news about Jane Mason
Down to Earth - Theatre Alibi | Live Digital Show
Following the autumn tour of Down to Earth, in the light of the 2021 lockdown, we adapted the performance for primary school children to work online.
See the trailer here: Down to Earth trailer
'I loved your portrayal of Janet - so emotional and also so funny... The way you managed to switch the emotional atmosphere in a heartbeat was really engaging and impressive.'
Elaine Faull - independent evaluator
Down to Earth - Theatre Alibi
Jane joins Theatre Alibi as astronaut Janet in Down to Earth, touring to primary schools across Devon in autumn 2020. DOWN TO EARTH will support pupils’ wellbeing by drawing parallels between children’s experiences this year and the themes of the story about a lost astronaut and the difficulties of their life in space.
Peninsula Dance Partnership - Covid 19 Emergency Response
Jane was supported by the Peninsula Dance Partnership through three strands of their programme: a dance card to support her physical training during lockdown, coaching with director of Dance in Devon Sue Smith and a choreographic bursary to develop her new solo Red Light inspired by the climate crisis.
4WORDS - Dance4
Jane contributed to issue 5 'Public as Makers' of Dance4's new freesheet of writings 4WORDS. 4WORDS contains writing from artists, audiences and commentators. An ongoing collection of writings on the programme at Dance4 and its offer to the fields of dance and choreography, to Nottingham, the region and beyond.
Jaw Jaw - Villages in Action
During June and July of the pandemic, Jane delivered online movement sessions as part of Jaw Jaw, aimed at working with socially isolated people in rural communities. Conceived prior to the pandemic and partnering with Wellmoor, the weekly movement sessions were supported by weekly reflection sessions with a facilitator to deepen the group's connection.
Emergency Fund - Arts Council England
Sincere thanks to ACE for awarding Jane an emergency fund award to support the cancellation of work during the Covid crisis in Spring 2020.
Dance Art Journal - Interview
In the lead up to the Night Flying tour Jane talked with DANCE ART JOURNAL founder Katie Hagan about her work. DANCE ART JOURNAL is an online dance writing collective that aims to give a voice to independent dance artists.
Read the interview here
Night Flying Spring Tour - Covid 19
The tour of Night Flying was sadly impacted by the Covid 19 crisis. Performances took place at The House in Plymouth, Ashburton Arts Centre and Grampound Village Hall as planned, but disappointingly our culminating shows in London at Trinity Laban had to be cancelled.
I found the whole thing completely wonderful, from start to finish. I will remember many moments from the performance for a long time to come.
Phil, audience member - The House
It's so important for the audience member to trust the performers and you established that early on with me and I was willing to go wherever you wanted to take us.
Tom, audience member - Grampound show
A very beautiful piece, for the ears, eyes and imagination, an abundance of stories to step in and out of, to experience.
Kate, audience member - Ashburton show
Night Flying – March 2020 Touring
A mini tour for Night Flying with performances at The House, Plymouth University 11th March, Ashburton Arts Centre 13th March, Grampound Village Hall 14th March and Trinity Laban Conservatoire London on 17th & 18th March. Both Ashburton and Grampound rural touring dates are supported by Villages in Action and Carn to Cove.
Open Arms - Dance in Devon
Jane worked with year 5 pupils from Newtown Primary School (Exeter) exploring choreography connected to our shared sense of family. The sessions culminated in a movement workshop at The Old Rectory care home in Exeter where the pupils and the residents of the care home danced together. The final workshop was in collaboration with artist Katie Kelsey.
Commissioned by Dance in Devon.
Ugly Duck – Impermanence Presents
Jane was invited by Impermanence Dance Theatre to present a short work as part of a shared evening at Ugly Duck in London. In response to increasing fears around the current ecological crisis Jane created a short piece ‘Red Light’ with live support from long time collaborator composer Jules Maxwell.
