment about their work with Christine and the Queens. They refuse the title of trailblazer as we find the words to talk about process and the materiality of bodies in their work...
Taos performance explores the boundaries of popular culture and brings an eclectic mix of influences to the contemporary dance scene. Brutal Syntax premieres on 14th June and is not to be missed!
Kindling with Cecilia Macfarlane
In this episode I talk with Cecilia Macfarlane about the roots and branches of her long career in the Community Dance sector and about what it takes to keep the fires burning, why she still performs and how gender differences have influenced progression in the young people she teaches. I also do some geeking with the book by my bedside currently which is called 'Dance your way home: A journey through the dance-floor' by Emma Warren.
You can also check out the resource book created by Cecilia and Ruth - 'Any Age, Any Body, Any Dance' via the People Dancing website.
Graduate Special with Keira Sanderson & Boon Wongpaisan
In the February edition I had the treat of speaking with two of my recent graduates from Falmouth University's Dance & Choreography course about thier life post graduation and working internationally, we discuss navigating social media as an artist and how to make friends with imposter syndrome.
Showing Up with Orrow Bell
In this episode I talk with performer, choreographer, writer, dramaturg and facilitator Orrow Bell about transitions in life and work, queer politics, and how they are ready to show up for their trans siblings. In the past Bells' performance work has raised the issue of visibility for queer people - particularly those who identify as women and afab - in the contemporary dance sector and has done so with humour and generosity. As well as looking at Bells performance 'The Forecast' from 2019, we ask where are they now and discuss how to create spaces where empathy and learning can happen. Bells voice is an important one for creatives from all disciplines. Listen up and show up!
As always, I am joined by recent Dance & Choreography graduate and dance teacher Luca Vaccari to digest some of the themes from the interview. There is no geek out this time but plenty of wonderful starting points for further research...
Letting Go and Coming Home with Emilyn Claid
In this episode I talk to choreographer, performer, director and psychotherapist Emilyn Claid on the eve of one her final performances of her recent solo work 'Untitled' which she developed in collaboration with choreographers Heidi Rustgaard and Florence Peake around the theme of transformation. We talk about Emilyns role in UK dance history, about what letting go means in the context of dance and life, queerness from her perspective and how returning to performing after 22 years has felt like a homecoming.
Emilyn's book 'falling through dance and life' is a point of reference during this discussion for the physical and emotional work around 'falling' - my dance geek dream - and we touch on how death being the only trajectory brings a new sense of fullness to what she is doing.
Starting with the body - Alexandrina Hemsley
In this episode I chat to interdisciplinary artist Alexandrina Hemsley about their career in dance, how the starting point is always the body and how existing in white led dance spaces has given rise to alternative modes of making work. We discuss Afrofuturism and touch on how grief and loss impacted thier creative process on the recently released film-work 'The Fountain' which is a labour of love that uses visual effects, the metaphor of water and dance to explore Black lived experiences, and also draws on experiences of mental health and invisible disabilities.
I am also joined by regular contributor Luca Vaccari live from a props cupboard in Frankfurt!
LINK TO FREE SCREENING OF THE FOUNTAIN ON WEDNESDAY 9TH NOVEMBER at 5pm:
Queer Utopias with Claud Tonietto
Also joined by my regular contributor Luca Vaccari to digest the interview from another perspective and a little bit of dance geekery thrown in for good measure.
See you in utopia!
Abundant Rhythms with Vidya Patel
In the March episode I talk to choreographer and South Aisan Dance advocate Vidya Patel about her training in Khatak and since BBC young dancer how she is discovering her authentic practice, about what we mean when we say 'technique' and not living up to audience expectations. We also discuss how there is more to life than dance (say whaaaaat???)!
