Artist Phoebe Davies and choreographer Nandi Bhebhe lead an intensive weekend workshop exploring the ways that human bodies interact and occupy space, in group situations where power dynamics and the ‘pack mentality’ are in play.
Active research, based in movement and reflection, will examine the borderline-perceptible physical cues, signals and prompts that influence group interactions. Drawing on dance, sports drills, the codes that order urban walking, and other systems of movement, the workshop will identify and magnify critical moments of physical contact, culminating in a series of filmed performances for camera.
Joining Davies and Bhebhe is London sports coach and sound designer Joseph Bond. Drawing on his coaching experience, Bond will invite the group to try out a series of drills that explore team dynamics and reveal the workings of competition and solidarity within the collective.
Six public spaces are available to work alongside the seven residents participating in Talking Hold - The Double Bridge. Participants must be available to attend both days, no previous athletic or movement experience is needed to attend. Follow this link to book a place.
This workshop will take place at KHIO (Oslo National Academy of the Arts) and is part of PRAKSIS’s twelfth residency, Taking Hold – The Double Bridge. Developed with Davies, it explores the physical expression of solidarity, competition and antagonism. Working alongside Davies are: Emma Backlund (SE), Marte Dahl (NO), Bianca Hisse (BR), Ayesha Jordan (US), Shahrzad Malekian (IR), Jessica Williams (US), and Sam Williams (UK). Thanks to KHIO for providing space for this event.
About Bhebhe&Davies
Nandi Bhebhe is a British-born Southern African choreographer and performer. Phoebe Davies is a Welsh artist and researcher. Together, they use video, performance to camera, choreography and sound to explore power dynamics through intergenerational perspectives across race, age and gender. Their collaboration begain in 2016, and their work has been shown and supported by various UK galleries and agencies, including Tate Modern, Raven Row, DKUK, Artsadmin and Somerset House.
