In March 2018, ‘The Body of Us’ collaborated with Heart & Parcel, a local Manchester community project supporting Women from migrant communities through English language provision or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Usually provided by the UK government, ESOL is best described as English language for ‘social integration’ (Barton, 2007). However, due to consecutive cuts to this sector, voluntary grassroots organisations such as Heart & Parcel have started to include this area of provision in their aims. Heart & Parcel uses practical activities in their sessions as a spring board for English language development. Heart & Parcel seeks to find new and innovative ways to subvert the formalised traditional style of English language teaching seen in institutions and accredited courses, opting instead for creative, authentic ways of expression. Such opportunities for this context can be realised via ‘The Body of Us’ and its development of a movement resource kit. This kit introduces and explores movement and dance with the aim of being accessible to a wide diversity of groups and contexts. One of the strands of engagement was for an environment in which users who did not use English as their working and living language. For Heart & Parcel, the process of ‘social integration’ (Barton, 2007) does not involve just Language learning. Navigating through new spaces requires a range of other skills and knowledge, as well as developing one’s existing abilities to build resilience. There has been a growing body of research and funding focusing on the wellbeing of communities. This collaboration therefore stemmed from an interest into existing research connection that dance does support and benefit well-being (Joynson, Hui and Stickley 2009) as well as develop ‘…participants’ cultural awareness and contribute to strengthening their wider education’ (Burkhart and Rhodes, 2012). Dance artists Bridget Fiske and Rachel Maffei joined a block of ten sessions that were run by Heart & Parcel with the focus of supporting women who wished to develop their English language skills in a relaxed and informal way through informal creative practices. Bridget and Rachel carried out movement exploration activities at the beginning and end of each session that encouraged interpersonal connection, creative and self-expression as well as facilitating activity that incorporated vocabulary for that day. Throughout the collaboration, observations were noticed by the staff in relation to unexpected outcomes coming from the combination of movement and English. Participants noted how moving at the start and end of the session helped them with their bodies. Some saw it as exercises which ‘gets rid of stiffness’ and described it as ‘sport’ indicating they saw the physical and health benefits of the activity They also used words like ’happy’ and ‘excited’ and ‘laugh’ to describe how they felt, explaining that they felt ‘lively to the dance, rhythm’. These positive ways of describing how they felt was also observed by volunteers and staff, who noted that after movement women were much livelier and awake, and noted that they were feeling more prepared and focused for the English language learning that preceded. This collaboration was meaningful for both organisations involved. Further development and research is planned to be carried out as a result. Written by Clare Courtney, Director - Heart & Parcel Reference List Barton, D., Ivanic, R., Appleby, Y., Hodge, H. and Tusting, K. (2007). Literacy, Lives and Learning. New York: Routledge. Burkhardt J and Rhodes J (2012), Dance Active Commissioning Dance for Health and Well-Being Guidance and Resources for Commissioners, March 2012. [online]. Available at: https://www.pdsw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Breathe-Commissioning-Dance-for-Health-Wellbeing-Guide-for-Commissioners-by-Jan-Burkhardt-2012.pdf Date Accessed: 15/11/2018 Joynson, K., Hui, A. and Stickley, T. (2009), An Evaluation of the development of Young@Heart, a dance project for Older People, Nottingham, England: Dance4 Available at: https://www.dance4.co.uk/ Date Accessed: 15/11/2018

