Bex Anson, a visual theatre maker and scenographer based in Glasgow, is on the hunt for participants to join in with Flock, an ‘extraordinary live dance poem’, transforming the streets outside Port Glasgow Library.
Bex wants to see ‘dancers, non-dancers, professional performers, kitchen-sink-dancers, friday-night-dancers, pushing-the-pram-dancers, and humans who like to move in community’ join in the performance of Flock on Saturday, October 18.
Lifting the lid on what people can expect when they come along, Bex told the Tele: “There is no audition and no commitment – just a chance to connect through gentle movement and find the pulse of art in the everyday.
“To celebrate this temporary ensemble, the performance features a professional ballet dancer, custom costumes, and original music.
“We come together as strangers to notice the birds and each other, seeking that ‘shared language of instinct, a silent conversation understood by all, spoken by none’.”
Those who are keen to take part in the performance are being invited to arrive with an oversized white shirt and a willingness to move and respond to one another and the space around them.
The experience will begin with a hands-on workshop where participants move as a flock, immersing themselves in visual poetry.
From this, Bex says, will emerge a group dance created in tandem with a contemporary ballet dancer as a vibrant, collective artwork.
“Participants will then freely mark-make unique poems onto the outdoor ground,” she continued.
“A contemporary dancer organically weaves amongst this ‘flock of scribes’, improvising movement inspired by their visual narratives.
“What emerges is a dynamic, shapeshifting murmuration – a living, ever-changing visual and physical poem that swoops and swirls with grace.”
Flock was recently performed at Govanhill Baths in Glasgow, with great feedback from participants, including Jesse, 55, and 75-year-old mum Roz.
Jesse said: “That was so restorative and my mum loved it – she’s never done anything like that before.
“She’s quite the elated woman now!”
Those who are unable to participate in the movement are also welcome to come along and watch.
The event is free for anyone wanting to take part, tickets and more information can be found at galoshansfestival.co.uk/event/flock.
The workshop starts at 12 noon and the live performance will be held from 1.10-1.30pm.