THIS MOMENT – WORKSHOP WITH JO FONG
17TH & 18TH OCTOBER
“Liveness is at the core of my work, it’s something of a performative risk, being in this moment with this moment is a craft of presence and awareness. We might call it live investigation, the act of creating this now. Is it different to improvisation, I think so…
Movement is momentum, forward motion, in every action something changes. It’s a collective action.
I like this phrase – We are consenting to explore the unknown. We will be moving, playing, responding, following, listening, embodying, generating, noticing… What happens next is not anything we can predict.
In terms of choreographic languages, I draw on a wealth of influences, from somatic and improvisation techniques, self-generating prompts and tools or games that explore relationships with our bodies, spaces between people, play and working with objects. For me, it’s about the possibility for liveness, presence. My work is about creating the conditions so that liveness can occur.” – Jo Fong
About Jo Fong
Jo lives in Wales and her creative work reflects the need in these times for people to come together. Her artistic practice is an evolving, collaborative approach which puts ideas around belonging or forming community in the forefront. Key choreographic works include Ways of Being Together (2018/20) and How Shall We Begin Again? ( 2022/23) around portraiture, protest and something like a prayer, the movement processes collaborate with up to 50 people at a time.
As a performer Jo has worked with Rosas, Quarantine, DV8 Physical Theatre, Wendy Houstoun, Nigel Charnock and alongside directors as movement director for National Theatre Wales, Welsh National Opera and Theater St Gallen.
She has presented works across the UK and International festivals and is currently involved in a number of dance, theatre and live art performances. The award-winning, The Rest of Our Lives was created and performed with clown and circus director George Orange and will be heading to Noordezon Festival in Holland this summer. Neither Here Nor There is an unexpected performance that is being re-staged and presented this year including presentations at Wainsgate on the 16th October alongside longtime collaborator artist Sonia Hughes. Jo recently initiated a new project called No Despair, the study will explore the creation of indoor and outdoor works involving a diverse cast of players and movers responding to the question: What to do in the face of fascism?
And the wonder, Lady Marmalade, initiated by Sonia Hughes / Weeding Cane brings together a group of *women to explore their rage, grief and desire. It’s a process, it’s a band!
*incl anyone who is nonbinary, trans & femme
Find out more about Jo www. jofong.com
We want our spaces to be inclusive.
Jo is an experienced inclusive arts practitioner. Lately she has worked with Disabled Dance Artists as part of the Sadlers Wells development programme, she created a show with 6 men who have autism, held intergenerational workshops for, people who love to move, Cardiff’s LGBTQAI+ group Butterfly Soup in Cardiff and recently initiated gatherings for Global Majority Dance Artists in Wales to come together to share, support and inspire. Jo is a BSL learner and has been working with D/deaf artists since 2016.
This workshop invites all adults to join. All the exercises and offerings are open and can be approached in a number of ways.
If you would like to have a conversation with Jo or Charlie (Wainsgate Dances) to find out more , do please get in touch.