There is much I have been fortunate to do professionally and creatively this year. There have been challenges that are a part of imagining, creating, responding openly and effectively as well as producing projects/works/activities, but also so many rewards (in the moment of doing and in the bigger picture). Here is a summary of my 2019 activities, all of which were/are an honour to work on in their own ways. Most importantly I have: made new personal and professional relationships that I value immensely, grown, clarified aims and engaged with many audience and participants who have been as present with the work as the artists who are sharing it (thank you!). In 2020 I look forward to growing further the breadth of international collaborations I work on across creative and producing projects. I look forward to continuing to share story and experiences as well as contribute to practice, dialogue and action. I look forward to continually utilising and growing the breadth of my practices and thinking. 1. The year started working as Choreographic & Rehearsal Director on 'Counting Sheep: Staging A Revolution' that ran for eight weeks as part of VAULT Festival, London. This immersive work is 'based on Mark and Marichka Marczyks' first hand experiences during the 2014 Kiev Uprising,' (http://countingsheeprevolution.com/theplay). Here are links for you to see and read about reactions, responses and reviews. https://www.facebook.com/countingsheeprevolution/ https://twitter.com/countingsheeplb?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/countingsheeprevolution Full production credits and information here: http://countingsheeprevolution.com/theplay ★★★★ The Times and The Sunday Times ★★★★ Time Out London ★★★★ WhatsOnStage ★★★★ Culture Whisper ★★★★★ The Arts Desk ★★★★★ The Reviews Hub ★★★★★ Theatre Weekly ★★★★★ A Younger Theatre ★★★★★ BroadwayWorld 2. After more than 18 months of development it was time to start to create 'They Gather' for presentation at Supercell Festival Of Contemporary Dance. 'They Gather' is a project that draws together many observations, processes, philosophies and priorities. ‘They Gather' is an international multimodal and interdisciplinary project creating ‘gatherings’ of people, action, dance, sound and music. These interrelated performances explore the boundaries between audience, participant and  performer in public, festival and cultural spaces subsequently creating dialogue with environments, societies, politics, histories and creating speculative futurologies. 'They Gather' aims to empower and create dialogue around the complexities and polarities of contemporary living. 'They Gather' has grown to be an independent tri-national project (Australia, the Netherlands and the UK). Drawing on a broad set of skills on this projectI I am a Co-Lead Producer and Co-creator/Choreographer/ Director. For Supercell Festival Of Contemporary Dance 2019 we were able to develop and present three modules across the festival: ‘Everyday Freedoms’ a three hour durational performed, interactive and facilitated work inhabiting empty spaces at The Valley Metro, ‘Corpus Alimentation’ a performed work (part documentary, part science fiction, part ritual) and ‘Lost In Feeling’ a scored performance work developed with community. We also loved opening professional classes during our research and rehearsal process, as well as a a delivering a public workshop and coffee & conversation during the festival. There are so many thank you’s on this project that have supported its scale and aspirations including: Joseph Lau (Co-creator/Choreographer/Director), Stephanie Pan & Stelios Manousakis (Co-creators/Composers/Sound Artists), Charles Ball, Chloe Lanham Kristin Santic and Sammie Williams (Collaborating Performers), En Rui Foo (Australian Producer), Ian Dearden (Contemporary Social Issues Advisor), Robert Lachowicz (Community Lawyer), Kate Fiske (Gateway Health), ‘Lost In Feeling' community participants, peers who have provided ongoing critical dialogue and all the team at Supercell Festival Of Contemporary Dance. For previous phases of development thank you to: Storm Helmore, Stephanie Pokoj and Courtney Scheu. Thank you also to the following funders and partners... Off shoot activity for 'They Gather' included: sharing processes and material from with ‘They Gather’ with Year 11 students at Queensland Academy Creative Industries for utilisation in the creation of new performance work and delivering a masterclass as part of La Boite’s HWY Festival. Read and see more about this project here: https://www.theygatherproject.com 3. I was invited to work as Associate Artist on Contact Youth Company’s new project ‘Baby Fever’. Produced by Contact. Commissioned by Contact and SICK! Festival (2019). Created by Contact Young Company and Theater Degasten. Directed by Theater Degasten. Assistant Artist – Miray Sidhom. In this role I worked with the ensemble on developing physical, devising and performance skills. 4. I have been working on the Ukrainian film project ‘Iron Butterflies’ about the downing on the MH17 in Ukraine. The project is best understood by following these links. https://www.facebook.com/ironbutterfliesmovie/ https://www.instagram.com/IronButterfliesMovie 5. As ‘They Gather’ continues to be developed, via the support of various partners and funders since August this year we have been able to: - develop new works in various contexts using scores and processes from with ‘They Gather’ (including Joseph Lau creating work as part of ATOM Choreographic Series 3 in Bulgaria and ’Snow’ commissioned by University of Salford for 2nd and 3rd year students performance project). - develop masterclasses for artists delivered as part of a project at HOME Centro Creazione Coreografica in Perugia, Italy and independently in Manchester, UK. - undertake research and development into a new module ‘Entertaining A Small Place’ performed at University Of Salford's 'Dance with US' and researched during a residency in Italy supported by HOME Centro Creazione Coreografica. - research and develop a new lecturer performance ‘Yesterday I Didn’t Want To Be A Giraffe. Now I Do’ reflecting on Fiske's practice and recent works, including methodologies relating to participation, audience engagement and co-creation.. Increasingly Fiske’s work blurs the lines between these acts - seeking actively for them to co-exist. This lecture performance was presented at The Great Northern Expo at UCLan. - continue producing, profile raising and partnership building work. Thank you to: Deb Ashby (Independent Producer), Lenka Flory and Valentina Romito (HOME Centro Creazione Coreografica), Stefaniya Georgieva and Deedee Angelova (ATOM Choreographic Series), Joseph Lau, Stephanie Pan and Stelios Manousakis (collaborators), Lisa Cullen and staff and students at University of Salford, Lucy Nicholson and staff and students at UCLan and the staff and students at The Lowry Centre for Advanced Training, 'They Gather' development is support by the following funders and partners: 6. I was gifted with a residency at Dancenorth Australia at part Dancenorth’s A.R.T. Program. During this time I shared in practice, shared practice, shared in meaningful conversation and was able to undertake research on the ongoing project 'Sufi In The City'. Here is a reflection from my time there: "This residency time has offered space to be with solo research as part of the larger research project in development ‘Sufi In The City’: a collaborative project with artist Sarah Sayeed. ’Sufi In The City’ is a project about a history of longing for union, which creates space to being with questions about modernity, spirituality, lineages, freedom and gender. In particular, being by the water here in Townsville has guided me to spending much time in the studio with what is known and unknown about a great great grandfather who died in a shipwreck. In being with expanses of nature, the fragility of the body and consequently a returning to and remembering of being nature, I am humbled to then be with philosophical and spiritual questions of existence and truth. I feel that place has focused my research, given it an attention that I otherwise would not have had.I have also valued being in a space where other artists are also in process. The energy in the whole building, to be listening to the work that is being made and to valuing process, enriches and affirms what I am doing." It was also fantastic to have a short video work 'The Soul of the Prayer' from 'Sufi In the City' exhibited at New Art Exchange Open: http://www.nae.org.uk/exhibition/nae-open/150 Read more about 'Sufi In the City' here: https://www.sufiinthecity.com 7. I continue much teaching and facilitation practice in community, education (including universities) and artistic contexts. I always value the opportunity to share what I have learnt and am learning as well as longstanding and emergent practices. I also continue to work on strategic artist led initiatives. 8. I have been able to further work on my project 'The Body Of Us', defining three areas: 'The Body Of Us / Public' - A series of performed and facilitated interactions that places the audience at the heart of the dance as the performer and choreographer. - Designed to animate public spaces, including theatre and festival spaces. - Designed as something that can be handed over to artists and communities. 'The Body Of Us / Guided' - Workshops by Bridget Fiske & Co using a range of creative tools to prioritise co-creation and empowerment in process. - Workshops are suitable for all ages and experience levels including in-education, learning, artistic and community contexts. - Workshops informed by Fiske’s 20 years of facilitation and co-creation in education and community contexts. 'The Body Of Us / Independent' The gradual releasing of resources as part of 'The Body Of Us'. These resources will be in various formats and modes including articles, case studies, blogs, videos, example exercises and tool-kits. Read more and full credits here: https://www.bridgetfiske.com/thebodyofus 9. I have become a board member of Vanhulle Dance Theatre, supporting the work of artist Laura Vanhulle. http://www.vanhulledancetheatre.com/index.html