Watch 5 min extract of Red Light here
St Thomas Stories – Theatre Alibi
Jane will work with Theatre Alibi on their new project ‘St Thomas Stories’ for 2020. Building on the success of their pop-up exhibition celebrating the history, stories and people of St Thomas – the company along with commissioned artists will now work towards a performance event crafted in response to the wealth of stories shared.
Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys – Protest
Jane worked choreographically to create a performance in a day with year 10 drama students, to support their learning about Protest.
Capturing Lee Miller – BBC Two/ARTE
Jane is a performer in a new documentary about Lee Miller. Lee Miller was an American photographer and fashion model known for her portraits of Pablo Picasso. Despite being known as the lover of Man Ray, Miller’s documentation of war-ravaged Europe after World War II made her reputation as a photographer in her own right.
Directed by Teresa Griffiths. Choreographed by Sue Smith
Produced by Erica Starling Productions
Cheryl Martin – One Woman
Jane was choreographer on the R&D for Cheryl Martin’s new solo show directed by Juliet Ellis. In One Woman, Cheryl Martin looks at how the aftermath of her childhood trauma has contributed to her life-long severe depression. During intensive therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder, Cheryl realised that all the women in her therapy group had been sexually abused as children. The show invites the audience inside the mind of the survivor, using binaural sound and projection for immersive storytelling, in order to understand the joys and fears of survival.
The R&D was commissioned by Made at HOME and the extract premiered at Push Festival 2019.
Thelma Hulbert Gallery – movement workshop
Jane will facilitate a workshop in the gardens of the Thelma Hulbert gallery, following their recent hosting of On Paper; a touring exhibition from the Arts Council Collection featuring 20thcentury and contemporary artists who work with paper. The workshop takes inspiration from our relationship with trees.
Research Collaboration – Exeter Wellcome Centre for Cultures & Environments
Jane is one of three artists selected to collaborate in Phase 1 of a new research project between researchers at the Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health and the Northcott Theatre, responding to the themes of ‘Loneliness, Community and Belonging’. Phase 2 will support one of the artistic projects through to performance in 2020.
Take a Seat – Dance in Devon & Eyeview
Jane is one of five dancers from the South West selected for a collaborative opportunity with Reckless Sleepers produced by Eye View and Dance in Devon as part of EyeView’s cultural programme in Torbay. The process culminates in performances on 15th June followed by Reckless Sleepers’ performance ‘A String Section‘.
Maynard – an artistic community
Jane returned to the village of Abercych in West Wales to continue her relationship with Maynard. Spending a week with Joanna Young, Jessica Lerner and Anushiye Yarnell together with Marynard’s Stirling Steward, Simon Whitehead and Rhowan Alleyne; finding ways to be, live and work together and contributing to Maynard’s year-long programme of activity reflection.
Swindon Dance CAT -
Jane created a performance with eleven 15-19yr old dancers from the Exeter CAT (Centre for advanced training programme).
‘I thought you were brilliant with the students. They said your way of working is ‘Choreography in HD’. You have challenged them, you have high expectations and you expect them to meet them. That is so respectful of their capabilities...‘
Catherine Lee, course leader
Surf the Wave – Seed funding
Jane received seed funding from Surf the Wave to support the development of a new partnership with Carn to Cove (Cornwall’s rural touring scheme). The aim to explore presenting Night Flying in rural contexts is part of wider reflection into how it might be possible (within the current touring climate) to share her work more widely in different kinds of spaces with audiences.
Night Flying – Siobhan Davies Studios
Jane and David perform an extract of Night Flying as part of an Open Choreography event at the Siobhan Davies Studios on Friday 8th March. The evening is shared with artists Igor & Moreno, Annie Hanauer and Zoi Dimitriou.
INPUT Pain Unit – Guy’s and St Thomas'
Jane led the Pain Management team through a practical choreographic session as part of their staff training, looking at increasing team cohesion, creativity and support for staff.
"..I thought your delivery was excellent…you were so welcoming and had such a lovely gentle, non-threatening approach I got the impression that everyone felt comfortable with it throughout and consequently was able to relax and really engage with it..."
