Movement is a touring screen dance exhibition which paints a collective moving image portrait of the pioneering contemporary dance diva Margaret Morris (1891–1980) and her method of natural movement known as Margaret Morris Movement or MMM, still practised the world over today.
This is an homage through six films by Scottish and international contemporary visual artists and filmmakers including Lewis Gourlay, Su Grierson, Brian Hartley, Simon Fildes, Katrina McPherson, Marlene Millar and Abby Warrilow whose works were commissioned and acquired by Horsecross Arts for the Threshold artspace collection of contemporary art and first launched at Perth Concert Hall as part of Movement – Margaret Morris Weekend Extraordinaire, 15-16 October 2016.
Movement was initially supported by Creative Scotland; Threshold artspace at Horsecross Arts, Perth; Moray House School of Education and Sport at the University of Edinburgh and most recently by Citymoves Dance Agency, Aberdeen
Curated by Iliyana Nedkova and Wendy Timmons
For further touring opportunities, please contact the co-curators
Being Natural, Being Contemporary, Being Margaret Morris by Iliyana Nedkova and Wendy Timmons READ
Following the exhibition at Perth’s Threshold artspace Movement was initially shown at Fergusson Gallery, Perth as part of Platform 2017 – the inaugural festival of Perthshire creativity 25 March – 1 April 2017 as one of the 30 festival events across 30 venues in Perth and Kinross. The festival screening was accompanied by a public artists’ talk with Su Grierson, Simon Fildes, Debra Salem and Iliyana Nedkova.
In May 2017, Movement toured to the Centre of Contemporary Art, Glasgow hosted by The Work Room – an artist-led membership organisation whose members are artists working in dance, movement and choreography, including some of the artists featured in Movement. The public screening was accompanied by an artists’ talk with Anita Clark, Su Grierson, Brian Hartley, Katrina McPherson and Iliyana Nedkova.
In 2019, Movement toured as part of Body Language project at the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe 2019. Body Language is an ongoing project telling the story of Scotland’s significant contributions to movement and dance through delving into the archives of Margaret Morris; Scottish Gymnastics and Dunfermline College of Physical Education.
Movement was shown at Moray House School of Education and Sport, the University of Edinburgh 26 July – 26 October 2019. The exhibition was accompanied by an artists’ public talk with Simon Fildes, Marlene Millar, Iliyana Nedkova and Wendy Timmons. Exhibition Guide DOWNLOAD
Movement was also shown at Dance Base: National Centre for Dance 7 September – 6 December 2019 Exhibition Guide DOWNLOAD
In 2021 Movement was revised as one of the four curated programmes of Scottish short dance films selected to be presented at Aberdeen’s Citymoves Dance Agency 17th annual DanceLive Festival, 14-30 October 2021. Movement livestreamed worldwide online and in-person direct from Anatomy Rooms (Lecture Theatre), Aberdeen. DanceLive launch on 14 October 2021 also featured a post-screening live Q&A with BSL (British Sign Language) interpretation with Movement exhibiting artists Brian Hartley, Abby Warrilow, Natalia Barua and Katrina McPherson facilitated by Hayley Durward, Roisin O’Brien and Iliyana Nedkova.
Programme notes by Iliyana Nedkova and Wendy Timmons READ MORE
In 2022 selected works from the Movement programme toured to South England – the home of Margaret Morris Movement International Summer School for over 100 years. The works were selected as part of Cuccoo Clock Cinema curated by Margherita Gramegna of 51zero – Rochester’s leading artist’s moving image organisation.
Presented as part of Medway Light Nights festival on 11 and 12 February 2022, Cuccoo Clock Cinema included moving image projections of selected works, including from Movement, at the windows of Store 104 on Rochester’s High Street. The projections were accompanied by live performances from inside Store 104, including improvised ‘port de bras’ ballet by Clare Wilders and Isabella Pemble and live sets on cello and vibrophone by Cecilia Bignall and Ralph Wyld.
Trio for a Quartet (2017) 3.08 min
Simon Fildes: Director, Camera and Editor
A dance trio inspired by The Incredible Brightness of Being – a quartet of ‘natural voices’ written by Debra Salem in response to Margaret Morris method of ‘natural movement’ with choreography by Vincent Hantam and Wendy Timmons
Dance artists: Laura Gimour, Kasumi Momoda and Yifeng Zhu Voice artists: Karen Dietz, Rachel Lightbody, Irene Railley and Debra Salem Double bass: Tam Hardy Sound design: Patrick Dalgety Camera Assistant: Ching Pen Lucas Kao Stage Assistant: Wyn Pottraz
signs of direction (2016) 11.46 min
Brian Hartley: Director, Camera and Editor
A tribute to Margaret Morris and her method of integrating painting, dance and music starring performer Solene Weinachter
Guitar, sound construction, dramaturgy: Jer Reid Double bass: Una MacGlone Saxophones: Raymond MacDonald Sound recording and mastering: Jim McEwan Producer: Pip Hill
ILIYANA NEDKOVA 
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