Inspired by the collections of starfish and sea urchins within Sladen’s study at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter and the beautiful glass sculptures created by artist Steffen Dam. This new work explores our relationship to self and others, how we react to the natural world around us, how we view our place within ecology and our connection with nature, both consciously and somatically.

Glassworks by Steffen Damm, RAMM

During a 3 day R & D process at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth in November 2023, myself and performers Malin Kvist & Willa Faulkner explored the development of two characters, working with concepts around human movement and social characteristics, compared with instinctive somatic animal ways of moving.

The costumes greatly informed this process of co creation.
I wanted to create a costume which distorts the human form, my interest is in how we disconnect from our animal selves with human movement, the choreography explores self beyond human conditioning.

”So moving. Such a sense of benevolent exploration and a powerful naivety. Willa and Malin are such a joy to watch together”

The spirals came about through experimenting for a different project. I liked the way they moved and for me it reflected the arms of the feather star. It has been a process to take this inspiration, create it on the dressmaking dummy and see how it moves in the studio. Over a few weeks the creation has developed through the movement that the dancer brings to the costume.

Phoenix Arts Centre - June 2024

Swift Dance Co.

”3 sea creatures like the three graces, glutinous, and like Jane Austen underwater, costumes like crinolines disintegrating”

“ Great costumes and balance with ‘ship’ costumes too”

“Very captivating and beautiful”

Teignmouth Climate Action Festival - June 2024

What The Sea Brings In

Swift Dance Co.

As part of ACT festival I developed the piece for site specific performance, with the addition of jellyfish sea creatures adding another surreal, colourful and playful element