Above: We spent time around different locations in Southampton – here, in Holyrood estate, some of our dancers perform “The Chopper”, a move made by Chopper, who is one of our steering group members
“The Lou”
Below: We were keen to bring together men from all walks of life for the filming, and while these men may look like professional movers, many of them in fact had no dance experience
Below: “The Lou” is performed en masse with the old walls of Southampton stretching alongside them
Above: Flying high! A group of CMDC dancers rehearse a section of the show together, all facing outwards
Below (two images): Not many places can house 100 dancers with this much energy, so we’ve been rehearsing in an enormous warehouse in Digbeth, Birmingham over the July weekend sessions
Above: Every day starts with a warm up, and everyone gets involved, even the production team. No excuses!
Above (four images): Dancers across the rehearsal room practice different sections for the show
Above: Video clips of the whole team rehearsing Solara in The Crane, Birmingham
Below (five images): A collection of images from the rehearsal room, including Zoie directing the CMDC dancers, more dancing plus costume – it’s a big job creating costumes for 100 dancers – so we say a massive thank you to the tireless efforts of our amazing costume team 🙏
Below (two images): All hands in… Zoie works with a group of CMDC dancers on a section of the show
Below: A group of CMDC dancers rehearse a section of movement on a cat walk with their dance leader
Above: Smiles all round! A CMDC dancer and dance leader work on their duet together
Above: A group of CMDC dancers connect and link to each other with their arms and hands. No spoilers, but connection might be an important aspect of Solara…
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On Sunday 30 July 2023 at 5pm in Centenary Square, Birmingham, we invite you to join us in Solara’s universe. Feel the transformative power of connection, community and dancing together. Critical Mass Dance Collective will be performing as part of the Fabric Takeover at Birmingham Festival 2023
Find out more about Birmingham Festival 23 at birminghamfestival23.co.uk
Solara by ZoieLogic Dance Theatre is co-created with Critical Mass Dance Collective, presented as part of Birmingham Festival 23. Commissioned by FABRIC, supported by Dance Leaders Group, and funded by United by 22.
Here, we chat with Zoie about the challenges of directing inclusive, co-created dance at scale; the joys of working with Critical Mass Dance Collective (CMDC) for a second time; and why mass co-creation is a uniquely rewarding experience for all involved…
Tell us about the show – what’s it about?
The show is called Solara; Solara is no ordinary star.
She not only brings life, strength and protection to the communities who look up to her, but also provides energy for them to harness. Day after day, Solara arrives and the work begins. It has been like this for as long as anyone can remember, with Solara and the communities she powers relying on each other all living in harmony; all dancing to the same tune. When one day an unusual event occurs, it disrupts the universe they all know.
This is a story about interdependence and remembering that we are all connected and when change needs to happen coming together gives us the most power.
What do you aim to achieve by creating a show like this, on this scale?
We are striving to evolve what co-creation en masse can unlock for the individual. There’s an amazing group of people involved as participants and industry professionals working on the project and every contribution counts. The importance of being part of something, with a sense of ownership (the essence of the co-creation methodology) can be hugely powerful and enriching for the individual and the whole team.
Being part of something bigger, on this scale, can be daunting; but when you establish a sense that we are all in it together, people feel less alone – they’re braver to try new things and explore the unknown, making the creative process very playful.
The dancers’ desires are to feel proud of what they have achieved, show people the positive effects dance can have on our lives and share this with others. The remarkable achievements of Critical Mass 22 last year lay the foundation for an even more extraordinary journey this year.
We know the value, in principle, of engaging as an individual in the context of a team – feeling part of something. How do you make it happen in practice?
I’m holding myself accountable as the show unfolds – every idea and decision tracks back to a participant contributed. We came up with commitments to do with how we work together as a group. In some ways it’s a mass onboarding exercise! It comes down to working really hard on people’s understanding of what they’re doing as well as why they’re doing it. It’s about listening, responding and taking people on a journey so they see and value their place in the performance.
Why use dance as a way of creating those experiences?
Dance has a particular type of magic attached to it; it’s such an active thing, in which the body, mind and emotions are experienced all at once. When you are in the performance moment or moving with others you are fully present, not just within the individual, but collectively. The experience could not be more embodied, in that sense. Dance can be intangible unless you see it or do it.
