I started my research for “Listen to the Forest” in May 2022 when I was welcomed at Dance Base (Edinburgh) for a residency. During this time I mainly worked by myself, exploring the core of the piece and the combination between dance and spoken word. Since the beginning, breathing has played a crucial role within the piece and I understood I would need to deepen my research and my practice on this topic, which I did later in the year. Between late 2022 and beginning 2023 I turned “Listen to the Forest” from a solo into a collaborative work. After securing financial support for this first stage of development from Creative Scotland, I gathered around me a small team of collaborators: Eloise Kretschmer (music and sound), Benedetta Zanetti (British Sign Language) and Pirita Tuisku (outside eye and choreographic support). I was the dancer and voice of the piece, Eloise was providing music and sound and Benedetta was responsible for BSL integration: we are all representing the Forest’s perspective, enhancing one another with different artforms.

Over spring, we had the opportunity to rehearse at the James Arnott Theatre (Glasgow) for two weeks. At the end of our rehearsals we hosted a first public sharing of our work, followed by a Q&A, and filmed our first draft of the piece. During November 2023 we had a one-week residency at Tramway to rehearse and explore new elements which will support our second stage of development happening at the beginning of 2024. Evie and Sonya were introduced to the work and, as a team, we got further in our research and process. Now we are getting ready for our second stage of development, which will take the show to the next level (public preview). Our second R&D will last five weeks from w/c 29th January until w/c 26th February 2024. We will be hosted by CityMoves Dance Agency (Aberdeen), Studio Somewhere (Glasgow), Tramway Studio (Glasgow) and Assembly Roxy (Edinburgh).

Find out more here.

TMS Supports 2024