In this creative work Bernadette Divilly Dance Artist and Dance Movement Psychotherapist, and Sharon Murphy Songwriter and Musician evoke their grandmothers and great grandmothers. Amongst the many anonymous artists and activists, their unseen labour, acts of courage and love were the choreography and composition of the ordinary everyday during the changing cultural landscape of 1922. These women inspire us to know and own the ancestors’ influence inside us all. We carry their memories in our cells. We connect with them through our gait. Their story is in our bones and flows through our blood. Most of the time we are out of touch because of the disconnect in our society, but when we dance, when we sing, we can Re-Member, retrieve, reconnect, and we can begin to repair and heal our own identities.
Workshops
Through a series of four workshops we will celebrate the collective engagement of our ancestors, the anonymous artists and activists of 1922/23.
Using simple dance movement explorations, contemplations and simple scores we will investigate and evoke our cultural ancestors, the unrecognised grandmothers and great grandmothers who shaped the shifting cultural landscape of the time. If we know the history, her-story, we can be present to shape the future with awareness.
Bringing the influence of the past to the present day, these workshops will deepen the women’s connection to self, and local and international communities in 2022, through the exploration of basic principles of dance, relaxation, organisation and presence.
These workshops are appropriate for anybody who is curious about mindful movement and simple choreographic practices. We invite all movement abilities and the community at large.
Image Credit Cormac Coyne