Rehearsals in full flow

Phew!!! The last two rehearsals have been very exciting. We have now put together various solo duet and small group material into an order which creates the start of the piece so its really taking shape. This was all very exciting - as we were working I was getting ideas for the connections between different parts of the material. I began to work with three of the dancers on some new material which is proving to be quite challenging as it involves me transfering in or out of my wheelchair. All of these challenges are part of the process so I am very confident it will all work out fine...fingers crossed. I am delighted that Rachel has chosen some of my writing as an idea for some material.

Today Rachel and I rehearsed Where the Wind Blows as we are performing it twice and teaching two workshops in a school on Friday. It was very funny as we only had the far end of our office to rehearse in. We had a good time and I feel ready to perform it tomorrow. We will have Claire with us who will step into Rachel's shoes to perform it with me when she goes onto Maternity leave. I am very excied to show her the piece and begin re working it with her....Good luck Claire!!!!

Where the wind blows

As part of Sepia, another piece we will be performing is Where the wind blows.This is a duet performed by myself and Rachel Liggitt choreographed by Bettina Strickler.It has been created to tour to Primary Schools for key stage 1 and 2. as well as being part of Sepia.

The theme looks at the ever changing relationship between friends.From an early stage we decided to use Vivaldi's Four Seasons as part of the sound score.

This piece has been delightful and challenging to do all in one go. I spend about 90 percent of the time out of my wheelchair for it which proves to be very demanding...I am hoping it will make me feel super fit!!

So far we have performed the piec to two schools and it recieved very posative feedback.

Rehearsals so far....

Now that the initial taster sessions are over rehearsals are really taking shape.

So far i have created solo material based on my memories of injuries to parts of my body along with the idea of having similar physical trates to other members of your family eg, markings, hair colour voice etc.

Other material I have created has come from memories of being in places special to me. I wrote a short story of summer walks in the stiperstones with my sunday school group. Whilst doing a task in rehearsals i told a story of being in a certain place and eating Prawn Cocoktail crisps - to my delight during the next reheasal session one of the other dancers gave me a gift of packets of these crisps wrapped up in beautiful ribbons...how sweet!!.

During rehearsal I have also begun to create a duet and a trio which I am really enjoying. All the cast are lovely and I'm enjoying being with everyone. For the next session I am taking with me a newspaper given to me by a neighbour. It is a paper produced every three months showing photographs and telling stories about people all over the county dating back to the early 1900's right up to five or ten years ago. Whilst reading it I discovered a photo of my Grandads Brother dated in the 1930's. Since starting this project I have become really interested in my family history and I am loving working in the studio.

Exhibition

One of our major sponsors for this project is Heritage Lottery Fund. We're working in partership with Shropshire Archives to research the history of people and places, and get inspiration for our creative work.

An exhibition of project and archive photographs and words mapping the making of Sepia – A Small Festival of Dance will be presented in the Chapel Bar Theatre Severn from 11th June - 12th September 2009. We'll be showing some of the amazing archive photos that have inspired the work (some of which can be seen in our brochure!) along with 'fly on the wall' images taken by local photographer Chris Nottingham, of 7studios.

The exhibition will continue to tour the region later in the year. If you're a venue that might like to host it do get in touch!

Visit to Shropshire Archives

I had a really exciting visit to the Archive Library. As well as photographs af the places I grew up I came accross a book about the area.There were quotes in the book from members of my family and people I have known all my llife.I came accross a photograph of my Grandads brother ploughing a field.

During my Archive visit I looked at photographs from the 50's of the church which overlooks the house in Minsterley i lived in as a teenager. I found out that the house was originally the village bank.I have become very excited about researching my roots.

Sally chatting with Alison in the depths of Shropshire Archive.