Moving Portraits: Produced in Association with Lîla Dance
Lîla Dance isn’t complete without Amy Morvell. Amy went from a Lîla dance to apprentice then creative assistant all the while being supported in building her own company – Morvell Dance. Read about Amy’s experience.
Hi! My name is Amy Morvell and I am a dancer and creative assistant with Lîla Dance.
In 2017 I graduated from the University of Chichester and went straight into an apprenticeship with the company. Since my graduation, Lîla have supported me in a huge number of ways; I performed in touring work The Hotel Experience, I took over the social media for the company, I became a rehearsal director for outdoor work My Bit and creative assistant on upcoming dance film Gaps in the Light.
Since graduating the apprenticeship in 2019 I now have a brilliant professional relationship with the company where I support them with their social media, and they support me in my funded projects.
The team at Lîla Dance helped me set up my company Morvell Dance in 2017, working towards writing a first Arts Council funding application for my work Turtle Dove. Through their support I received two lots of funding to research, create and tour the work.
In 2020 we started to look forward to the next choreographic work. At this point we went into lockdown and during this time I became fascinated with dance on screen and how this might develop into my practice.
We had been shut inside for so long that when there was finally an opportunity to meet people (at a distance) I jumped at the chance to start making some short films.
I started meeting fantastic dancers from across the south and creating short solo films that grew into the Lockdown Moving Images Series.
Off the back of this I decided I wanted to explore film further and with the support of the Lîla team we started to write the next funding application. In 2021 with a successful application the Moving Portraits project began.
About Moving Portraits
From the reality of two people’s mundane existence stuck inside, we see them dream of a different, more exciting life.
In a landscape where possibilities feel endless and there are chances for new pathways to be carved, why is it that their paths always seem to lead them back to one another?
Moving Portraits is a short dance film that looks at themes of self-reflection and the dynamic between two people stuck in the same space. Visit the Morvell Dance website to view the trailer.
Dancers Gabby Sanders and Beatriz C. Bidault. Photo credit: Olivia Jackson Photography
How did Lîla Dance support the development of Moving Portraits?
Funding support
Abi took the lead in writing the funding application, we had plenty of coffees/teas/gins to put this application together! With a final send off from Lou, the application went on its way!
Administration and planning
Throughout Moving Portraits Abi supported the timeline of the project and kept me on track.
Auditioning for new graduate dancers
Abi, Lou, Madison and myself led the audition at Brighton Marina Studios (thanks to South East Dance Kickstarters!) This was such an exciting part of the process of Moving Portraits, the call-out was for 2 female-identifying dancers. We felt it was important to give a paid opportunity to those who had to graduate in the pandemic. It was also a lovely chance for me to meet new dancers and collaborators.
The creation period
We had 5 days to put this piece together. Abi came in to support the creative process mid-week which was exactly the right timing to bring the energy we needed! Abi has a fantastic way of sourcing your intention and also giving you practical feedback that gives you space to step outside of your comfort zone and try other routes. The Lîla team also came to support the end of week sharing and gave lots of brilliant feedback ready for the filming days.
The film shoot
By September we were ready to shoot. We worked on Moving Portraits over 2 days and at 2 different locations. Abi joined us at one of our locations and guided us to explore other ideas that helped build the narrative of the work. This was great as it allowed me to have even more footage to play with in the editing process.
The editing process
The editing process took longer than anticipated. What I found with editing is that you can continue to keep changing your mind which allows both a sense of freedom and also frustration. Having a second pair of eyes in the editing process was absolutely needed! Carrie supported the start of the editing to help build narrative ideas. Later Abi supported the edit to help the choreographic and narrative themes. She reminded me to not only work as an editor but as a choreographer. An important question that kept arising was - if the work was live – what would I want to see? And how can this translate to screen dance?
See Moving Portraits and the premiere of Lîla’s new dance film, Gaps in the Light on Wednesday 1 June at Wagner Hall, Brighton.
Dancers Gabby Sanders and Beatriz C. Bidault. Photo credit: Olivia Jackson Photography