Participant
Falling – Theatre Alibi
Following performing in Table Mates, Jane worked as movement director on the remount of Falling.
See the tour schedule here
Studio Research - Common Wealth Theatre
Jane took the directors of Common Wealth Theatre (Rhiannon White and Evie Manning) through a practical creative process working with bodies and objects. The aim was to share practice and stimulate reflection before they begin work on a new show I HAVE MET THE ENEMEY (and the enemy is us) looking at Britain’s relationship with the arms trade.
Topsham School – When I dance...
Jane took 60 children (7-9yrs) through a choreographic creative process, culminating in a 20minute performance for the wider school community and family. Musician Emma Welton collaborated with piano, violin and children’s voice recordings.
"...you held space for all their individual personalities while inspiring them to exceed their limits…Greatest pleasure was to see their joy and confidence..."
Parent response
Climate Change - Workshop
Jane worked with 8-10 year olds from Teignmouth Community School exploring themes related to climate change through movement.
Funded by The Helen Foundation.
"Jane’s quiet intensity of style went down very well with the children. She was so focussed, it transferred naturally to the youngsters who really “got it” by the end, and they asked for more time with her."
Annie Kirk - THF
Night Flying – Impermanence Presents...
Jane and David were delighted to present Night Flying in January as part of a week of performances curated by Impermanence Dance Theatre in partnership with Bristol Old Vic.
Table Mates – Theatre Alibi
Jane choreographed and performed in Theatre Alibi’s Table Mates, performing 96 shows over a 14-week tour to primary schools across Devon. Close to 12,000 children saw the show.
View the trailer here
Night Flying - work in development showing
Drawing on ideas related to deep time, the night sky and landscapes of being, Jane Mason and David Williams explore memory, change and wonder. A conversation with the audience will be facilitated by South East Dance’s dramaturg in residence Luke Pell.
Lighting is by Mark Parry.
This initial development is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Supported by Exeter Phoenix (Associate Artist), Dance4, The Point, Pavilion Dance South West, Kaleider (Resident), Exeter University, Studio Wayne McGregor, Mark Bruce Company, South East Dance and Dance in Devon.
Rhiannon White – Common Wealth
Jane spent a week in Cardiff with Rhiannon to support her artistic development through her Creative Wales award looking at the political body and class.
SUMMER – Quarantine
Jane joins Quarantine for a remounting of SUMMER at the Comédie de Béthune working with a cast of 40 local people. For this iteration of SUMMER she is also performing.
Time to Be
Time to Be explored ideas to do with connection and togetherness in the context of family. Working with St David’s C of E Primary School in Exeter, taster sessions for the whole school were followed by after school sessions with pupils from across year groups, working together with one parent member of their family.
Funded by Exeter City Council
Topsham School
Jane worked with primary pupils from years 3 and 4 to experience a choreographic process culminating in performances for both the school community and families, supported by musician Jess Clarke.
"I was astounded by the quality of the performance which was clearly down to your skills and vision and sensitive way that you worked with the children to bring out the best in them."
Sean Millar – Head Teacher
Funded by Topsham School PTA
Night Flying
Jane is thrilled to have received public funding from the Arts Council to support research and development for a new performance Night Flying, working with long time collaborator David Williams.
The development of Night Flying is funded by Arts Council England and supported by Exeter Phoenix, Dance4, The Point, Pavilion Dance South West, Exeter University, Studio Wayne McGregor, Mark Bruce Company and South East Dance through Collaborate working with Luke Pell.
Collaborate
Jane is grateful to be a recipient of South East Dance’s Collaborate scheme to work with guest SED dramaturg, artist and curator Luke Pell. Luke will support Jane’s new research for Night Flying (with David Williams) and also feed in to support her wider artistic development.
Theatre Alibi
In January Jane had a great few days working as a performer with Theatre Alibi as part of research and development for their new children’s show about food. The company’s last children’s show ‘Apple John’ toured to 75 primary schools across Devon in autumn 2017.
