Time & Location
07 Jul 2018, 12:00 – 13 Jul 2018, 12:00
Easdale Island, Easdale Island, United Kingdom
About the Event
A rare opportunity to spend 5 days engaging with the creative and practical possibilities of making dance for the screen, under the guidance of the internationally-acclaimed, award-winning director Katrina McPherson.
Taking place on the stunning and unique island of Easdale on Scotland’s west coast, the focus of this residential workshop will be the potential and possibilities of making screen dance in the landscape.
On Easdale, Katrina will lead the group in a mixture of practical exercises, both collaborative and individual, designed to encourage exploration, skill-acquisition and inquiry into the form. Opportunities will be created through: facilitated exercises; research of proposed themes; open time for play and experimentation; pushing boundaries while searching for new possibilities; and the opportunity for students to create and share their own work.
As well as exploring the creative possibilities offered by the natural landscape, Katrina is interested in sharing her observations around the nature of the dancing, embodied camera, and the inter-changing role of dancer and camera, the observer and the observed, while filming and dancing.
Participants will have the opportunity to film and edit their own short dance film during the week, working in teams with the other participants, as well as two professional dancers employed for the first three days of the workshop. There will be also be scheduled time for reflection on process, one-to-one tuition, curated screenings and group discussion.
Katrina will be joined in facilitating the workshop by her brother, the photographer Colin McPherson, who will share his 25-years of landscape and people-based image making to support and enhance the experience for participants on the course.
This course is designed for people who wish to build on their know-how and experience to learn more and dig deeper into their own practice. Participants should ideally have a basic ability using a digital camera and editing software, although tuition and exercises will be offered to support the further development of these skills. Both Katrina and Colin have a wealth of expertise in making work in the landscape, as well as teaching and mentoring professional level camera and artistic moving-image work.
The ultimate aim of the week is to give you a break from your daily activities and to allow you to benefit from the physical and mental space to focus on making new work, exploring new possibilities, and forging new friendships, connections and collaborations, living in comfort in the most beautiful of landscape
Where is it happening?
Easdale Island is a unique and lively place, and offers a rich variety of locations and environments for creating work on site. Once the centre of the Scottish slate mining industry, the abandoned quarries and tiny white-washed cottages give the place an historic atmosphere. Along with the stunning land and sea-scapes and different geological and geographical characteristics, the island provides an inspiring context for practical and creative exploration of performance in the landscape.
Access to the tiny island is via a three-minute passenger ferry which serves as a lifeline for the 65 permanent inhabitants. There are no cars on this inner-Hebridean island, but it does have a pub, tearoom/restaurant, museum and plenty of people coming and going. Set against dramatic coastal and mountain scenery, it is the perfect place to get away from the day to day business of life, be inspired, share ideas and experiences, and engage with making art in the landscape.
Participant numbers for the workshop will be between 8 – 10 and you will be accommodated in comfortable and modern cottages which boast all amenities on an island which looks out over the Firth of Lorne to the neighbouring island of Mull. Each participant will have their own separate bedroom, with shared kitchen and bathroom.
To participate on the course, you are asked to submit a bio and a link to view relevant work, so that we can ascertain what level you have reached in your practice. People with different experiences and backgrounds are very welcome although we reserve the right to select the most appropriate participants for the course based on the overall mix of the group coming forward. We will not have time to teach absolute beginners on this course, so practical knowledge and experience in ‘handling’ a camera is essential and basic editing skills are desirable.
As Easdale Island is only accessible by a small boat and there are no smooth roads or pathways on the island which means sadly this particular workshop venue is not suitable for wheelchair-users, however other disabilities can be supported. Please do get in touch to discuss as necessary.
**For 2021 dates, please see: https://www.makingvideodance.com/workshops