'Baby Fever' during SICK! Festival https://contactmcr.com/shows/contact-young-company-baby-fever/ Produced by Contact Commissioned by Contact and SICK! Festival (2019) Created by Contact Young Company and Theater Degasten Directed by Theater Degasten Associate Artist – Bridget Fiske Assistant Artist – Miray Sidhom

I am incredibly happy to share that 2017 University of Salford Dance graduate Rachel Maffei is working with me as an Intern Assistant Artist on my current project 'The Body Of Us - new models increasing reach'. Rachel will be involved in many layers of the project including research, creative, facilitation and producing activity. Working with Rachel will bring an invaluable richness to the work currently being achieved on 'The Body Of Us - new models increasing reach'. It is fantastic to be working with an artist who is early in their career but so clearly passionate about all the layers of making dance work happen: including an interest in understanding and contributing to the way that dance impacts audiences and participants. More information on 'The Body Of Us - new models increasing reach' developments coming soon.... ABOUT RACHEL Rachel is a freelance dance artist working within Greater Manchester. She graduated from The University of Salford in 2017 with a first class degree in Dance. Rachel is one of three co-artistic directors of Coalesce Dance Theatre, a contemporary dance company based in Salford. She has performed in a number of company pieces as well as helping to tour their work around the country. Over the last couple of years Rachel has worked with Hawk Dance Theatre, The Knotted project and Jamaal Burkmar. Most recently Rachel has worked with The University of Salford as a Graduate Intern and is now very excited to be working alongside Bridget Fiske as an Intern Assistant Artist. Rachel says... I am very excited to be working alongside the wonderful Bridget Fiske as an Intern Assistant Artist on The Body of Us. This is a fantastic opportunity to help with the development of the project as well as gaining valuable skills in producing dance, workshop facilitation and administration. The Body of Us is a wonderful project that allows its participants to experience dance in a welcoming yet safe environment, therefore it is with great pleasure to be offered a role that works with Bridget on this Internship. Image: Rachel activating 'The Body Of Us' at Dance: Sampled at The Lowry, February 2017. Photographer Joseph Lau. Image: Rachel in 'Drive' by Coalesce Dance Theatre. Photographer Josh Hawkins. 'The Body Of Us - new models increasing reach' is also supported through a partnership with Leverhulme International Network 'Evaluating Methods of Aesthetic Enquiry across Disciplines' (2015-2018).

