Ella Mesma Company collaborates with technology experts and composer Sabio Janiak to create a dance that crosses time, borders, cultures, oceans. Set within a TV Box, Foreign Bodies, is an Underwater Love Story which explores what it is to belong to one or multiple heritages… and whether that creates the identity of a citizen of the world?
Combining stunning choreography, a fantastic cast and a touch of humour, we invite a healing ritual to contest the human collision of difference and allow love to overcome discrimination and fear.
Timely through Brexit, Foreign Bodies is set on two TV stations which contrast and connect the farcical world of a quiz show and the magical world of a jellyfish documentary where love brings us towards a better reality.
In an age where tools like the web connect and divide us, the anonymous quiz show highlights the absurdity of the British citizenship test, to explore what is gained and lost through cultural exchange, whilst the healing world of the jellyfish documentary tells the stories of individuals, families, communities and echoes the bigger stories: ancestry, her-story and the haunting legacy of power structures.
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QUOTES
“An Under Water Love story tackles some big, serious issues, through some amazing choreography and in a way that I think will be accessible to lots of audiences. I think it’s probably going to leave people who see it with plenty to think about but having had a really entertaining night out. I’m delighted Kala Sangam has supported its creation.” Alex Croft, Creative Director – Kala Sangam
“The dance is immense. So brilliant to see new movement vocabulary. You are generating a truly unique movement style which seems to come from everywhere; African, Spanish, Latin, hip hop, contemporary all entwined together. I was intrigued to see your work and this did not disappoint. The dancers and choreography are amazing. I got a little excited tingle watching the dance, you have got something good cooking with this production!” Selina Mcgonagle, Geraldine Connor Foundation
“The underwater world was a really powerful analogy of her ideas: they were coming through really strongly” Dawn Holgate
“A really intricate mesmerising piece… I found it very empowering” Leanna (Audience, Leeds)
“When you see people respond to a dance piece who may not normally come in such a passionate way then you know you’re on a winner” Joe Williams
“I think she is one of the most intuitive artists I have ever met, an artist who really uses dreaming as a tool.” David Evans, Artist in the piece
“Ella has a gift and she needs to share it” Benedicta Valentina, Artist in the piece
“I thought the dancers were absolutely mesmerising” Jen (Audience, Leeds)
“I am a frequent theatre go-er, but seeing Ella Mesma Foreign Bodies – An Underwater Love Story was thrilling and thought provoking, elevating my consciousness – I am still getting goose bumps” Beverley Thomas,
“Artistically, scientifically and culturally significant… a powerful and dramatic work of richly layered relevancies.”Katy Noakes, OneDance UK
“Ella has situated (Foreign Bodies) at a fertile intersection of styles and approaches to dance.” Dan Canham, Artistic Director, Stillhouse
“I was absolutely mesmerised” Heidi Samson, Youth Worker, Creative Youth Network
“A human dive in to a multi-sensory experience of dual parallels & contradictions. An important story that places the audience in the shoes of the protagonist.”Elsabet Yonas
“Strong idea and led by an amazing internationally known choreographer/dancer Ella Mesma with a fierce team. Can’t wait to see where this goes”Natalie Teitler
“You have some wonderful dancers and it was a beautiful piece, while uncomfortable at times. The big jumps in unison gave me a huge surge of optimism” Anna Demming
Our Partners and Supporters:
Dancers: Isaac Ouro Gnao, David Evans, Benedicta Valentina, Ofelia Balogun
and we honour and love Patrick Ziza who was involved in the first R&D of the work and Elsabet Yonas, Franck Arnaud Lusbec and Lucia Afonso from the second R&D.
Actor: Milton Lopes (plus the voice of Ama Rouge)
Choreography: Ella Mesma and Dancers
Script: Ella Mesma with input from Dr Edson Burton, Milton Lopes, Luke Pell, Isaac Ouro Gnao, Joe Williams
Costume: Sabrina Henry
Lighting: Alan Dawson
Music: Written by Sabio Janiak. Piano, vocal, didgeridoo, ocarina, drums, programming, percussion, clarinet, electronica by Sabio Janiak. Duele vocal by Ella Mesma. Povo vocal by Nuno Silva
Technology: Benjamin Winstone (Gentleman Octopus) (Initial stages) and Tarim
Dramaturgical Support: Luke Pell (through South East Dance Collaborate: Dramaturg in Residence 2018) and Dr Edson Burton
Photography and Videography: Jessica Mitchell (Earth Motion Photography), Ashley Karrell (Panoptical) and Ersen Ermis
Funding: Arts Council of England, Metal Liverpool (Change Maker artist in residency 2018), South East Dance (Collaborate: Dramaturg in Residence 2018), Eclipse Theatre (Playpot), Audience members via Crowd Funding.
Support: Trinity Centre, Bristol. Pervasive Media Studio, Bristol. Serendipity, Leicester. Dance City, Newcastle. Dance Umbrella, London. Sadler’s Wells, London. Northern Stage, Newcastle. Kala Sangam, Bradford. Yorkshire Dance, Leeds.
Mentoring: Fergus Evans (Big Feast), Degna Stone (Slate Enabler), Theatre Bristol, Rachel Bradbear, Annie Rigby (Unfolding Theatre via Slate)
Thank you: This work began in 2017 with 1 week of R&D, a further 2 weeks were funded in 2018, and this two week opportunity in 2019 (totaling 5 weeks creation period!) but has included extensive research spanning continents and crossing borders. A huge thank you to everyone who has been a part of this work, in particular to: Arts Council of England, South East Dance (Dramaturg in Residence 2018), Metal Liverpool, Crowdfunder donaters, Serendipity, Dance City, Patricia Stead, Jeff Dean, Kala Sangam, Northern Stage, Yorkshire Dance, Sadler’s Wells, Trinity Centre, Eclipse Theatre, Artists4Artists, Selfe, Hayleigh Sellors, Edson Burton, AIDF, Pervasive Media Studio, Gentleman Octopus, Fergus Evans, Patrick Ziza, Dani Sands, Ersen Ermis, Joe Williams, Ashley Karrell, Ciaran Cunningham, all the performers, Mum, Dad and Ama, Anna and friends who have supported.
