Dawns!
2023 - ongoing
Dawns was born out of a lifelong love of folk dancing, music and traditional practices, and the new need to start documentin its resurgence when I finally got involved as a Cotswold Morris dancer. A new-found need has arisen for folk traditions,
festivals and ways to celebrate nature and mark the changing seasons. Traditions are evolving, being made new, and staying ancient at the same time. Dance is one of our most common languages, it is a primal and basic
instinct – to move when we feel moved.
In this age of intense digital reliance, waking up to Morris dance and welcome the spring on the first of May is just one of the ways in which we reject modernity, and lean in to a feeling that has been passed down, from as far back as 1448. Under the banner of folk dancing comes styles such as Morris, Appalachian, Ceilidhs, Clog Step, Rapper Sword and Maypole. Varying incredibly in improvisation vs fixed steps, reserved costumes vs animal symbolism, danced at certain times of the year to celebrate the seasons and the age-old practices that used to mark the year, and also simply danced for joy.
The first ‘Dawns’ series of black and white images create evocative, etheral studies of the movement of folk dancing, with limbs paused and blurred and a focus on unique moments.
‘Dawns’ is an ongoing passion project of the last 3 years, recently envolving into colour, and portraiture.
Interview for the Floating Circle, Art Magazine from the Friends of the RWA
Bristol 24/7 This month in folk & roots feature
Evolver Magazine, Issue 141
Visual Arts South West
In this age of intense digital reliance, waking up to Morris dance and welcome the spring on the first of May is just one of the ways in which we reject modernity, and lean in to a feeling that has been passed down, from as far back as 1448. Under the banner of folk dancing comes styles such as Morris, Appalachian, Ceilidhs, Clog Step, Rapper Sword and Maypole. Varying incredibly in improvisation vs fixed steps, reserved costumes vs animal symbolism, danced at certain times of the year to celebrate the seasons and the age-old practices that used to mark the year, and also simply danced for joy.
The first ‘Dawns’ series of black and white images create evocative, etheral studies of the movement of folk dancing, with limbs paused and blurred and a focus on unique moments.
‘Dawns’ is an ongoing passion project of the last 3 years, recently envolving into colour, and portraiture.
Interview for the Floating Circle, Art Magazine from the Friends of the RWA
Bristol 24/7 This month in folk & roots feature
Evolver Magazine, Issue 141
Visual Arts South West