What’s your favourite part of the co-creation process?
Feeding each other is how we do our best work. I love asking people what they want, hearing what they want to say and what’s important to them, and then navigating the collective through a creative process that results in high quality work from and for everyone. I love it because it means asking people to go further than they think they can, and holding that space for them to go beyond perceived limits. It’s about involvement and choice all the way through to inform what’s happening; the responsibility of decision making lies with me as a leader, but I don’t make all the decisions – I respond to the mass consensus and delegate, too!
What are the challenges of co-creation at this scale?
We’re constantly dealing with unknowns and curve balls – it’s not locked and loaded before everyone is in the room. My challenge is to distil down all the ambitions, responses and many ideas, without disempowering anyone, so that we end with a true representation of what everyone’s desires. The instantaneous nature of co-creation can be incredibly intense; you have to have a clear grasp on the direction you are going, but leave room for change. Cultivating an empowered team of people delivering the project is a must.
Your journey with Critical Mass Dance Collective is going full circle – you were involved in last year’s event as part of Birmingham 2022 Festival and Commonwealth Games. What’s it like this time round creating another show with the Critical Mass Dance Collective?
As an artist you have to stay incredibly open; I learned so much from last year and we all want to ensure this is not lost. My way of working has developed so much, with inclusive practice truly informing not just what I make, but how I make it. You have to get comfortable with having no idea how it’s going to play out and trust the process. I thrive in the risk element of creating with people in this way.
The opportunity to do this again is a gift and absolute honour. A year working together is a long time and I cannot wait to see all the participants again and hear what they have been up to. Funders and FABRIC have been amazing and it has been so great to bring the ZoieLogic team along for the ride this time too. There is so much trust and support and will to ensure we do our best: bringing big groups of people together with complex and varied needs, supporting them to truly shine, and collectively leading the way in mass co-created inclusive work.
The festival came about as part of the Commonwealth Games in part as a result of the Olympics Legacy – the spirit of 2012. How are you honouring that over a decade later?
A year on Critical Mass Dance Collective is a festival headliner in its own right, giving the performers a prime slot, outside of an opening or closing ceremony. Since the opening ceremony, some groups have kept going and young people have continued to dance and new people have been inspired and recruited. Critical Mass Dance Collective means many things to people and as we reunite we want to remember and celebrate and grow the Critical Mass Dance Collective family even bigger, that’s our legacy.
What have you learned in this second year of doing Critical Mass?
We have the lived experience of knowing what’s needed – OPUS, FABRIC and ZoieLogic Dance Theatre have a shared language now, a foundation of the relationships from last year, that are enabling us to embed the learning quicker, with great results. Investing in your team and what is needed for them to do their best creates a strong sense of togetherness and allows us to think ambitiously. Leading with art is the way to effect change.
What’s the impact on the individual?
You’d have to ask them! But what I see is people believing in themselves more. They go from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can’. They face their fears repeatedly throughout the process and come out the other side showing more confidence because they’ve overcome individual challenges. And they’re bonded, because they’ve done it as part of a team, tackled it together. It’s also a public gift – that’s the beauty of performance, there’s no hiding so it creates the conditions for them to get that sense of achievement and enjoy the shared euphoria of that collective experience.
What sort of future do you see for co-created mass participatory projects?
My drive has always been to challenge perceptions of dance, but I think when we challenge perceptions we achieve beyond what we think is possible, and that’s important for individuals and for the society we live in. I think co-creation en masse is challenging and uniquely wonderful. As such, it’s a hugely valuable human experience, not just for the people involved, but for the people who watch the show, and anyone connected with the process in some way. At ZoieLogic Dance Theatre we’re committed to continuing our journey in mass co-created, inclusive shows and are laying the foundations for an ambitious mass participation work with 800 men in Southampton. Why? Because lives are enriched and changed for the better because of it and well… we like making the unimaginable possible!
Find out more about Birmingham Festival 23 at birminghamfestival23.co.uk
Solara by ZoieLogic Dance Theatre is co-created with Critical Mass Dance Collective, presented as part of Birmingham Festival 23. Commissioned by FABRIC, supported by Dance Leaders Group, and funded by United by 22.