SystemsLab
Jane was delighted to take part in Freddie Opoku-Addaie's SystemsLab in autumn 2017. She was one of 15 invited artists taking part in a series of events including a 3-day workshop with Joao Fiadeiro exploring his renowned 'Real Time Composition'. SystemsLab is a 3 year programme asking broader questions around how artists work in/outside of established systems to sustain themselves.
Hosted by Dance Umbrella across the International festival with support by national partners: Bernie Grant Arts centre, East London Dance, IRIE dance, Serendipity Leicester, One Dance UK, Studio Wayne McGregor (freeSpace Residency), Pavilion Dance South West, The Lowry, NewVic Theatre, University Of East London, with Rachel Bradbear & EricaCampayne (Creative Producers), Freddie Opoku-Addaie and Arts Council England.
MORNING
Jane collaborated with director Juliet Ellis on her new feature length film MORNING.
Ruby is a lonely child. In a world almost entirely of her own imagining. One morning Ruby wakes up to something that will tilt her cosmos forever. Alone, she is led into a series of encounters that change the way she understands her reality and place in the world.
Selfie – Blind Ditch
In the summer Jane collaborated with Paula Crutchlow and Hans Kellett on a research phase for their new touring production 'Selfie'. The work explores how groups form, question and rebel against coerced modes of participation in a social media enabled society.
Staff Project – Dance 4 Nottingham
Following the 2015 commission ‘A dance at home’, Dance 4 director Paul Russ invited Jane to take the staff team through a creative process. The wider aim was to deepen the organisation’s awareness of what it means to engage the public in projects. During 2016 and 2017 Jane worked with the staff, building with a core group to present a ‘performative welcome’ at the Talking, Thinking, Dancing symposium Dance4 hosted in June.
STRETCH - Exeter Cathedral
Sophia Clist is relaunching her art installation STRETCH developed with Nick Burge, at Exeter Cathedral as part of Art Week Exeter. Jane will perform in an improvised performance with Sophia, Nick, violinist Emma Welton and cinematographer Mary Farbrother on Wednesday 17th May at 7.45pm
View the trailer here
Scenography, Performance and the Everyday - Aberystwyth University
Jane was invited by Simon Banham to deliver a workshop as part of The Scenography, Performance and the Everyday research cluster’s programme of talks and workshops. The research cluster aims to explore the means by which scenography and performance can enliven and disrupt the habits and routines of everyday life..... how various aesthetic experiences can expand possibilities for living, opening up perceptual awareness and generating an active concern for the complex social and environmental ecologies we inhabit.
Norfolk and Norwich Festival – Quarantine
Jane joined Quarantine for the remounting of SUMMER. AUTUMN. WINTER. SPRING with local people from Norwich, performing as part of the Norfolk and Norwich festival.
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th May
View the trailer here
Making Invisible People Visible - Bodies
Jane's been invited to collaborate with Exeter University Geographer Dr Jennifer Lea in a movement research project working with people and their experiences of homelessness in Exeter, in partnership with the charity St Petrocks.
The wider research project involves Professor Paul Cloke, graffiti artist Cleo Heard, and singer songwriter Paul Field.
Funded by the University of Exeter with support from Kaleider.
2 Penrhiw Residency – Wales
In February Jane was invited by Maynard to spend 10 days in rural west Wales connecting with people in the village of Abercych. The relationship with Maynard first began in 2015 when Jane was invited to take part in Maynard 3: Family Dances. This residency was about carving out time to develop our conversation further, around what it means to connect with people and place through an attention to movement, personal story and identity.
LAST ACT OF REBELLION - Lone Twin
Jane choreographed Jolene for Artistic Directors Gary Winters and Gregg Whelan for their new work Last Act of Rebellion, created to mark their 20th anniversary in 2017.
Lone Twin brought together collaborators from across the arts including: Gob Squad, Jonathan Burrows, New Art Club, Richard Maxwell, Bryan Saner and Jane Mason to work with the mighty playlist of popular song the duo began collating in 1997.
