A practice-based artistic research, led as a trio collaboration with Naomi Lefebvre Sell and Lucille Teppa and mentored by Sarah Whatley, Professor of Dance and Director of the Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE), Coventry University (UK).
For over a decade, the project has unpicked and explored the role of stillness and meditative/mindful processes, articulating their lived and layered experience within moving, dance-making and scoring practices. Outcomes have been shared through co-authored publications, conferences, performances and workshops worldwide.
The process began in 2007 with the making of full length piece dharmakaya, as part of Lefebvre Sell’s Doctoral research. For years, the work then filtered through our individual journeys as artists, teachers and practitioners. In 2015 Naomi, Moving as a thought process was launched, comprising studio work phases punctuated by public events. It has been captured and distilled through multi modal outputs ever since.
Films:
Moving as a thought process: studio development and creative encounters; developed with Jason Brooks.
Moving as a thought process: An insight into mindfulness through dance and choreography; developed with Jason Brooks.
Conference Presentations/Screenings:
Per/forming Futures: Investigating Artistic Doctorates in Dance and Performance; Middlesex University.
5th International Dance and Somatic Practices Conference, Coventry University.
4th International Dance and Somatic Practices Conference, Coventry University.
Parallax Research Seminar,Trinity Laban, '16 & '18.
'The Cultivation of Mindfulness in our Schools’; Girls Day School Trust.
Foundations for Excellence Conference: Meeting the challenges of Excellence in Music and Dance, Trinity Laban, London.
Performance and Mindfulness International Symposium, Centre for Psychophysical Performance Research, University of Huddersfield.
Performances:
dharmakaya by Naomi Lefebvre Sell, Bonnie Bird Theatre (2008)
dharmakaya by Naomi Lefebvre Sell, Giessen Tanz Festival, Germany, (2008)
Teaching:
Centre for Advanced Training,Trinity Laban; workshop series with students aged 14-17.
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama; workshop with MA/MFA Scenography students.
Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; workshops with MA students and faculty.
International Association of Dance Medicine and Science 26th annual conference, Hong Kong; workshop with delegates.
Cando2; workshop series, Trinity Laban.
Partners: Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
Publications:
Routledge Companion to Dance Studies co-authored chapter: Moving as a thought process: the practice of choreography and stillness