Third Bite Dance - our first residency!
End of our residency before heading off to the pub!
We were privileged to be able to have a week’s residency at the University Drama Studio from Monday May 2nd – Friday 6th. Thank you to our magical artistic director, Lucy Haighton, for creating and leading such an extraordinary week, and to Enable US for supporting us by providing the venue. We played, we improvised, we explored and we shared. Having a week together enabled us to go much deeper than we have been able to in our previous half day workshops. The piece we began creating during the residency week will be one of the 3 pieces shown at our 22nd June performance at the University Drama Studio:
An Evening With Third Bite Dance
Reflections from participants in the week:
Dianne wrote, "The week’s residency in May 2022 was a chance to spend time together, to laugh, play and share stories – by the end of the week, we knew that we were a tribe that could trust and support one another. The theme of the residency was “Touch”; as we now emerge from lockdown, we are interrogating our habits and expectations around touch and non-touch. Together, we have made an important step forward in the way we work as a company. "
There was a mix of excitement and apprehensiveness before the week:
Clare wrote, “Feeling really fearful. Would my body cope with 5 days of dance, could I still concentrate for a whole week? Then, oh the joy, so much laughter, (and some tears), so much playfulness, support and caring. So much creativity. Can we still do it? Yes we can!”
Chris said, “I haven't got up each day for a week and walked the same route to the same place for the same time to meet the same people for......... well, years. And what a delight it was! The playfulness, the honesty, the hard work, the time for reflection. All great. Can't wait to do another residency. Thanks, Third Biters.”
Steve’s reflection: “The residency week was everything that I’d hoped it would be. From an artistic perspective it allowed us time, space and the atmosphere to improvise, research and, above all, create. At a personal level, it was fantastic to get to know members of the group in a way that was not possible in short afternoon sessions. I was privileged to hear the stories, both happy and sad, of so many in the group. I feel desperately sorry that so many women in the group have had experiences that make me realise that my male privilege is greater than I had already suspected. I am now looking forward to turning our research into the performance on 22 June. I am so pleased that not only did I attend this week but also joined TBD in the first place. It has been a great life-changer for me.”
Debra shared this: “The residency was an amazing experience and not only having the time to be creative but to chat over breaks. It was precious to have time to develop ideas but to have lots of fun in the week was brilliant, all with Lucy's excellent support. I loved it (even though I was a bit wobbly with vertigo).”
If this has whetted your appetite for joining our performance company, subject to being able to secure funding, we will be opening for applications in March 2023. Look out in future newsletters for more on how you can get involved. In the meantime, come and see our 22nd June performance: An Evening With Third Bite Dance!