Lost in Translation
Lost in Translation - A dance community exchange research project
Successfully awarded a travel grant from the Lisa Ullmann Traveling Scholarship Foundation Adam Russell and Giulia Coti Zelati collaborated together alongside Chilean dance artist Gabriella Serani.
Lost in Translation is a cultural dance exchange research project between local communities of the North of England and Chile. Through dance and theatre the project aimed to explore each community’s sense of identity and togetherness, aiming to unite people through personal stories, theatre and dance. The team worked in the UK with communities from the North East, Cumbria and in Chile -predominantly in Santiago - whilst also researching with a number of people in the South and North of Chile.
The project at different stages united people from different walks of life whilst celebrating culture, differences and a greater understanding of other communities.
Successfully awarded a travel grant from the Lisa Ullmann Traveling Scholarship Foundation Adam Russell and Giulia Coti Zelati collaborated together alongside Chilean dance artist Gabriella Serani.
Lost in Translation is a cultural dance exchange research project between local communities of the North of England and Chile. Through dance and theatre the project aimed to explore each community’s sense of identity and togetherness, aiming to unite people through personal stories, theatre and dance. The team worked in the UK with communities from the North East, Cumbria and in Chile -predominantly in Santiago - whilst also researching with a number of people in the South and North of Chile.
The project at different stages united people from different walks of life whilst celebrating culture, differences and a greater understanding of other communities.
Newcastle April 2017
The project initially started in Newcastle in April 2017 with research workshops in response to local culture, history, music, folklore, family and community. The project worked with groups of parents and children, students from Newcastle College, adults with learning difficulties from Better Days and a number of professionals including young dance professionals based in the North East.
Through these first workshops we started to establish the project within a number of local community groups based in Newcastle whilst collecting movement research as well as stories thus gaining a greater understanding of the local cultural identity along with the unique attributes and qualities of people from Newcastle. Through working and living in Newcastle myself for a number of years there was an advantage from having a good understanding of local culture and cultural norms which allowed me to build a strong collection of research to take to Chile for stage 2 of the project.
We recorded our research through film, images and drawings from those who took part in the project
The project initially started in Newcastle in April 2017 with research workshops in response to local culture, history, music, folklore, family and community. The project worked with groups of parents and children, students from Newcastle College, adults with learning difficulties from Better Days and a number of professionals including young dance professionals based in the North East.
Through these first workshops we started to establish the project within a number of local community groups based in Newcastle whilst collecting movement research as well as stories thus gaining a greater understanding of the local cultural identity along with the unique attributes and qualities of people from Newcastle. Through working and living in Newcastle myself for a number of years there was an advantage from having a good understanding of local culture and cultural norms which allowed me to build a strong collection of research to take to Chile for stage 2 of the project.
We recorded our research through film, images and drawings from those who took part in the project
Workshop in primary school Santiago Chile
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Lost in Translation Workshop
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Stage 2 - Chile June/ July 2017
Soon after arriving in Santiago it was clear that the project was going to be a challenge in many different ways that I expected. Following some thorough planning and having arrived, I started to gain an understanding of the city; it’s residents and some cultural attitudes. However, it became clear I needed to re-plan and almost start again. One of the ways I did this was to make new connections in order to make the project happen successfully. Reflecting now, this has been one of the most challenging projects, especially in a logical sense that I have experienced. It took true determination, taking in to account the restrictions of an unknown language, to communicate and help the project achieve something successful and worthwhile.
These workshops provided the opportunity for each of the students to take part in dance, theatre and creative games, techniques and tasks. The team received a huge amount of praise and interest from each of the schools principal directors because of an opportunity that is not very often available for the students. Our focus on the school workshops was how we can communicate using nothing but the language of movement, sharing dances unique to each culture, folk dances and stories. Whilst also sharing our research from Newcastle we were able to learn and share from all the children’s stories and experiences taking part.
Soon after arriving in Santiago it was clear that the project was going to be a challenge in many different ways that I expected. Following some thorough planning and having arrived, I started to gain an understanding of the city; it’s residents and some cultural attitudes. However, it became clear I needed to re-plan and almost start again. One of the ways I did this was to make new connections in order to make the project happen successfully. Reflecting now, this has been one of the most challenging projects, especially in a logical sense that I have experienced. It took true determination, taking in to account the restrictions of an unknown language, to communicate and help the project achieve something successful and worthwhile.
These workshops provided the opportunity for each of the students to take part in dance, theatre and creative games, techniques and tasks. The team received a huge amount of praise and interest from each of the schools principal directors because of an opportunity that is not very often available for the students. Our focus on the school workshops was how we can communicate using nothing but the language of movement, sharing dances unique to each culture, folk dances and stories. Whilst also sharing our research from Newcastle we were able to learn and share from all the children’s stories and experiences taking part.
