Most Free - Ellen Hathaway Dance Company
Online Stream
From Friday 2nd April 2021
Ellen Hathaway Dance Company releases their
first ever feature length dance documentary ‘Most Free’, created over the past
10 months throughout the global pandemic.
The global pandemic meant original plans for EHDC were put
on hold as communities all over the world were challenged with isolation, segregation
& distancing. This only motivated Ellen Hathaway’s research more & so
plans were adapted to investigate into how a community can integrate &
connect with the foundations of understanding & compassion even through a
pandemic. This inspired the making of a documentary based on bringing people
together through dance.
 |
| Dominic Coffey |
Commissioned by Dance City & Arts Council England,
Ellen was able to fund and direct her first feature length documentary
exploring kinaesthetic empathy; a tool that Ellen believes is key to building a
more compassionate, integrated & connected community.
‘Most Free’
This 45 minute dance documentary follows our Artistic
Director Ellen Hathaway on her investigation into dance & community with
interviews from a resettled Syrian family living in Blackpool, Lancashire’s
Refugee Integration Officer, local & international dance artists & our
diverse general public.
Joseph Delaney, Co-Director, explained “It has been
incredible watching Ellen put this together behind the scenes. Her sheer drive and
determination has been inspirational. I have met some amazing people with
incredible stories that just need to be heard. I cherish my new friendship with
Mahmoud and Nareen with their three beautiful children. During filming I was
treated to a Syrian meal; I have never felt more welcomed into a home and into
a culture. I look forward to the day I get to dine with them again. Thank you,
Ellen, for opening my eyes and more importantly my ears.”
UK Dance Artist Stéphanie Bentley added “I am of dual
heritage; English and French and I am one of the dancers in Most Free. I
wholeheartedly believe in the power of dance as a medium to nurture individuals
and connect people. Ellen’s work embodies this perfectly and raises awareness on
very current, real happenings in the U.K. and around the world.
Ellen has an exceptional ability; she really sees people
and understands them. For me, being part of Most Free has been an eye opening
and culturally significant experience. I feel privileged to have met and heard
the stories of different artists and people from Syria and Lebanon.
I learnt so much during the creative process and filming of
Most Free. It was also a very heart-warming experience having my mum with me as
part of the process. Being inspired and driven by her words and my connection
to them whilst creating movement felt very special.
The way in which Ellen devised this film and the journey
she took us on as dancers within it had a very coherent and collaborative feel.
I have been in creation processes where I felt that the ideas did not link
enough to the dancing itself. Creating the movement for Most Free was an
entirely different experience. Ellen’s research, creative tasks, the interviews
she conducted, along with the involvement of all the wonderful people in this
work; who I was lucky enough to speak to or listen to daily during the process,
ensured that everything I was dancing came from an honest place that I felt
connected to.
I believe in honesty in dance. Real stories translated
through movement when a dancer is really able to feel them and as a result
embody them. The stories in Most Free are stories that need to be heard and it
is crucial that people listen. I would like to thank Ellen for giving me the
chance to be part of something so valuable and memorable. This is a film about
humanity, and I would urge everyone to watch it.”
Lebanese Dance Artist reflected upon the process “I hope to
see Ellen’s film gain the recognition and popularity it deserves. Dance is such
an inspiring art form for people from all walks of life. In the current
worldwide climate, I think it’s important to remind people to continue doing
what they love, despite life’s hardships. I believe the film displays the
solidarity of the human race and how we all have such unique but related
experiences. Ellen did an excellent job with this film, I can’t wait for people
to see all her hard work, effort and creativity! It was truly an honour being a
part of it.”
Ellen Hathaway Dance Company is an emerging contemporary
dance company based in the North East working to integrate communities through
dance. EHDC works with local communities, refugees & asylum seekers and
local & international collaborators to produce community dance projects and
professional performances of high cultural significance.
EHDC advocates diversity and cultural exchange and advances
the notion that dance can heal.
 |
| Benedicta Valentina |
One of the UK dancers, Dominic Coffey, observed “People
need to help people. We all need to help each other It’s not hard to be kind.
You never know what someone is going through. It’s not always good times. Times
can be hard! A smile can help When I was on the phone to Mahmood it was so nice
to talk to someone involved in this project! And it’s because of this project
that I had the chance to speak to him and hear about all his amazing music. It was
really nice to speak about my own family in this project and about their
culture. Waffa’s positivity is something that will stay with me.”
Creatives:
Directed by Ellen Hathaway
Produced by Moving Art Management
Cast:
Benedicta Valentina, Nareen Orfali, Chafika Gutknecht,
Nourhan Sheikh Badr Eddin, Dominic Coffey, Rebecca Joy Novel, Ellen Hathaway,
Ryan Woods, Fabienne Bentley, Shilan Sheik Badr Eddin, Fidan Sheikh Badr Eddin,
Stéphanie Bentley, Joseph Delaney, Wafa Bouty, Mahmoud Sheikh Badr Eddin, Zeina
Yaghi
Photos: Joseph Delaney
Online:
Website: https://ellenhathawaydancecompany.co.uk
Facebook: @ellenhathawaydancecompany
Instagram: @ellenhathawaydancecompany
Tickets:
‘Most Free’ will premiere at 7pm on Friday 2nd April 2021 at
www.Ellenhathawaydancecompany.co.uk
Purchase tickets from Eventbrite here: https://mostfreepremiere2021.eventbrite.co.uk/
Tickets are pay-as-you-feel with a minimum donation of £1.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.