Taster with Canal View P6 Classes
We kicked off the residency with a couple of taster sessions with both P6A and P6B so we could meet them, get inspired and begin to see where the project might go. For the Taster sessions we had the whole team present, myself (Choreographer / Lead Artist), Caitlin Mulgrew (Sound Designer / Associate Artist) and Anna Noonan (Choreographer / Associate Artist). It was an exciting and lively beginning of the project. It felt crucial to have these sessions in order to give us a sense of the classes and to start planning and thinking about the overall shape and journey of the residency. At this point there is still lots of room for manoeuvre. We want the young people involved in guiding where the residency goes and for us to be able to follow their instincts and interests. I think the time is going to fly by.
Week 1
On our first session with Canal View P6s Anna (who will be with us for the first 3 weeks of the residency) and I worked with a focus on movement and choreography. We played games, taught the P6s partner contact lifts and travelled across the floor imagining the ceiling was sinking. The P6s also created rhythmic hand dances in groups which they performed to the rest of the class. It was a brilliant start to the residency.
Week 2
This week was all about preparing for Filming that (weather permitting) will be happening next week. We did more complicated lifts, which the groups were excellent at mastering. We also created lines of connected bodies in groups and and made some duos and trios. For the last part of both sessions the classes went outside to experiment in some of the locations we will be filming in next week. It was great to try out some ideas and also get inspired by what else might be possible, looking at the space differently.
Week 3
Filming Day! We were so lucky with the weather considering the night before it was bucketing it down. We had a jam packed schedule with 16 experiments to capture. Everyone was brilliant and seeing the whole class running across the bridge towards the camera shouting with pleasure, hands in the air was a delight. This week Caitlin joined us for the P6’s first music session. It was a brilliant, busy day with everyone trying bold new things. It was very exciting to see some of our ideas come to life.
