NAMGAUDS NOTES
Keeping you updated ... if you want....
I HATE NAMING THINGS
I always struggle to name things, like this newsletter. To be honest I’ve always said I dance because words evade me. I find language to be too specific but also not specific enough. It’s as if when you name something you are telling people what it is and what to think about it. I like to be a shapeshifter, I don’t want to be boxed in with names and labels. Talking about and articulating your art to folks isn’t easy, especially when you create from an intuitive and personal place, it’s a soft skill I didn’t prioritise alongside the making and doing. I am hoping this newsletter-research blog-visual diary will help me in that area. Here you will probably find some spelling mistakes, (a lot of) incorrect use of punctuation and grammar, but this is all another opportunity for me to fail so I can learn about myself.
I wanted a different way to let people know what i’m up to and when I have opportunities for people to participate, see or engage with my work. Insta doesn’t always do a good job of reaching the people you want to, and really I just want a way to be more personal and share my work with those of you who do want to know more.
What to expect here…
I’ll share news, my project developments, process, successes, failures and maybe some research or things i’m reading, watching, doing. This is a place where I can give insight into my journey and process but I also want to connect with other artists and offer those starting out or finding their feet some words of solidarity and maybe even wisdom when I can. As the great Marianne Elliott said on my first day working with her, “We are here to fail.”
I will be posting every few months. 3-4 times a year…She says. Hopefully with some sporadic bits of good news here and there.
So here is my intro letter, the next one will be more detailed and visual.
New Old News
I was really lucky to be selected as a Time & Space Commission Artist at Sadlers Wells for this year. I have just completed my 2 weeks residency which was dedicated to developing and upscaling my practice and process. I had an incredible time playing, taking risks and making things with dance artists Bea Bidault & Bonni Bogya, set designer Soléne Riff and Filmmaker Camilla Greenwell.
I will be releasing a short dance film made in collaboration with the artists above in coming months. We’ll be looking for places to platform it.
New News
Myself and producer Ciara Lynch were successful in our recent Arts Council Project Grants application. This mean I’ll be heading into an R&D in March & April for a new dance theatre piece. My first independent, full length, live work for theatre. I will share more details on this in coming weeks but we are on the look out for future partners and venues for performances in 2025 and beyond. I’ve made countless commissions, outdoor works, short pieces and choreographed works for other companies, so it’s about time.
I’ve been planning and researching this work since the beginning of 2021. Countless applications have been made and rejected. When people hear about the successful funding they rarely get told how many applications that were rejected…. i’m on 15 and counting. One unsuccessful ACE grant in 2023 and the rest for multiple (and some repeated) applications to other organisations.
I have some exciting collaborators, plans and CPD opportunities happening as part of this project so watch this space.
Sharing…
I’m quite obsessed with the occult, history of witches and witchcraft as a practice. I use some rituals of my own, particularly to celebrate events of the Pagan and Wiccan calendar. It comes up a lot in the themes of my work and my next piece is thinking about rebellious and monstrous bodies. Hence, I’ve been listening to this podcast recently…
Thank you for reading,
FREE PALESTINE
B x