Vidya's dance artist network: https://www.danceartists.co.uk
For Kathak classes with Sujata Banerjee, Vidya's teacher:
The Book I refer to in this weeks 'Geek Out': India's Kathak Dance in Historical Perspective by Margaret E. Walker and Professor Keith Howard
Falling in love and flying high with Grace Sellwood
This episode is around a table with my guest Grace Sellwood and regulars on the pod Robyn Alvarez and Luca Vaccari, we discuss our love/hate relationship to dancing in a nod to Valentines day and the knife edge anxitement of performing as well as how grown ups need to play. There is a lot of local love in the room this month.
Inspiring Movement with Kevin Turner
Plus, abit of Whitney Houston anyone?!
Kevin is, quite simply, an inspiration...
Book References from this episode:
Radical Happiness: Moments of Collective Joy by Lynne Segal
Depression: A Public Feeling by Ann Cvetkovich
Dancing in the Streets, A History of Collective Joy by Barbara Ehrenreich
Christmas Special! Queering the Nutcracker
In this episode Ruth, Robyn and Luca queer the iconic ballet that comes around every Christmas: The Nutcracker with music by Tchaikovsky. We discuss heteronormativity in ballet, gender roles and their toys, etymology, how rats could be queer icons and the best drag act around - the sugar plum fairy.
We had such fun doing this episode and hope you enjoy it as much as we did, because, well, it's a cracker! (apart from a slightly rough around the edges edit, because you can't get everything right at this time of year)
For your reference we watched the Russian Ballet full version available on You Tube for all to see, but of course there are numerous iterations and we also discuss Matthew Bourne's production.
Merry Queermas everyone!
Dance Is Not a Luxury with Camille Barton
Taking time to un-learn with Theo Clinkard
In this episode I had the pleasure of taking time to talk with Theo Clinkard about unlearning the many rules and assumptions that being a dancer can leave us with, letting go of right/wrong binaries and 're-hobbying' dance. We ask just what is the opposite of practice, if practice is all you have and Theo discusses about his brave and compelling new work 'The Century Project' a performance spanning 100 years which seeks to open up time rather than conume it.... and because its nearly Halloween there's even some talk of ghosts!
Series 2 teaser
A teaser to introduce you to the regular contributers on the Dance Futures podcast and a reminder from your favourite dance geek Dr Ruth Pethybridge that this is the podcast for you whether you are a trained professional or a regular on the kitchen disco circuit. We discuss what being a 'dancer' means in different ways to different people and why we'll never go on strictly...
See you on the dance floor!
Christmas Collage: A lost conversation about pedagogical relationships in dance
Choreographing Care with Grace Nicol
Grace reminds us to have patience as we negotiate our new relationships to dance and performance in the future. In the last dance geek out Ruth reflects on loss with Judith Butler.
‘Working it’ with Gillie Kleiman
Also in this episode Robyn treats us to another string from her bow and Ruth geeks out about pole dancing.
Shifting Sands with Emily Alden
Mapping Lostness with Yi Kwek
Here Yi Kwek reads out her piece 'Mapping Lostness; Thoughts from a dancer' - a look at bodily terrain/seeing through the body.
Yi's writing is a pause in this series of Dance Futures, a chance to catch up with previous episodes. A chance to reflect and take stock of your body's place in the world.
Originally published by 'Blurb' online magazine and collective: www.blurbmag.com
Stop that train with Katie Dale Everett
For Katie her career has meant constant forward motion, like stepping on a train with no stops - as a producer, choreographer and film maker, Katie's choreographic approach encompasses multiple routes into dance....choo choo!
Are they humans or are they dancers? with Keir Clyne
From Britney to Bollywood and Back with Grace Willow
Dance is your super power with Bakani Pick Up
Please check out the episode link on our website for more links to Bakani and his work:
dancefutures.wixsite.com/podcast
Follow us on Social Media:
@dancefuturespodcast
#dancefuturespodcast
Series Introduction
Listen here to find out more about whats in store in the Dance Futures podcast with Dr Ruth Pethybridge.
Dance On!