The Origin: Collaboration KSA Dance & The Grange

The Origin: Collaboration KSA Dance & The Grange

18 June 2021
Stanley Picker Gallery and Boat moored in Kingston Upon Thames

Stanley Picker Gallery was pleased to welcome members of The Grange to Stanley Picker Gallery for their first in-person visit post lockdown. The group visited both The Origin exhibition and boat and reconnected with KSA Dance, with whom they collaborated during the online component of the project.

For their online collaboration the two groups questioned how The Origin’s onboard community might move, how might they express fundamental ideas of closeness and distance through physical interaction. Through virtual interactions, they experimented with different forms of movement, as well as the sign language Makaton, to develop a choreographic sequence that explored core aspects of the group’s identity. Their process and sequences, which also influenced choreography for The Origin live performance and the dance interventions that took place weekly within the installation, can be viewed here.

United in person, these ideas were revisited in the context of the exhibition and onboard the boat, and with the support of Senior Lecturer Beatrice Jarvis, KSA Dance students Libby Canagasabey, Lucy Beadle, and Jakub Ujczak led movement-based exercises that responded to words and themes discussed at each site, including, togetherness, separateness, water, peaceful, and discover.

The Grange and dancers alike, commented that they had a wonderful time and were pleased to be working together again, immersed as part of The Origin community. Much plotting took place over our shared lunch and all are hoping that fresh collaborations between KSA courses and the organisation will continue this blossoming partnership.

The Grange is a charity based in Bookham supporting people with disabilities to lead independent & fulfilling lives. The Grange wants to lead the way as provider of choice for people with learning disabilities, inspiring our local and wider communities. They do everything we can to ensure their clients are personally involved in any decisions that affect them. Their Group Living service is designed for people with moderate learning and physical disabilities who need 24/7 care and support, and they have a dynamic, award-nominated range of skills training and sports and leisure activities for people with learning and physical disabilities.​ For more information visit The Grange’s website, Instagram @thegrangeatbookham, Twitter @TheGrangeCentre or Facebook The Grange at Bookham.

KSA Dance, Kingston University’s dance degree offers a diverse and exciting curriculum by combining critical and creative practice. Students study a diverse range of global dance styles; developing their own unique dance identity by exploring areas such as choreography, dance technique and performance, cultural dances, teaching dance and event management. Students work collaboratively; in placements; in the local community and in work across a wide range of performance styles. The dance course also capitalises on London’s vibrant multicultural dance scene and encourages students to address the social and political implications and applications of their forming dance practice. For more information visit the course website.

Ben Judd’s Stanley Picker Fellowship project The Origin reflects on Britain’s island status, both literal and metaphorical, and how islands shape the communities that live there. The Origin brings together the communities surrounding the Stanley Picker Gallery – from Kingston University students and academics to local networks, charities and residents – and asks them to imagine a classless, stateless, humane society based on common ownership. A temporary community, an experiment in living, a fictional island group. This collaborative project culminated this summer with an installation at the Gallery, a boat on the River Thames and a series of performances, workshops and events – a rehearsal for an alternative future.