Polly Hudson with Katye Coe, Charlie Morrissey, Florence Peake, and Daren Pickles

Polly Hudson, Katye Coe, Charlie Morrissey and Florence Peake have worked together, in different configurations over two decades, and share underpinning approaches that focus on the viscerality of the body.

In the spirit of 9 Evenings, Polly Hudson lead the Vis-er-al  salon, bringing the artists together as a group with musician Daren Pickles for the first time to explore live and screen works in the immediate, visceral environment. The salon artists take Steve Paxton, Yvonne Rainer, and the ensuing Judson Dance Theatre as a particular point of reference.

Presented through a sequence of salons, Vis-er-al included classes, a lab, discussions, live performance, installation, single and multi channel screen works that share the viscerality of the body in space and on screen.

Programme of events:

Thu 8th Oct | 10 – 11.30am at DanceXchange, Thorp Street

Skinner Releasing Technique class with Polly Hudson

Skinner Releasing Technique is a pioneering approach to dance, movement and creative process that has evolved from the simple principle that when we are releasing physical tension, we can move with greater freedom, power and articulation.

Polly Hudson is Co-course Director for Dance at Coventry University. She is a certified teacher of Skinner Releasing Technique which forms the underpinning of her practice alongside Contact Improvisation.

Presented in association with Birmingham Dance Network.

Thu 8th Oct | 6 – 7pm at Vivid Projects

Screening: Carriage Discreetness by Yvonne Rainer

Yvonne Rainer founded the Judson Dance Theater in 1962, the genesis of a movement that proved to be a vital force in modern dance in the following decades. Rainer performed Carriage Discreteness as part of the original 9 Evenings series and it is the only one of her choreographed pieces to incorporate technology into its very structure.

The screening was introduced by Polly Hudson and Yasmeen Baig-Clifford.

Friday 9th October | 10am – 5pm at DanceXchange, Thorp Street

Performance Laboratory: Florence Peake 

We invited applications to work with internationally acclaimed dance artist Florence Peake in a one day laboratory and (re)making of her piece Remake. 

The laboratory took place on Friday 09th October, at DanceXchange and the final work was performed on Saturday 10th October, 10am – 5pm at Vivid Projects. Participants were advised to take Polly Hudson’s Skinner Releasing Technique class on Thursday 08 October, 10 – 11.30am at DanceXchange in preparation.

This was a free CPD event, and is supported by Vivid Projects, Birmingham Dance Network and Dancexchange. 

Friday 9th October | 5.30 – 7.30pm at Vivid Projects

Katye Coe and Charlie Morrissey – ‘This Thing That We Do’
Polly Hudson- ‘Making Lemonade’ & ‘Vis-er-al’

Saturday 10th October | 2.30-5pm at Vivid Projects

Florence Peake – ‘Remake’
Polly Hudson- ‘Making Lemonade’ & ‘Vis-er-al’

Saturday 10th October | 5pm at Vivid Projects

In-conversation: Polly Hudson and Florence Peake

Vis-er-al  was convened by Polly Hudson and produced by Vivid Projects. Additional support from Birmingham Dance Network and Dancexchange.

This event was presented as part of 9 Evenings: Redux, a season of collaborative commissions in which artists critiqued, re-worked and reacted to the seminal 1966 series 9 Evenings: Theatre & Engineering.