Co-commissioned by and premiered at Compass Festival 2016.
Wallflower
Jane joined Quarantine in her role as choreographic advisor for performances and development of Wallflower in Aberystwyth.
She has written in response to ‘Choreography of the everyday’ for the Wallflower NOTEBOOK here:
Wallflower dates:
Dance Umbrella, London | 20, 21, 22 October
Juncture, Leeds | 28, 29 October
Staff Project
Jane spent two weeks at Dance4’s international Centre for Choreography in September where she took the Dance4 staff team through a creative process. The project grew out of director Paul Russ’ wish for the organisation to develop greater awareness around what it means to ask the public to engage in participatory projects, in the particular context of Dance4’s relocation to the new centre.
Dinos dancing…
Jane has been working with Science Studies scholar Dr Astrid Schrader through an Exeter University artist residency. Together they’ve been collaborating around the themes of care, time and vulnerability, each looking after some living bioluminescent dinoflagellates in each of our homes. The dinos (marine microbes) are tuned to a circadian rhythm, photosynthesizing during the day and glowing bright blue at night when disturbed or interacted with.
Sharing - Wednesday 20th July at 4.30pm
Studio TS3, Thornlea, University of Exeter
Choreographic Workshop - Tuesday 19th July at 10.30am – 4pm
Studio TS3, Thornlea, University of Exeter
More information about the residency process here
Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring.
Jane is collaborating with Quarantine on an extraordinary Quartet of work about our relationship to time.
World Premiere 22 March - 3rd April 2016
Old Granada Studios, Manchester, UK.
“…Life, like this show, is precious and changeable, and happens in the moments amongst the madness. Tomorrow will reveal something else, or offer up another gift, or take another surprising turn.”
PUBLIC REVIEWS 2014 [SUMMER.]
Sapta Dance Film
Jane is working with Sapta Dance Company in Torrington towards the creation of a dance film. Sapta are a group of over 60’s dancers who meet weekly under the guidance of Cathy Richards. The aim of the project is to site choreography in particular outdoor spaces in Torrington, including an old disused dairy farm.
To be filmed and edited by Tony Walker.
We'll Meet in Moscow
Jane is part of a collaboration between lead artist Writer Natalie McGrath, Designer Sophia Clist and Director Nicola Rosewarne. The work is a response to the banning in 2012 of Gay Pride in Russia for 100 years.
Doorstep Theatre Festival
Thursday 12th November @ 7.30pm - South Devon College
Monday 16th November @ 8pm - Exeter Phoenix
http://wmim.co.uk
Exeter Enquires
Jane is collaborating with Exeter University researcher Dr Astrid Schrader through an 'Exeter Enquires' residency culminating in a performance in 2016. Produced by the University's Arts and Culture team this opportunity is part of a series of residencies across departments and art forms funded by Arts Council England. The aim is to promote interdisciplinary collaboration between academics and artists to highlight research. Meeting points from initial conversations between Jane and Astrid oscillate around ideas of uncertainty, empathy and life cycles.
Here with You
On 21st October Jane presented a large scale dance performance integrating 112 young people and two staff from five different schools. She worked for one day with a class in each of the four primary and one secondary schools in the Cullompton area. All the schools came together at Cullompton Community College over one day where Jane combined the movement and spoken materials into a 45 minute performance. The pupils then performed the piece twice the following day for invited audiences.
Commissioned by Daisi.
Head teacher and producer feedback here
Life Forces - Coventry
Jane and Phil presented Life Forces on 16th October at Coventry University alongside delivering workshops for the University's Theatre and Choreography students, programmed through Decoda.
I found myself lost... it’s like I didn’t want to be found. It was beautiful.
Fraser O’Donovan
I felt as though a lot of time passed like I was watching years go by...I enjoyed watching the gradual build of the space. I appreciated the pace giving me time to notice myself in the process...