Above and below: The boys have been working around the ideas of our addiction to blue light and being seduced into a world of infinite scrolling.
Below: Reuben, Thomas and Ollie put the spotlight on Toby
Above: Toby uses his light to illuminate Zoie (off screen) as she directs their movement; Below: The boys coordinate their movement while pointing the lights in different directions (which is unsurprisingly, quite challenging!)
Above: The lights were chosen specifically because they look very similar to our phones in size and shape; Below: Ollie looks directly to the camera while being lit from below. It feels hauntingly familiar to how we look when staring at our phone in the dark.
Above: The boys moving in sequential order during a section of the piece; Below: During a quiet moment, Toby and Ollie pose for a photo
FuzzyLogic will be performing Attention! across the UK from March to June 2023 at various platforms and events. Make sure to follow us on Instagram to keep up with their adventures.
From the top
Above: The view of the studio from behind the mysterious door that features in the show. It’s difficult to appreciate from the ground but the set is very high! You can see we’re almost in the lighting rig at the top.
Improvisation
Above: A selection of moments from the improv moment sessions the lads have been exploring each day
Above: Feast your eyes on our behind the scenes clip show of The Doorman
Leading with your hands
Above: One of our newest members, Jonah, explores some movement. Below: Tom has come back to FuzzyLogic especially for The Doorman, and we’re very lucky to have him!
Movement
Above left and right: Reuben and Toby glide across the set of The Doorman
Working together, working forwards
Above: A selection of moments from the studio
In transition
Above: Here’s Jonah in motion, captured as still images. Below: The guys assembled up at the door – but they’re never too far away from breaking character and smiling at the camera
You can see The Doorman at Theatre Royal Winchester on Saturday 20th August at 7:30pm.
From 19th – 25th June 2022 The HUB returned to Southampton’s Holyrood community for the second year in a row!
The HUB is part of an ongoing programme of activity called We Are Holyrood. Led by Zoie Golding MBE, it marks ZoieLogic Dance Theatre’s third year of summer activity created with and for the Holyrood community since 2019.
It is a continuation of our long-standing commitment to embedding accessible cultural activities in the heart of Southampton communities.
Read on for the lowdown…
The HUB was a space for the Holyrood community to play, listen, share, discover, take part, and get creative. There were activities for both adults and kids, including workshops in dance, photography with In Focus, music with SoCo Music Project, wellbeing with Saints Foundation, creative writing with Artful Scribe, arts and crafts, plus food and culture discussions with TV Chef and Masterchef winner Shelina Permalloo.
Participant during the adult dance and movement workshop
Above: Each day, there were arts and crafts at The Hub. This was usually when The Hub became the centre of busy, noisy and creative activity!
New creative experiences
We worked with 4 local organisations and 6 independent artists to deliver The HUB. The brilliant visual artist Sarah Filmer worked with the community all week to creatively reflect and celebrate people’s experiences of the activities on offer.
Over the course of the week 64 people took part in 14 hours of free creative arts workshops and 16 hours of drop in arts and crafts activities.
Above: Young residents of Holyrood work together in a photographer taster workshop. Below: A selection of images and video clips from the week’s activities. There were writing, musical and dance workshops!
Resident from Canute House
Building relationships
As well as being a place for play and creativity, it was also an opportunity for ZoieLogic and local people to make new connections and get to know each other better!
Above: A time lapse of The Hub during the daily arts and crafts sessions
Community coming together
The ZoieLogic team were beyond delighted that so many different people chose to get involved – the age range of the participants 5 – 95 years.
As well as all of the creative activities, 198 people joined us to celebrate the creative outcomes of the week at 3 live events and 1 film screening on site.
Holyrood residents discussed, created, shared and ate together throughout the week. And some residents are already making plans for their own dinner event to bring people together. We’re thrilled about this and will be staying connected with the community in the weeks and months to come!
