Captured Soft is a partnership project between Dance Base Scotland & Curious Seed in collaboration with PRIME, with the generous support of an anonymous benefactor.
In September 2020, Curious Seed were due to embark on a new performance work in partnership with the PRIME company, led by Artistic Director Christine Devaney.
However, as September drew closer, it became apparent that the likelihood of bringing all 15 dancers together, even in an outdoor space, was getting slimmer by the day. Not to be deterred, the PRIME members took it in their stride as their weekly sessions were moved online to connect digitally. While this new artistic approach brought its challenges, it also opened a unique form of connection, giving space and freedom to the dancers to improvise and respond in a way that may not have happened in person.
As part of the collaboration, Christine also shared her practice of writing in relation to moving. This was a new way of working for the company and proved to be inspiring, bringing fresh perspectives on the relationship between language and movement.
To capture the filmic nature of the sessions, Christine invited filmmaker Lorna Simpson and composer Luke Sutherland to work with the company to develop a film, which became Captured Soft.
Captured Soft is dedicated to Jill Knox.
Jill’s presence will be forever with us - she is the first and last to feature in the Captured Soft film, and her Roadmap for Hope opens the publication.
Project Director Christine Devaney
Filmmaker Lorna Simpson
Composer Luke Sutherland
PRIME members: Annie Young, Christine Thynne, Diane Mitchell, Eleanor Morrison, Jill Knox, Judy Adams, Karen Duignan, Lin Grahame, Marilyn Shiells, Moira Berry, Norma Turvill, Paul Burrows, Rosie Orr, Sara McBean, Tom Daniel
While developing the work Christine Devaney, Artistic Director at Curious Seed, said:
“It’s a delight meeting with PRIME online each week.
They’re such a wonderful creative group of people with so much rich life experience which they bring to the work. Of course, I’m disappointed that we can’t all meet in person but somehow, we’re finding creative, fun and meaningful ways to connect.
So far, we’ve been exploring the unfamiliar in the familiar spaces we find ourselves dancing in. Discovering how to be together as we work inside in solo practice, as well as meeting outside in pairs: dancing, writing and filming. Everyone has risen to - and seems to be relishing - the challenges that the changing circumstances have brought!
I’m delighted that film maker Lorna Simpson, will work with us to weave these creative adventures into the format of a film to share. I’m also very happy that one of Curious Seed’s longest-standing collaborators, Luke Sutherland, will create an original sound score for the film.”
Morag Deyes, Artistic Director at Dance Base said:
“PRIME have risen to the challenge and blossomed as co-creators of this beautiful work, finding a new voice to their dancing, writing and improvisational skills. This cloud of COVID has offered a silver lining, as the wonderful dance artist Christine Devaney was able to give her time, creative energy and unique guidance to the company. We are very blessed with such a collaboration and can’t wait to see the result.”
MOVING | WRITING PROJECT
Captured Soft expresses the emergent themes of reflection, connection, togetherness, and the cycle of seasons and of life, all of which felt more prominent and poignant that year. The film is accompanied by a score created from the writings and reflections from the group.
These words were edited and compiled into a collection of writing which was published in 2022.
The Moving | Writing project was led by Christine Devaney and supported by Luke Sutherland as editorial mentor. The publication was designed by Valerie Reid (valeriereid.com) with illustrations created from the Captured Soft film (2020).
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