Ways of Being Together
What are some of your wins since LNY 2022?
Ways of Being Together has been gathering again since June 2022.
Last November 50 people with multiple heritages and backgrounds came together for a new performance called How Shall We Begin Again? The 16 hour live installation was commissioned by Neurolive and notably a strong ESEA presence.
Extraordinary, celebratory and beautiful.
Kate Hall from Jumped Up Theatre described the performance :
"Trust has been established, a safe space to ask the questions, and not know the answers, but to take a step on a journey of curiosity. Sometimes we are alone in this thinking, sometimes we are making this enquiry with others. Sometimes the music is loud and dominant, sometimes silence hangs heavy - and is filled, or not, with words, or movement. It takes bravery, trust, but also a hunger for change, knowledge, new voices and new stories, and taking up of space. What is wrapped round this? Very little. A DJ choosing tracks, which seem to pick up where the silence or words lead, or cannot go. Or does the dance conjure up that music? There is no hiding. There is only room for honesty. The last few minutes of each section has both a sense of urgency - “I haven’t quite finished yet” and impatience - “I need to handover this conversation.” We are changed by the act of sharing, of witnessing, and being witnessed. The next “speaker” comes on - providing relief, permission, accepting the gift of their predecessors knowledge, experience and discoveries. What does movement reveal, or release? What does taking up space do to the body, to the mind, to how we move through our futures? Sometimes (often) words fail, action takes over, comforts, releases, protects, bridges. Sometimes we don’t have to speak, the work of being in the body is more than enough, is so full of curiosity and belief that There is no need, to speak. Dance this dangerous, this bold, cuts to the humanity in us all."
What are you currently working on?
Right now there is a dream for an ESEA art festival in Wales. This would be an absolute first and it will definitely take some time yet the seeds have been planted and new networks of Wales’ ESEA art makers and performers have been gathering. Currently it's mostly on zoom and we hope more in person events will begin to take place soon.
How can we help/support you right now?
We understand how difficult it is for artists to stay afloat amid the cost of living crisis. Many artists are questioning whether they should even remain artists at this time so it feels like a constant attention to provide small oases of creativity AND be able to contribute expenses or any real financial stability.
With the big dream being an ESEA art festival in Wales. Support to create a sustained joining together of Wales’ ESEA artists and performers would be a step towards the dream.
Find us on Instagram.
jofong.com