It was incredible to return to Dance: Sampled at The Lowry with 'The Body Of Us' on 17 February 2018, keeping some ideas from 2017 and developing and sharing new moments. A huge thank you to everyone who made this possible. Read more about 'The Body Of Us' as a project and it's history here: https://www.bridgetfiske.com/thebodyofus Credits for 'The Body Of Us' at Dance: Sampled at the Lowry Concept & Direction: Bridget Fiske Activators: Ina Colizza, Giorgio De Carolis, Emily Barber, Conor Batters,Thomas Gibbs, Lauren Gough, Emily Jones, Rachel Maffei, Niamh McColm, Kelly Stevens, Sophie Roughley and Julia Soler Bloom. Rehearsal Direction: Sarie Marie Slee Photographer: Joseph Lau

On November 10, 2017, Bridget performed in Joseph Lau's new public space work in development ' VIVA...Reverb'. The work was presented as part of an evening of works at University of Salford. VIVA: Reverb A new dance work for public spaces ‘VIVA: Reverb’ meditates on the human need to feel connected (to environment and to other people). As part of a developing series of works that offer micro meditations on ‘living’, ‘VIVA: Reverb’ is a personal work that explores vulnerability, confrontation, relationship and sensitivity. Choreography by Joseph Lau with collaborating performing artists: Amber Calland, Bridget Fiske & Danielle May Goodfellow. Costume design by Bridget Fiske This work is made with the support of the University of Salford. Images from rehearsal by Christine Fiske. #performance #publicspace

Bridget is currently working with independent initiative Manchester Dance Consortium producing Manchester Choreolab 2017. This five day event is about exploring WHAT we make, WHY we make, HOW we make and the CONTEXTS within which we make. Workshops, process exchange, provocations, mentoring and discourse will be facilitated by an incredible line-up of national and international facilitators including: Charlie Morrissey, Jo Fong, Lenka Flory & Paul Blackmam Manchester Choreolab 2017 is for emerging & professional artists (18yrs+) with dance/ movement backgrounds and artists interested in choreographic questions. ​ Along with dance artists of diverse styles and practice, Manchester Dance Consortium actively encourages artists with a range of practice to come and join us to enrich your process, enliven thought & exchange with others. You might be an actor, a composer, a live artist or a filmmaker interested in choreographic process & outcomes: there will be something is our programme for you. READ MORE HERE: www.mcrdansortium.com Manchester Chorelab 2017 will be held at Contact, Manchester, UK, Tue 25 to Sat 29 July.

'The Body of Us' is a new score for public spaces that places audiences at the centre. MEET…RESPOND…CREATE…CAPTURE…SHARE You are invited to play, watch, listen, follow and join in ‘The Body of Us’: a guided dance and movement experience for everyone. ‘The Body of Us’ is about celebrating and discovering shared moments of movement. Stumble across it or come deliberately, You are invited to join in all moments or just one. To join in the full journey will take approximately 30 minutes. Accessible to all ages. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Conceived by Bridget Fiske Producer for Bridget Fiske & Co: Tricia Coleman Consultants: Andrew Crofts, Catherine Simmonds and Amy Voris ​ Dance; Sampled - The Lowry, Salford - 24 and 25 February 2017 Directed by Bridget Fiske Rehearsal Director: Sarie Mairs Slee Dance; Sampled Extras Producer: Jade Aitchison & Aimee Baker Activators: Courtney Clarke, Joseph Lau, Kelsey-Leigh Cunliffe, Sally Hendry, Christine Meadows, Callum Newman, Efimifa Raouna, Shea Roberts, Amy Voris, Jessica Ward & Aline Zora ​ Supercell Festival of Contemporary Dance Brisbane - The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Brisbane - February 20 to 25 2017 Bridget Fiske with Scott Sneedon Supercell Producer: En Rui Foo Activators: Marisa Georgia, Caitlin Hultgren, Seaon Hylton, Stuart Nix, Franciska Schmoll, Alicia Jane Steele & Hugo Russell. What is The Body of Us? ​ Simply put it is a shared dance. A dance you stumble upon or deliberately choose to turn up for, a dance you are guided through and a dance you create. It is a guided way to move through, in and view a space and meet and exchange with those who are present in it. Via a series of distributed and facilitated interactions, ‘The Body of Us’ invites audiences to meet, witness, move, share, capture and create. ​ Bridget has designed this work in response to her experiences travelling the world, meeting, sharing in workshops and performing with community and artists: moments that continue to inspire her and that she will never forget. In designing a score for audience and public spaces, Bridget wanted to create something that communities, venues and festivals could use to engage people and highlight that there is dance everywhere. ​ Bridget acknowledges the history that inspires this project. All those great workshop games, tasks and processes that bring us closer together (that she has experienced as a participant, student and facilitator) and an inspiring legacy of dance artists who have used scores to democratise dance. #dancebodyus #audience #supercell #dancesampled #dancefestivals

