As part of a Re-Framing Dance producer residency, Nora-Swantje Almes invited six practitioners into conversations on the shifting relationship between contemporary dance and visual arts.

The 5-part podcast series takes the practices of choreographers and artists Jamila Johnson-Small and Gillian Walsh, Holly Blakey, Michele Rizzo, curator/DJ Naeem Dxvis BBZ London and dance historian Tom Hastings as departure points to gather a variety of perspectives.

Conversational formats have become an important research method that continuously inform Nora’s curatorial practice. The series understands the ‘in-between’, unpredictability and being in-flux as a legitimate tool. Covering conversations of Queering* and body-based practices in institutions both challenge existing (infra)structures and open up room for new working practices. By bringing about moments of surprise, conversations reflect this non-linearity and facilitate a constant learning beyond education conventions. Their fluid character allows for dissonance – a change of direction in the midst of it. Primarily recorded for curatorial research purposes, the edited episodes give an insight into the practitioners’ cross-points, shared questions and concerns, and an outlook on where to go from here.

EPISODE 1

Nora speaks about inherent contradictions and the potential of transformation with London-based artist and choreographer Jamila Johnson-Small and New York City-based choreographer Gillian Walsh.

EPISODE 2

Nora speaks to London-based choreographer Holly Blakey. They speak about breaking away from the field of contemporary dance, motherhood as an artist, choreographer-performer relationships, popular culture and value systems attached to it.

EPISODE 4Nora speaks to Naeem Dxvis – artist, curator co-founder of BBZ London. They speak about the label queer, creating spaces and their curatorial methodologies in art and club spaces.

EPISODE 5Nora speaks to dance historian Tom Hasting – about the long-standing relationship between contemporary dance and visual arts and current approaches from institutions.

Sound Design: Urban Feral | Sound Edit: Tom Harris | Thanks to Primary, Jerwood Arts, Lxo Cohen, Annika Thiems.