Lily Hayward-Smith
Bonnie Bird New Choreographic Fund
Jane was shortlisted for the Bonnie Bird bi-annual research fund for the second time (2015) previously shortlisted in 2013. This national award for established Choreographers aims to facilitate interdisciplinary research over a two-year period.
Wallflower
Having worked as a choreographic advisor on three of Quarantine's Research and Development phases for Wallflower earlier in the year and in the early part of the making process, Jane returned to support the performers and director Richard Gregory during their Dublin Theatre Festival run in September.
Dancing in the Dark - Sue Smith
Jane danced for Sue Smith in her PHD choreography performance at Falmouth University with dancers Kuldip Singh-Barmi, Josh Ben-Tovim and Roseanna Anderson, supporting Sue's research into how audio descriptions can inform the generation of choreography.
A Place to Dance - Dance4
A curated event over three days with provocations from artists.
19 - 21st June at Lakeside Arts.
On 20th June, choreographer and dancer Gillie Kleiman offers her thoughts on authorship and ownership of work and the politics of involving the public as creators, performers and commissioners.
A panel of curators, choreographers and public participants including Jane Mason and Joe Moran share their insights and views. There is also an opportunity to watch a film presentation of A Dance At Home, a recent Dance4 Commission Collective project created by Jane Mason, placing dance in people's homes and them as commissioners, makers and performers.
Life Forces - Performance at The Point, Eastleigh
5th June @ 7:00pm
You can read a review by Nicholas Minns here.
See more audience responses here
Maynard 3 - Family Dances 15th May
Jane's been invited to give a presentation of her work for Maynard 3 – Family Dances curated by Simon Whitehead.
He writes:
Here in the village of Abercych, west Wales, we are developing and curating a body of Dance dialogues that promote and explore different ideas and interpretations of place and identity.
Wallflower - Quarantine
Jane has a long history of collaborating with Quarantine's Richard Gregory; Wasp Factory, But the Living are Wrong in the Sharp distinctions they make, SEE-SAW, Geneva, SUSAN and DARREN, Old People, Children and Animals and Entitled. Wallflower is a new work in development with performers Sonia Hughes and Jo Fong. Jane joined the team for research and development in Aberystwyth and Hebden Bridge in the Spring.
'A Dance at Home'
Following the performances in Nottdance, Commission Collective member Mark Patterson (pictured) wrote a feature about his experience for Nottingham's Left Lion magazine, you can read it here
Filmmaker Jess Hill created a short film about Mark's experience of 'A Dance at Home', you can watch it here
Life Forces - Performance at ICIA Bath
3rd March @ 7:30pm
See audience feedback from the performance here
Life Forces – Workshop with Phil Smith at ICIA Bath
28th February 10-6pm
"I really enjoyed gaining an insight into Life Forces with Jane and Phil...it was such a nourishing day, where ordinary objects had extraordinary consequences and I connected to people I had never met before, but felt after the day like I had been moving for weeks. Looking back at the small experience we had of the processes Jane and Phil went through to create Life Forces, I have a real appreciation for the work and just how challenging it must have been to draw from all of the mountains of material and feelings that would have been produced."
Lisa Lort - Creative Producer, Bath Dance
A dance at home - Nottdance 2015
Jane was commissioned by Dance 4's 2014 Commission Collective to create 'a dance at home'. The project was moved to Spring 2015 where it will culminate in three different live events hosted in three different homes on 8, 9, 10 March in the context of the Nottdance festival. Exploring themes of connection and belonging, responsibility and commitment, there will also be a public facing exhibition closely reflecting the work and process.
Dancexchange, Washington DC
January 2015
Jane will accompany The Point's Creative Producer Sacha Lee to attend the 'Winter Institute' a four day event at Dancexchange, looking at The Role of Artists in Building Community.
Life Forces – Review
Here's a review by Belinda Dillon following the performance at Exeter Phoenix.
Life Forces – Performance at Exeter Phoenix
18th November @ 8pm
Jane has been developing Life Forces since 2013.
