Guiding and Facilitation
It’s been my pleasure to be part of FABRIC in its third iteration of CROWD. As a Facilitator it’s always enriching getting to know the artists and the diverse experiences they bring personally, professionally and culturally. It’s been a joy sharing the first phase of Shaq and Bakani ’s residency, gaining an insight into their practice and their leading questions around community engagement: their commitment in bringing the joy of dance to Queer people of colour and marginalised groups.
As a facilitator I am keen to support those transitional places - how we enter into the residency from busy lives and schedules let alone the distance travelled over land and sea. It can take time to decompress and enter into the spirit of the ‘unconditional’ spaciousness CROWD offers.
That in itself is an act of orientation and relaxation into ‘receptivity’….
That in itself is an act of orientation and relaxation into ‘receptivity’….
I whole hearty give permission to take the time it takes to simple arrive for your self and take the rest you need, when you need it (that rest might be nesting and napping or running, immersing in nature or even a bit of retail therapy as you explore the city).
Into the medley I offer ‘somatic supplements’ - embodiment practices that support a sense of home coming into ones body - nourishing that whole-self subtleness and a quality receptivity.
The choice of objects, drawing and making resources sit lightly at the edges of the space in readiness and the opportunity to explore the neighbourhood and feast around a fire at my allotment is a given - that’s become its own pilgrimage over the three years.
Into the medley I offer ‘somatic supplements’ - embodiment practices that support a sense of home coming into ones body - nourishing that whole-self subtleness and a quality receptivity.
The choice of objects, drawing and making resources sit lightly at the edges of the space in readiness and the opportunity to explore the neighbourhood and feast around a fire at my allotment is a given - that’s become its own pilgrimage over the three years.
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A ritual, a welcome. As I prepare to welcome the artists I created a mini installation in their dwellings - often echoed in the studio space of FABRIC. An installation of clay and lime stone (part of the strata of the land) herbs and flowers from my allotment all sit on some of the original slate tiles from my house (characteristic of the neighbourhood around FABRIC). These lie on a large map of Nottingham accompanied with a message in a bottle. I leave extra clay and chalk - if the artists are inspired and wish to play - they can sculpt the clay and scribe and scribble on the slates… It’s a welcome in much the same way a hotel room might leave you some knick knacks, except this is the earthy presence of the ecology around me with the orientation of a paper map - (old school style for tactile delight) |
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This year my role as guide to the city was generously taken by Bakani who’d previously lived in Nottingham. I was able to, however, take Bakani and Shaq across my neighbourhood (sharing some of my community practice on route) to the West view over the city and on to ‘the nature time’ of my allotment.
Living in the city means the earth and the web of ecology I exist in is so important - it nourishes me at a core level. I love to share it with both the artists and with FABRIC staff. It brings with it a quality of grounding and the freedom of horizon in a magical and everyday sense. Interesting conversations, songs and jokes spill over within its generous green embrace. Perhaps it’s the settling of home on road, to being at home on the earth in the universal sharing of food around a fire - finding our human creature-ness - to loosen and soften with natures touch.
It offers artists the breathing space in which to greet themselves and meet their needs.
Living in the city means the earth and the web of ecology I exist in is so important - it nourishes me at a core level. I love to share it with both the artists and with FABRIC staff. It brings with it a quality of grounding and the freedom of horizon in a magical and everyday sense. Interesting conversations, songs and jokes spill over within its generous green embrace. Perhaps it’s the settling of home on road, to being at home on the earth in the universal sharing of food around a fire - finding our human creature-ness - to loosen and soften with natures touch.
It offers artists the breathing space in which to greet themselves and meet their needs.
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Allowing Shaq and Bakani space to discover the nature of their collaboration was important. I work intuitively - but there was something about my connection with Shaq and Bakani on this residency that really heightened that. There were several moments of synchronicity between us that had us all smiling. One example is the day I placed a typewriter into the space; Shaq had been musing on one but hadn’t voiced it… We recognised ‘energy’ was a common theme for us. |
As a mixed media and movement artist, I am interested in different approaches to movement and materials that allow the non-verbal and the not-yet-known to emerge within its own field of language-ing.
Shaq and Bakani were curious to spend less time in their heads as their natural leanings were towards words and dialogue. These offered them resources to scope and ‘be with’, to find interconnections, distill, expand and witness one another’s expressions in other ways.
Shaq and Bakani were curious to spend less time in their heads as their natural leanings were towards words and dialogue. These offered them resources to scope and ‘be with’, to find interconnections, distill, expand and witness one another’s expressions in other ways.
Exchanges around attending to one’s own self-care and the spectrum of care considerations for groups and communities surfaced. Shaq and Bakani recognised whilst they gave to their groups - they needed to put themselves into the care equation. Creating safety was also key and I was able to reflect the importance of choice to support a sense of freedom and safety. They really took that into their enquiry and ran with it.
It’s been affirming to have had a window into their practice at this stage and witness it deepen and blossom into workshops in their second residency with Dansatelier in Rotterdam!
It’s been affirming to have had a window into their practice at this stage and witness it deepen and blossom into workshops in their second residency with Dansatelier in Rotterdam!
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Meet this years FABRIC team Jim Hendley and Jessica Ashley on our evaluation meeting at my allotment. For Bakani and Shaq’s blog and Inside talk visit CROWD 
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Photos: by Jessica Ashely - Time Prescriptions: by Usha Mahenthiralingam