The big picture: Choreographer Gillie Kleiman is working with five local amateur dancers to create intimate performances for friends and loved ones in their own living rooms.
Key details:
Performances take place on 12 October in participants' homes.
The 30-minute shows blend iconic postmodern dances with pop culture, including two versions of "I Will Always Love You".
Each performance is followed by a meal and guided discussion.
How it works:
SPILL Festival selected five participants through an open call in summer 2024.
Kleiman and her team trained the non-professional dancers.
Each dancer will perform for an audience of their friends.
What they're saying: Robin Deacon, SPILL Festival Artistic Director, said: “A performance created in a domestic environment by non-dancing amateurs is such a fascinating idea."
He concluded: "Putting aside normal expectations of skill and virtuosity in favour of a unique and personalised form of self-portraiture, friend reflects SPILL Festival’s mission to offer memorable experiences for the curious and adventurous.”
Elene Marsden, a retired educator and grandmother from Ipswich, is one of the five participants. Well-known locally as an ecstatic dance DJ and seller of preloved clothing, this marks her debut as a dancer.
She said: "I'm excited but full of anticipation, trepidation even, but I know that by the time the date comes around, I'll be ready.
"I didn’t think I would be picked, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to be one of five women that have been selected."
Another participant, Emma Roodhouse, shared her experience: "I've never listened to more music, sung at home, cried whilst singing, jumped on beds, bumped into furniture, or rolled around on my living room floor as much as in the last few weeks!"
What's next: Readers can book tickets to "Reflections on friend with Gillie Kleiman" at SPILL Think Tank on 17 October, 19:30-21:00. Tickets £5.
The bottom line: "friend" offers a chance to experience contemporary dance in an intimate, unconventional setting, challenging perceptions of performance and community engagement.
More details can be found at www.spillfestival.com