The initial trigger for the work came from her father’s old slide projector and his archive of slides. She was also interested in exploring light, change, and the cycle of things being built and falling down. The research process over several residencies in 2013 and continuing into 2014, enhanced these initial starting points, with collaboration at the centre of how the work has evolved
More information and book here: Exeter Phoenix
Workshop with Jane Mason and Phil Smith
10.30-4.30 Sunday 12th October 2014
Emmanuel Hall, Emmanuel Road, Exeter.
Click here for details
Pay What You Can (Book Here)
Jane and Phil perform Life Forces together. The aim of this workshop is to introduce participants to some of our materials, opening up how we are continuously developing these materials to generate new responses between choreography, writing, interaction with objects and images.
The workshop is particularly geared to dance/theatre professionals and arts practitioners, and to anyone interested in collaborative performance making.
Dance UK’s Mentoring programme
Jane was nominated by Theatre Bristol for Dance UK’s mentoring scheme running from autumn 2014 to Spring 2015. She will be mentored by Nelson Fernandez OBE with a focus on developing future leadership skills.
Ideas Lab
Jane participated in a second week-long residential Lab at The Point as part of DanSce Dialogues II in July, working with American choreographer Liz Lerman. The Lab focused on creative tools to support our thinking and our work, and practice working with Liz’s ‘Critical Response Process’ of giving and receiving feedback.
Siobhan Davies Studios
4.30pm - 4th July 2014.
Jane hired the Siobhan Davies Roof Studio to perform a sharing of Life Forces for invited promoters and peers towards generating future structure and interest for the work.
Lighting Lab
Jane participated in a week-long residential lab at The Point as part of DanSce Dialogues II in June (a cross channel exchange programme with Normandy). The Lab was led by French choreographer Christian Rizzo and his lighting collaborator Caty Olive. The workshop was open to two selected UK and french teams, Jane worked with current collaborator animator Magali Charrier. They used moving projection to generate lit environments developing choreographic material in relation to working with paper.
From Source to Spring
Digital War Memorial is a national project involving 10 library partners across the country. Responding to WW1 source material, Jane will work with a primary, youth and adult group in Cullompton in Devon, to explore material particularly associated with the town. The creative outcome will be uploaded onto the Digital War Memorial portal on 'History pin'.
A dance at home
Jane has been commissioned by Dance4’s 2014 Commission Collective to respond to the artistic brief of ‘a dance at home’. The work will take place in the autumn culminating in three events hosting in three different homes, each with a different focus around the wider relationships to home, place and community.
What_now 2014
Jane was selected as one of 20 artists to be resident at the Siobhan Davies Studios in April. what_now 2014, run by Independent Dance re-imagines the idea of a festival by hosting a group of 20 dance artists to explore processes of moving through collective practice and theory. What moves us, and how do we articulate and think through movement?
World Book Night
Jane was commissioned by Dance in Devon to create a site-specific dance work outside Exeter Central Station with Sixth Form students in April, to celebrate World Book Night and the opening of Exeter’s new city centre library.
We’ll Meet in Moscow
SW based writer Natalie McGrath invited Jane alongside sculptor Sophia Clist to collaborate on a new research project inspired by Russia’s banning of Gay Pride for 100 years. They've been working with actors Joey Haldon and Zelda Tinska. The first phase of research will culminate during Exeter’s Ignite festival in June.
Sifting
Jane took part in ‘Sifting’, a five-day workshop with Robert M Hayden (Ultima Vez) at Yorkshire Dance as part of the Juncture Festival, curated by Wendy Houstoun in March.
The workshop focused on the body as a 'total instrument'... working on physical actions, movement as theatrical act and the voice..."
Watch This Space
7.30pm | 23rd January | Exeter Northcott
Jane and Phil will perform a 20 min excerpt of Life Forces in a shared programme of work developed in the SW.