In collaboration with Joseph Lau, Bridget is presenting the Triple Bill 'Person/ All' at the first Supercell Festival of Contemporary Dance Brisbane. Also tonight 'The Body of Us' starts, a score for public spaces placing audiences at the heart of the dance. Follow here: http://www.bridgetfiske.com/dancebodyus #dancebodyus

Read more about 'Stellarium' in an article in People Dancing's publication Animated, written by Dance Manchester's Director Deb Ashby. 'Stellarium is a youth dance and Astrophysics collaboration that Bridget was engaged as choreographer on in 2016. http://www.digm.org/events/stellarium/animated-magazine/ #youth #community #danceandscience #collaboration

I was approached by Amy Voris to be in dialogue and offer a contribution to the project 'A Shrine To Women's Work'. It was a humbling, inspiring and emotional journey connecting with a lineage of maternal and artistic grandmothers. Read more about it and the Accumulations Project here: http://www.accumulationsproject.com/a-shrine-to-womens-work/ The work was exhibited 1 – 13 August 2016 at AWOL studios / Hope Mill From these conversation I developed the offering 'You Are' About 'You Are' The subject of this project and the conversations that unfolded bought me immediately to my maternal Grandmother and consequently a line of mothers from the North West of England. I was born, lived and worked in Australia until almost eight years ago when I moved to Manchester, where I now live and work. I had always known of my Grandmother Mary’s history of working at Greg’s Mill in Reddish and from this sought to understand more about her Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother. Thank you to my Mother Christine for sharing the information she has dedicated many years to gathering about the family history. My contribution: I place myself in the image acknowledging that all the women mentioned in this work are present through my body’s presence. Also as a dance and movement artist the body is the focus of my work. I place objects of my work (a computer, glasses I wear working). I place a leather wallet my Grandmother Mary carried important documents in when she emigrated from England to Australia. I now carry my important documents in this when I travel. I place passports that are a part of my work, as I travel with work often, but they also link the two places in this narrative. I place textile that connects me to the work in the Mills and the history of the places my Grandmothers (including Great) were born and lived and how work changed because of the textile industry and the industrial revolution. Thank you to Pavel Haradnitski for taking this image for me. In the process I was acknowledging: Maryanne Tripp (nee Warrington) Born 1815 in Liverpool, England. Work unkown. Died 10th December 1862 in the Toxteth Workhouse Southdown Road Toxteth, England. Agnes Edwards (nee Tripp) Born on the 18th August 1855 in Liverpool, England. In the 1881 Census Agnes was living in 130 Salisbury Street and at this time a widow as her husband John Edwards died at sea. Agnes consequently married William Roberts Occupation Charwoman. Date of death unknown. Maria Mealey (nee Edwards) Born 24th October 1873, Liverpool, England. Married Thomas Mealey and gave birth to ten children. Died in 1956 in Reddish, England. Mary Cunningham (nee Mealey) Born 18th June 1910, Liverpool, England. Spent much of her working life at Greg Mills, Reddish, England.In Australia she worked in cooking and house keeping services. Died 6th October 2008, Kyabram, Australia. Christine Fiske (nee Cunningham) Born 30th December 1943, Manchester, England. Work: Early years and Primary education, farming and survey researcher. Image by Christian Kipp from 'A Shrine To Women's Work'

See link for full information.: http://www.thelowry.com/event/after-hours-in-the-galleries15 #performance #danceingalleries #danceandscience