4 minute read
Contact Dance Company
Plethu a year long project in Wales
Contact company dancers, Chloe and Mervyn have been working alongside Rachel and Ray to deliver a really successful project in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The SiD team worked with local dance artists, local families, a dance group based at The Torch Theatre in Milford Haven and participants from Clynfyw Care Farm in Abercych Sadly, the final visit to Wales, due to COVID restrictions, meant that just Rachel and Ray visited. It was a successful two days; local dancers got the opportunity to dance together for the first time since March 2020 and we were able to share our experiences of teaching digitally and facilitating COVID safe dance workshops. SiD worked with a small group from Clynfyw , a great opportunity to enjoy dancing together and focusing on building creative relationships between residents and support workers. The residency has been a great experience for us, and we would like to thank Maynard, Abercych for the opportunity and looking after us all so well.
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Credit: Ming De Nasty
Explore workshops
The first of our inclusive Explore workshops led by co director Rachel Liggitt was a great success. A small group of Contact Dance members met in person, when we could, to reconnect with our bodies and explore together for the first-time in a long time. SiD hosted its second creative workshop for dancers with experience, online in March 2021. Dance artist Cai Tomas led a wonderfully inspiring 1.5-hour session. Cai is a dance artist, maker, and art psychotherapist. His work centres around participatory practice and facilitating arts and health work with people of all ages both in London hospitals, care homes and in theatre settings. We hope to invite Cai back to work with us in the studio.
Dancing Together Apart Portrait Project
SiD commissioned photographer Ming de Nasty to capture photographs of Contact company members dancing at home. Ming’s intimate, moving portraits capture dancers participating in SiD’s Zoom dance classes, performing their own choreographed solos and capture the close relationships with family members. These stunning images, set in the backdrop of their own home, will form a powerful exhibition, touring 2022.
SPOTLIGHT ON CONTACT DANCE COMPANY MEMBERS CHLOE AND KEVIN
Introducing Chloe Shepherd
Chloe is a member of Contact Dance Company, joining in 2012. Chloe has 3 older sisters and lives in stunning surroundings near Bewdley, Worcestershire. Coming from an incredibly artistic family Chloe loves to draw, write, paint, bake and go for walks. She loves to dance, and Contact Dance gives her ample opportunity to express herself alongside a network of dancing friends which she holds very dear. One of Chloe’s highlights is making a duet with her father Kevin in 2017, Father Daughter is inspired by Kevin and Chloe’s shared love of dance and their family home, a secluded cottage nestled in a wood. “We witness the hard work of winter life at the cottage, the chopping of wood and the fuelling of fires. Throughout the narrative, Chloe’s journey to maturity is conveyed by hints of gentle conflict between father and daughter; her desire for independence confronting his awareness that parental protectiveness must now be accompanied by detachment and an encouragement of freedom. He retreats into the shadows and we are left with Chloe in a spotlight, standing alone, venturing forth as her own self-reliant woman” - Audience Member In November 2017 Chloe travelled with her father to Valetta in Malta to attend a symposium hosted by Open Doors called Difference & Diversity. Father Daughter received a standing ovation and Chloe talked beautifully about the impact on her of making the duet together. This experience has left a lasting impression on Chloe. The distance they travel to class and rehearsals and the commitment to SiD is unfaltering, such is the positive impact on their lives. And what next for Chloe…
Credit: Ming De Nasty
Introducing Kevin Shepherd
Kevin is 67 and joined Contact Dance Company in 2015, he is married and has 4 daughters and 7 grandchildren. Chloe lives at home and his other daughters live nearby, he loves his very big garden and small piece of woodland. Kevin has always been a dancer, dancing in a Morris dancing group with Chloe and his wife Jude for many years. Kevin feels it is a great privilege dancing, rehearsing and performing with Contact Dance and feels we ‘are working to the highest limits of our abilities’, creating meaningful, impactful work that touches people’s hearts. As a dancer who loves to perform, SiD has provided opportunities Kevin never dreamt possible - travelling to Malta, touring Being Seen choreographed by Jo Fong (2019) and Unknown Places choreographed by Joanna Young (2018) It has given additional focus and purpose to Kevin’s life and he is a brilliant advocate for the company’s work and friend to individual company members.
2020/2021 has been a tough year and Kevin has missed Contact Dance dancing together - in person - a great deal. So, what does Kevin want for the future?