Residency working with Phil Smith
Kaleider supported Jane to spend a week at Exeter University in December to work with Phil Smith on the development of Life Forces. Jane and Phil met working with Blind Ditch. Sophia Clist and David Williams also joined the process. Phil and Jane performed a sharing at the end of the process to a positive response and will continue working in January to develop the work further.
Lunchtime Talk at Kaleider
Jane’s been invited to talk in a series of programmed lunchtime talks at Kaleider on 11 October. For her talk she would like to consider the idea of ‘doubt’ as being central to her ongoing practice.
Elders and Youngers Dance Project
Working with primary children from Park School in Dartington in a project co-delivered with Sue Smith commissioned by Dance in Devon.
The sessions will culminate in a performance at SPACE Dartington in November.
This City’s Centre
3. Here, Now
17-21st September 2013
Collaborating artist and performer in a new Blind Ditch performance project directed by Paula Crutchlow.
Sited in a city centre office in the ‘heart of Exeter’ with live video streaming from city centre homes.
Part of Exeter’s Unexpected Festival 2013.
Tennis Court Dance (working title)
Jane is undertaking research to develop ideas for a new site-specific dance piece to work with young sportsmen dancing with their dads.
Tennis Court Dance has received support from Kaleider.
LIFE FORCES - 2013
Jane received Arts Council funding to research and develop ideas for a new piece in 2013. Since January she’s been in residence at Bath ICIA, Pavilion Dance South West,The Point Eastleigh, Swindon Dance, Dartington SPACE and Choreodrome, The Place London.
Life Forces is a collaboration with London based filmmaker Magali Charrier and dramaturg/performer David Williams.
This City’s Centre - 2013
Jane is choreographing and performing in Blind Ditch’s This City’s Centre. Happening in and between the homes, streets and vistas of central Exeter, This City’s Centre is a contemporary portrait of an English rural city as seen through the windows of its residents.
Between February and September Blind Ditch will work together with Exeter residents, performers, digital artists and students to make three different art experiences – a sound-video installation, a map walk and a live performance as part of UNEXPECTED, Exeter City Council's Festival of Outdoor Arts.
Wide Awake Devon’s Associate Producer Scheme - 2013
In January Jane was selected as one of four artists to be matched with with a new associate producer supported and funded by Wide Awake Devon.
The scheme is about investing in developing the producing culture in Devon offering support for Jane’s work for an eight month period.
Jane is working with Lizzy Pennington.
Lifeguard
Jane choreographed Adrian Howells’ new 2012 production LIFEGUARD - a co-production between the National Theatre of Scotland and Glasgow arts venue The Arches in association with Govanhill Baths Community Trust. The show was created and performed in the teaching pool of the Govanhill Baths, Glasgow followed by a three week run in October 2012.
… the impressionistic images take hold, be it the rough-and-tumble of dive-bombing boys, or the dreamy memory of standing naked in an Aegean rock pool. We are in the world of the civic amenity, but sometimes Lifeguard recalls the shimmering beauty of David Hockney's Californian poolside paintings.
Mark Fisher | Guardian
THEY TUCK YOU UP YOUR MUM AND DAD
Jane is currently collaborating on the 2012 research phase with filmmaker Rachel Davies for her new work THEY TUCK YOU UP YOUR MUM AND DAD for production and presentation in 2013.
Singer
Jane is performing Singer on 5th December at The Point, Eastleigh. Singer was created with collaborators dramaturg David Williams and composer Jules Maxwell at the Centre Chorégraphique National du Havre/Haute-Normandie and the Centre Chorégraphique National de Caen/Basse-Normandie in Spring 2011 in the context of the DanSCe Dialogues Project 1.
Entitled
Jane choreographed Quarantine’s 2011 show Entitled. Following the success of their autumn tour, Entitled toured internationally in Spring 2012. Jane first collaborated with Director Richard Gregory in 1996 on The Waspt Factory for Northern Stage. Since then, she has collaborated on many of their productions to date including SUSAN and DARREN and Old People Children and Animals.
