How are you? How is your Summer of Play? What are you creating? I promised I would write once in a while, and here I am (currently in isolation with a dose of Covid but I am nearly out the other side and am resting well!)
The image above, by Chris Payne was taken at Manchester International Festival from Little Amal: A Sleeping Child. I had the absolute joy to choreograph this piece alongside director Cheryl Martin and one incredible cast of artists. It was honestly the highlight of my year so far, with wonderful music, movement and human connection!
We are also playing/creating a new piece and it is very exciting indeed (even if currently quarantined!). I am over the moon to announce that Papyllon and The Rainbow Butterfly have been supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Thank you ACE!
We have just begun creating the children’s and adult versions of the piece this summer at Pavillion Dance South West, inspired by the lifecycle of the butterfly and an exploration in to imposter syndrome, light skin privilege and identity.
We will launch a free course for artists for the month of October & be interviewing some very special guests on their experiences with imposter syndrome, and I am super excited to be joining the Mixed Bloom Room course in September to dive in to my own identity!
In the children’s version, ‘The Rainbow Butterfly’, we have written and are currently busy illustrating a book, and exploring how the life cycle of the butterfly echoes the principles of alchemy. We have also had the pleasure of working with some wonderful young people on our very own maypole story tree (images and more information coming soon!). We have also been busy creating a platform to showcase all of this so you can join us for our premiere online from wherever you are in the world!
I am so grateful to everyone who has helped make this possible. Big thanks especially Beverley Thomas who helped me write this application and saw the potential in this idea, Rachel my wonderful producer and the wonderful Georgina and Jay Lance and the whole PDSW team who really have facilitated a miracle in these different quarantined times!
Thank you too to PDSW, Dance City, Yorkshire Dance, Kala Sangam, Pervasive Media Studio, Company of Others, Rural Arts, Bristol Trinity, Topia, University of Warwick, Metal and many many more super heros. Thank you to all the artists involved in this project I am so excited to work with you!
Have you listened to the amazing Ama Rouge and my podcast PowerUp! or (PUP!)? This summer is The Summer of Play! We interviewed some amazing humans including Adele Cleaver author of “Children Don’t Dissolve in the Rain” on all things play. And we have created our first competition to win her amazing book (More here). Listen to the full series here. Sessions include What is your ValUE with Valerie Ebuwa, Consent is a Privilege with Robyn Dalzen, and Do You Believe you are Possible? With Ama Rouge and I.
Sending you all my love, hugs and magic at this different time, for those also in quarantine get well soon, and we will be back next month with some updates and invites to sharings of the work!
I love you!
Ella Mesma X
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