Fromanopencallforparticipants,ninegirlsarechosentoworkwiththefivemaledancers.Thechoreographyleavesspacefor improvisationandthepiecedevelopedbyeachnewcompanyduring a two-week rehearsal period is alwaysdifferent. These children truly are co-creators.Theirideas,movementandpresenceremakesthehour-longperformance.Theresult,atleasttojudgefromwhatIsaw,isextraordinary.
Itbeginsindoubtasthegroupslookateachotheracrossaspaceinwhichthereisonlyacarpetofnewspaper.Handsextend invitations.Postureandmovement is slowly imitated.Tentativeconnectionsaremade.Inthisplaygroundthemenremembertheirownchildhoodswhilethechildrenplayatbeingadultsinprofessionalroles.Somewhereinthemiddle,astheirpathscross,theymeetandbegintoplay.
Theystripnewsprintoffamanencasedinitspages,liftithighasamagiccarpet,rollaboutinitsfoldsandfinallyhaveasnowball fightwith ituntil it's justwastepaper.The laughter, innocence and joyful movement havechasedotherstoriesfromtheroom.
‘She LOVES to fly!’
Attheheartofthepieceisournaturalfascinationwithotherpeople.Itreclaimsthewonderofwatching,asgirlsandmendescribewhattheyseeinapartner’sbodyandits movements: ‘He’s on his left tip-toe.’ ‘He’s leaningbackandlookingatthesky’.‘Icanseeshe’sholdingherankleinherlefthand’.When,attheend,theperformerslineuponebyoneinfrontoftheaudiencetolookatus,aswehavelookedatthem,wearemadeawareofourwatchingandyetmadecomfortableinseeingthatthisiswhatpeopledo.Wedofindoneanotherendlesslywatchable,endlesslyfascinating.
‘There was me, this solitary man, alone at the village bonfire, watching someone else’s children playing. A self-censorship: not letting myself watch for fear of being watched.’
Thethirdelementofthisimportantprojectisthetalkingspace,whichishowIgotdrawnintoitinthefirstplace.WalkingthroughtheoldSneintonMarketIpassedashopwithitsdoorsopenandaneonsign:‘comeinwe’reopen’.SoIdid,andfoundmyselftalkingwithLukePell,whosetask is toencourageconversationsaboutmenandgirlsdancing.Amongblackboards,photo-graphsandplatesofposhbiscuits,peoplecantalkabouttheirfeelings,ideasandmemoriesoftheirownchildhoods.Somewriteinscrapbooksor–habitofthesocialmediaworld–commentonwhatothershavewritten.
Peopletalkedwithusaboutfamilyandtouchandnotbeingafraid.Aboutnotgrowinguptoosoon.Aboutsummersoffunwithfriendsandfamilyplayinggames,childrenrunningaboutintheir knickers in gardens, bouncing on trampolines. We heard about favourite nights outdancing,queuingforclubs,aboutsalsainthenorthernquarter,dancesinwarehousesbyfleamarketsandinthevillage.
‘I felt very proud and honoured to be part of such a beautiful, powerful project. The equality between the dancers was profound the trust passion and connection were incredibly touching. A space that needs to be nurtured.’
