Artist Support Commission 2022 - SLiDE
A bit about the artists…
SLiDE is a community of dancers, musicians and creatives based in Croydon of varying ages, backgrounds and different abilities. SLiDE make experimental dance pieces using improvised and contemporary movement.
A bit about the work…
Cross-wor(l)ds: Two performers on a quest for solutions in an ever-changing world.
Cross wor(l)ds’ is a duet performed by two dancers, Aaron and William, both young men (mid 20s) of similar height and stature but who experience the world extremely differently. William is autistic, Aaron is neurotypical, William loves any kind of puzzle and his iPad, Aaron loves style and photography. Dance is where their worlds meet. William is obsessed with jumping, spinning and LOUD music. Aaron is an early career dancer and choreographer, forging a career in testing times. The work is an exploration and reflection of their journey as they take their place in the world. It deals with themes of agency and identity: figuring it out, getting it wrong and making sense.
“The loose starting point was, Aaron loves style and fashion. Will loves puzzles. Their worlds collide when they dance”
“Will is excited about making a duet with Aaron and sharing it with an audience. It is clear from observing him at SLiDE that he is inspired by Aaron and wants to dance alongside him”
“Being in A Bit Of A Do would give me the chance to continue performing as a dancer even after lockdown, to create that momentum. Artistic development I feel is needed at this stage. Performing a duet alongside a dancer with autism will challenge me in new and interesting ways”
A bit about the development process…
As part of their artist support package SLiDE had mentoring sessions with Vicky Malin, a disabled artist who trained and performed with Candoco from 2008 - 2013
“It’s always fascinating to see how a trained dancer and a community trained dancer (Will hasn’t gone through the professional pathways) kind of come together in that space, in that devising space. There’s always surprises”
“Having Vicky meant someone could come in and pick up on the little things because you know what it's like when you're working on these big pieces… Sometimes it's just those little sprinkles, tiny little details that really just lift the piece to the next level”
— GEMMA
“It's brilliant to work with Vicky. She has helped us, my dancing is getting better”
— WILL
“Having Vicky in the space gives us a different person seeing the work, supporting us to improve. It's helping us to push further and it is a new and different energy. The feedback is great”
— AARON
A bit about the performance…
SLiDE performed Cross-wor(l)ds at A Bit Of A Do festival on Saturday 22nd October 2023.
They were part of the afternoon dance showcase SPUN and performed alongside Thick & Tight, Kitsch n Sync and Clare and Lesley at Fairfield Halls in The Recreational.
“Will and Aaron just really thrive from working together and presenting work to the public, with a live audience”
— GEMMA
“It was interesting performing in the space that we usually meet”
— GEMMA