Above: Another selection of images from the week. Colouring in was a particular highlight for the young people. Below: A display of handmade journals made by the young people with Sarah Filmer
“What I’ve noticed is that often walking round the estate you’ll see or hear kids arguing or fighting, and this week there has been none of that. The HUB being here has really made a difference”
Holyrood resident
A huge thanks goes out to everyone who took part, to the wonderful delivery partners, and especially the independent artists and community volunteers who helped out: Sam Connis, Rudi, Cheyanne Ettienne-Chen and Ping Harvey
“My boys love the show so much that we are here to watch Ride again for the 3rd time this week!
— Local resident
Getting back on the road
RIDE was last performed in the city during the RIDE: Covid Response Tour, which included nine shows at five care homes and two retirement communities to almost 300 people between 28 July and 5 August 2020.
This time round, we cast three new fantastic dancers – Cameron, Dan and Clive – to join existing cast member Alex. And former cast member Nathan took on the role of rehearsal director for the first time. In March, we dusted off Stanley and set up camp at 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space to rework the show for the new tour.
“Southampton is our hometown and for the past 22 years we’ve worked with local communities to bring dance into peoples lives”
Zoie Golding, Artistic Director of ZoieLogic Dance Theatre
Connecting communities
As we continue to reconnect with folk in the wake of the pandemic, it was important for us to work with local community groups and make sure as many people had the chance to see RIDE as possible.
Big thank you’s to Sam Connis, Ping Harvey, Julia Jaggard, Siân Tattersall, Ollie Webb, Kai and Rudi for making the tour happen, and Youth Options, The Venny, Abri, Junior Neighbourhood Wardens, Saints Foundation and Friends of St James’ Park for supporting the events and to everyone else who helped spread the word.
With free performances in Redbridge, Weston Shore, the City Centre, Holyrood, Mansbridge and Shirley, the show attracted audiences of over 2,600 local people from across the city.
30% of our audiences told us they’d never seen a live performance before and 73% of the audience were new to ZoieLogic.
“I can’t get over it – having something so amazing right here in Mansbridge for us!”
— Local resident
We were also grateful to our friends in the media, including BBC Radio Solent and The Daily Echo, who helped us reach thousands more people with news of RIDE, both before and after the tour!
Show time
Beep beep! What a RIDE! Strap yourselves in for a rollercoaster highlights reel from the tour…
With Southampton shortlisted to be the 2025 City of Culture, we’re proud to have got this special show on the road again and share some dance theatre magic with our fantastic city.
Thanks so much to everyone who came out to see us take Stanley on tour again – we had a blast! Stanley is back in his garage for now, having a rest before his next outing.
Cast for this tour: Alex Evens, Cameron Woolnough, Clive Rudd and Dan Radulescu.RIDE was originally directed and choreographed by Zoie Golding. 2022 Rehearsal Direction by Nathan Johnston. Music by Duncan Grimley. Written by Matt Beames. Supported by Arts Council England. RIDE was originally commissioned and co-produced by DanceXchange for International Dance Festival Birmingham 2016. It was co-commissioned by Gulbenkian (University of Kent) and Dance Village (Bristol Harbour Festival). Image, video and graphics credits: Cave & Sky, Fee Francis, Clive Rudd
Above: The team spent two weeks at 101 Outdoor Arts in Newbury before the tour of Southampton. Here’s a few clips of them in rehearsal.
Before we go any further, we would like to say a huge thank you to 101 Outdoor Arts for the amazing and generous support they gave us. They made us feel right at home and we don’t know what we would do without them!
Above (from left to right): Clive, Cameron and Alex looking cool during the Knight Rider scene in the show. David Hasselhoff got nothing on them…
Above: A montage of moments from rehearsals, plus Zoie looking very happy with the progress the guys were making.
Below (from left to right): Clive, Cameron and Alex’s legs rehearse a section from the show.
Above: Zoie, Nathan and Cameron are digging in. They had planned to make their own meals, but they were helpless to resist the in house chef, Louise Glavin. It ended up as two weeks of food bliss!
Below: The guys have brought a ton of new tricks and flips to the show, and they do it so effortlessly too.
Above: It was a rollercoaster week of highs and lows! Cameron was a natural at embodying the character of Hank (the super wrestling fan) as he stands atop the car full of energy, whereas Dan just wants to nap in the car after a rather large lunch…