Excellent Together
Photo credit: Jon ArchdeaconAbout the project
Excellent Together is a joint venture between Corali Dance Company and Thick & Tight. It is a research project that connects individual dance artists from Corali with artists from Thick & Tight's wider network.
Each dancer from Corali has a learning disability and lived experience of being marginalised from society. The artists they are paired with align with, or are allies of, the queer-focused work that Thick & Tight creates.
By bringing together people from different backgrounds, at different stages in their artistic development and from a wide range of under-represented communities, we aim to explore the possibilities that emerge through meaningful creative collaboration.
What we hope to achieve
Through Excellent Together, we hope to:
Challenge prejudice around what makes an artist, or their work, "excellent"
Blur the boundaries between professional and participatory practice
Build understanding, connection and mutual support
Discover the artistic, educational and social benefits that collaboration can create for everyone involved
Where it started
The project began with Corali member Bethan Kendrick's desire to meet and work with dance artist Jules Cunningham after seeing them perform live. We decided we had to make it happen.
Supporting Bethan and Jules to work together was a powerful experience. Witnessing their shared qualities and the strength that grew from their connection demonstrated the value of creating opportunities for artists to meet as equals. It quickly became clear that this should grow beyond a single partnership.
Since then, Excellent Together has expanded, with plans to support nine artistic partnerships.
Building creative relationships
The project began with Corali member Bethan Kendrick's desire to meet and work with dance artist Jules Cunningham after seeing them perform live. We decided we had to make it happen.
Supporting Bethan and Jules to work together was a powerful experience. Witnessing their shared qualities and the strength that grew from their connection demonstrated the value of creating opportunities for artists to meet as equals. It quickly became clear that this should grow beyond a single partnership.
Since then, Excellent Together has expanded, with plans to support nine artistic partnerships.
How we support the partnerships
Each partnership is supported in ways that respond to the artists' individual interests, ambitions and working methods.
Support has included:
Studio space
Paid time for artists to collaborate
Online platforms and opportunities during lockdown
Creative gifts and resources to encourage interaction
Ongoing responsive support tailored to each partnership
Our role is to facilitate and nurture the relationships, never to direct them or place pressure on their development. Ultimately, we aim to support each partnership for as long as it remains useful and meaningful to those involved.
Learning and impact
The learning generated through Excellent Together informs the work of both Corali and Thick & Tight.
Insights from the project help us continually improve our organisational structures, studio practices, accessibility, education programmes and outreach work, ensuring that the benefits extend beyond the individual partnerships themselves.
Looking ahead
We are excited to see how each partnership develops in its own unique way.
As the project continues to grow, we look forward to bringing new people into the process, fostering new connections and supporting artists to realise whatever creative possibilities they wish to explore together.
Partners so far:
Bethan Kendrick & Jules Cunningham
Housni (DJ) Hassan & Thomasin Gulgec
Jackie Ryan & Patricia Langa
Graham Evans & Gerard Bell
Paul Davidson & Edd Arnold
Vaneshia Bailey & Vidya Patel
DJ & Thom
This is a film of a collection of moments taken from the second day that Thom and DJ met and played together at the Wayne McGregor Studios. Their shared energy and connection was remarkable to be around. Click on the play button to watch film.
Bethan & Jules
These are a series of photos taken by Jon Archdeacon from the second day that Bethan and Jules worked together in a free space on Oxford Street given to us thanks to Sally Marie.
Julie and Bethan, who made it clear needed no assistance from us, created a brilliant sequence of movement with all the hallmarks of their style and practice as choreographers.
Photos by Jon Archdeacon.
Vaneshia & Vidya
This is a short film, filmed on Danny's iPhone of Vidya and Vaneshia. This comes from only spending a few hours with one another in a community centre in London.
The use of mirroring and gestural movement helped create a simple yet beautiful minute of film. Click the play button to watch the short film.
Vidya & Alsev
This is one (of two) videos which Vidya made for Alsev during lockdown. They decided to send one another videos which taught movement and dance; Vidya shared her knowledge of classical Kathak and Alsev shared videos of her love of Bollywood dancing.
During lockdown we sent some members of Excellent Together letters and a small envelope of cornflower seeds so that they could grow something at the same time as their partner, something real that held life and hope at a time when people were very isolated and scared.
Alsev shared a photo of her Cornflower in full bloom from her and her Grandmother's garden. The experience has caught her imagination and she regally updates us on the cornflowers as well as all the ideas she has to make a dance film. We are working to make this become a reality for Alsev and Vidya soon.
Paul & Edd
Edd and Paul have only been able to meet as part of 'Excellent Together' online as their partnership was begun during lockdown. However they shared a lot of personal information and thoughts through the use of the score cards and then spent two sessions improvising and learning material from one another. Their expertise as contemporary dancers/choreographers mixed with their kindness and softness is something very special.
Pat & Jackie
Pat and Jackie have worked together lots before, mainly in Corali's show 'Technicolour Everyday' and have known each other for many years. They have come together to create a duet full of rhythm and glamour set to the Cuban beats of Tito Puente. They shall be presenting their duet at Duckie's Posh Clubs in Hackney and Elephant & Castle.
Photos by Jon Archdeacon
Rhys & Aaron
Rhys and Aaron first met for two days in June 2021 where we were hosted at Studio Wayne McGregor. Rhys Hollis is one of London's best loved drag performers and Aarons has been with Corali's 'Kick Starter' group for several years. They bonded over their shared love of Marvel comics, especially Batman. We can't wait to see how this progresses into the future!
Photos by Jon Archdeacon
Azara & Sherri
Azara and Sherri also first met for two days in June 2021 where we were hosted at Studio Wayne McGregor. Sherri began her journey with Corali through Kickstarter while Azara is is a freelance theater maker, dancer, , filmmaker, breaker and MC at Posh Club. They immediately hit it off, moving, dancing and laughing together. Their partnership was incredibly exciting to watch because of how much they jelled and sparked off one another.
Photos by Jon Archdeacon
Carl & Veneshia
Carl & Veneshia came together in June 2021 for two half days and within that time found a huge amount of connection and brilliance! Veneshia has been with Corali for several years now; Carl is a dancer, actor, choreographer and camp fitness instructor. They found mutual love of Tina Turner, The Carpenters and The Beatles and began devising short works based on some of their favorite tunes. They're fab!
Photos by Jon Archdeacon
