‘Behind the Door´

Wow! I was lucky enough to watch the interesting, diverse and mature site specific performance delivered by 12 Year 9 students and one Year 8 student on Tuesday 5th July 2011; and many who watched would most definitely agree...it was fantastic! The strong site specific dance performance engaged the audience not only through the visual, but also through the use of sound and touch. The dancers delivered an extremely sensitive piece, and helped highlight the question that is often asked in the contemporary realm, ‘what is dance?´ After speaking with many of the audience members after the performance a lot commented that they now question their perception of what dance can be. Also, it challenged the audiences understanding of how dance can be delivered and make people think whilst watching; instead of just viewing a ‘pretty´ performance.

The project started with a presentation delivered by the Richmond Arts Service to the students, and consisted of three choreographers who had sent proposals to them in order to work on this project. The H.A students then voted on which they thought would be the best to deliver the project; and from this the well known contemporary choreographer Robert Hylton was chosen.

Hylton and the students had just 6 weeks to create a site specific piece and within each week there was only one two hour rehearsal for them to explore and create in. During this time the students explored ideas around statues and places from the surrounding area of Hampton. Some resources that the students and Hylton used were the red phone boxes located in Kingston outside Wilkinson´s, the iconic sculpture found outside Twickenham Rugby Ground by Gerald Laing, the Kingston Skate Park and the busy environment of Hampton´s shopping areas.
After 4 weeks of creating copious amounts of movement and dance phrases using the above stimuli in the dance studio, the students and Hylton had the tough job of transferring it the chosen site where the performance would occur. After, many discussions on possible places to perform in, it was decided that the Tangley Park Road garages would be the best space. It was chosen because it was local, the students (as well as some parents) could relate to it through familiarity, and also it proved a very interesting visual. With all these aspects in mind the piece was interestingly transferred to its new site, with Elise Moore (9CD) commenting, ‘...it was a good change in location and it was very interesting in how the dance then naturally came together...´ Pollyanna Jenkins (9CO) furthered this by commenting, ‘At first the idea of learning in one place and performing in a completely different place was scary, but when Robert explained his thoughts and how clever and imaginative we could be with our area, it was really fun experimenting in new ways´.

The students ´feedback after the performance was extremely positive. Some of the comments are below:

‘Our performance was scary at first but it was amazing when we were doing it. It started to rain during the performance but we treated it like a music video, then it didn´t bother us anymore. The performance turned out amazing!´ Paige Humphreys (9WH)

‘The final performance was a really good experience. Everyone performed with 100% effort. The main part of the dance routine that I loved the most was at the end when I had the opportunity to have a solo...it was nerve racking at the start but it most definitely improved my confidence´. Rachel Varney (9CD)

‘I have never done anything like it before...I have learnt not to be afraid to experiment with particular movements...having a live audience was much more nerve racking then I thought it would be, but I loved it! I have never experienced anything like that before´. Greta Gidley (9WP)

‘At first I wasn´t happy about the fact that it was raining, but after dancing the piece it made me feel like more of a professional performer...I´m very proud of myself and the other students...it was a very fun commitment to be a part of´. Kayleigh Davies (9WP)

I would like to thank all the students who took part in this project, you should be extremely proud of yourself and know you are a credit to the school! Go Hampton Academy!

Students: Year 8: Charlie Booker. Year 9: Priya Hirjee, Jessica Carter, Mahsa Kiyan, Kayleigh Davies, Charlie Booker, Paige Humphreys, Suzy Haines, Pollyanna Jenkins, Elise Moore, Melanny Cando Rojas, Greta Gidley, Rachel Varney, Chloe Beaumont.

 
By Lee Robinson: Dancer in Residence