Lost in Translation Workshop
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Lost in Translation Workshop in Secondary School
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Lost in Translation Workshop in school for deaf children
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One of the schools we worked with was a school for deaf children. This was a great learning experience for the team and demanded great patience as at times we needed to translate English to Spanish eventually to sign language. We had over 80 students taking part (normal classes are taught in a maximum number of 8 students per class), which again added to the challenge of delivering the workshop in an outside playground. With students not being able to hear, the only way to gain attention is through sight and working with 80 students outside at the same time is very challenging with only the use of movement.
In Santiago we were invited to watch local folk dance groups rehearse and in exchange deliver workshops sharing our research of Newcastle communities and culture.
An additional challenge I found myself up against once I had arrived in Chile was the location of the studio - I originally planned to run an intensive workshop process with community performers however, the studio was on the outskirts of the city and too far away to actually expect people to travel to. This meant I had to quickly re-network and make links with more central venues. I started successful conversations with a space called Espacio Checoeslovaquia, a ‘performance and making space’ predominantly for theatre practitioners. We made a new partnership to hold a cultural movement intensive, working with local community members leading to a sharing of a new work.
The intensive ran successfully. A sharing of different cultures, backgrounds, ages and life stories was a richly rewarding experience and all on the other side of the world. Through the success of the intensive at Espacio Checoeslovaquia, there is now an open door to possibly return again with another project in the future.
Throughout the process alongside working with the local community in Santiago the Lost in Translation team travelled to the North and South of Chile, gaining an insight to cultures and communities from people who lived in dry desert regions in the north compared to people of the south such as in the city of Valdivia where it seemed to rain endlessly for days non-stop. We were fortunate enough to hear stories, to be invited into family homes and to interview local people, making them a part of our documentary process. We also performed a number of improvised dances and experiments in each of the very different locations we visited.
In Santiago we were invited to watch local folk dance groups rehearse and in exchange deliver workshops sharing our research of Newcastle communities and culture.
An additional challenge I found myself up against once I had arrived in Chile was the location of the studio - I originally planned to run an intensive workshop process with community performers however, the studio was on the outskirts of the city and too far away to actually expect people to travel to. This meant I had to quickly re-network and make links with more central venues. I started successful conversations with a space called Espacio Checoeslovaquia, a ‘performance and making space’ predominantly for theatre practitioners. We made a new partnership to hold a cultural movement intensive, working with local community members leading to a sharing of a new work.
The intensive ran successfully. A sharing of different cultures, backgrounds, ages and life stories was a richly rewarding experience and all on the other side of the world. Through the success of the intensive at Espacio Checoeslovaquia, there is now an open door to possibly return again with another project in the future.
Throughout the process alongside working with the local community in Santiago the Lost in Translation team travelled to the North and South of Chile, gaining an insight to cultures and communities from people who lived in dry desert regions in the north compared to people of the south such as in the city of Valdivia where it seemed to rain endlessly for days non-stop. We were fortunate enough to hear stories, to be invited into family homes and to interview local people, making them a part of our documentary process. We also performed a number of improvised dances and experiments in each of the very different locations we visited.
Day 3 of the intensive at Espacio Checoeslovaqia
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Day 1 of the intensive at Espacio Checoeslovaqia
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Stage 3 – Returning to Newcastle
We returned to the UK with a rich collection of stories, music, poetry, folklore and dances belonging to many different cultures. Once returning to the Newcastle we ran a number of workshops leading to an intensive with community members at Dance City. Here we worked with a number of people local to the area and a number of community members who travelled from Cumbria to take part. We worked with a cross generation of individuals from very different walks of life. The participants created a small performance presented in a studio sharing, highlighting the project’s achievements and stages of research so far.
Each stage of the process was documented through photography, film and photos, which will be edited into a documentary to promote each countries unique culture, people and location in the world. On completion of editing the documentary film, the project will host “A Night to Get Lost in Translation”, sharing local work and premiering the documentary created from the project as well as sharing the performance created from the Newcastle intensive. Following this the video resource will be available online and it is currently in conversation for screening events in Santiago.
We returned to the UK with a rich collection of stories, music, poetry, folklore and dances belonging to many different cultures. Once returning to the Newcastle we ran a number of workshops leading to an intensive with community members at Dance City. Here we worked with a number of people local to the area and a number of community members who travelled from Cumbria to take part. We worked with a cross generation of individuals from very different walks of life. The participants created a small performance presented in a studio sharing, highlighting the project’s achievements and stages of research so far.
Each stage of the process was documented through photography, film and photos, which will be edited into a documentary to promote each countries unique culture, people and location in the world. On completion of editing the documentary film, the project will host “A Night to Get Lost in Translation”, sharing local work and premiering the documentary created from the project as well as sharing the performance created from the Newcastle intensive. Following this the video resource will be available online and it is currently in conversation for screening events in Santiago.
Lost in Translation Sharing Dance City, Newcastle
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Working with Better Days, Dance City, Lost in Translation
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