In 2023, we hosted CROWD residencies on our Nottingham and Birmingham sites. Bakani Pick-Up (UK) and Shaquille George (NL) were in residence with us in Nottingham.
Another 10 artists came together in pairs for two 2-week residencies hosted by the partners for the third year of the CROWD – international dance exchange residency programme.
Bakani Pick-Up and Shaquille George’s residency brought the artists together in a first meeting, sharing their practice with each other supported by Nottingham based facilitator, Usha Mahenthiralingam. Following their Nottingham residency, Bakani and Shaquille spent two weeks in residence together at Dansateliers in Rotterdam.
The Birmingham CROWD artists and their facilitator visited Nottingham towards the end of their residencies to extend dialogue on community practice.
We’ve been exploring the inclusive nature in which care can be considered within our communities and how the complexities of heritage and history allow us to be able to reorientate ourselves through space together.
For a lot of Queer people of colour, ideas around choice, and the sense of choice is important in being able to participate and feel a sense of liberation. And so, I am considering how my practice might take this more into the forefront of its consideration, in order to provide a safer, more creative space.
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about Bakani Pick-Up
they/he
Bakani is a choreographer, movement artist & improvisation practitioner. As well as creating their own work they have performed nationally and internationally in works by Theo Clinkard, Anthea Hamilton & Fevered Sleep. With practice as research at the core of their work, they explore decolonisation through dance practice, haptic visuality and choreographic research.
Bakani is based in Leeds, England.
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about Shaquille George
he/him
Shaquille was born and raised in Curaçao, at the age of 18 he relocated to the Netherlands to pursue a career as a professional dancer. He first attended Albeda Dans College for two years and received formal training. Before that everything he knew was self-taught. Shaq then went to Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten and graduated from the Contemporary Urban department in 2019. Since then Shaq has worked with Amenti, In-Motus, Xclusiv Company & his own creations. Believing in the mixture of dance disciplines loaded with emotional value, he looks to expand his practice.
Shaq is based in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
