Tiny Dance

Tiny Dance: Rural Suffolk life creatively captured during lockdown

Rural communities collaborate with dance artists to create a brand new piece on location

During lockdown, a Suffolk arts charity joined with DanceEast to produce a creative celebration of what residents in rural Suffolk villages love about where they live.

Brought to life by Casson & Friends performers, #TinyDance Suffolk was inspired by Laxfield, Risby and Combs residents who answered the question “What is your village made of..?”

Their answers were thoughtfully adapted into choreographed movements, which formed a dance piece filmed on location in the three villages.

With choreography by Tim Casson in collaboration with performers Kaia Goodenough & Richard Pye, the film was produced as part of Suffolk Artlink’s ‘Make, Do & Friends’ arts programme.

Carrie Phoenix, Suffolk Artlink Project Officer, explains: “Make, Do & Friends offers creative ways of making and keeping connections, and there’s never been a more important time to stay connected than right now.

“For this part of the programme, we chatted with local residents during visits by the Rural Coffee Caravan, as well as asking people to send in postcards, telling us about what they loved about their village. From feeding ducks and making rosehip syrup to instructions on how to grow juicy pumpkins, this dance piece captures the joys and memories found in the fabric of rural Suffolk living.

“Our full programme of Make, Do & Friends activities continues until March 2021. All activities can be done from home, and we hope to bring people together in ways that are relaxed, creative and enjoyable. We welcome anyone in need of a bit of creativity and connection to take part.”

In line with recent Government guidelines, the arts charity has moved all of its remaining Make, Do & Friends programme online, available digitally at no cost to people living in Suffolk’s rural communities.

From radio drama listening clubs, to online creative get-togethers led by professional artists, all of the activities are free and there is something for everyone.

Full information about the creative programme can be found at www.makedoandfriends.co.uk or please contact Candida or Carrie on [email protected] / 07857 002974.

Make, Do & Friends is delivered in partnership with DanceEast and the Rural Coffee Caravan.

 

Videos

You can watch the dance video here:

It can also be found on YouTube with and without subtitles:

With Subtitles: https://youtu.be/p6u0t24Hc3I

No Subtitles: https://youtu.be/is4FLIJL1Js

 

Notes

Suffolk Artlink is a participatory arts charity. We develop and deliver inclusive arts programmes in communities that bring skills, support networks, confidence and joy to people in the East.  Our creative projects aim to help people transform their lives through the arts, and are delivered in places including community centres, hospitals and hospices, residential homes, refuges and schools. Our work is led by experienced arts practitioners, encompassing a rich variety of art forms, and is delivered in close partnership with care, education, voluntary and community organisations.

suffolkartlink.org.uk

Suffolk Artlink
Registered charity number: 1110898
Company number: 05354844