Three movement videos at Wales Dance Platform 2014

My performances are a hybrid that arises out of my training in and love of live art, dance and theatre. Studying drama at Exeter University and then a Masters in Fine Arts at the University of Wales (Cardiff) gave me tools to play with use of space, image, and physicality.


These films were the result of the two weeks of experimentation during Welsh Independent Dance’s “Dance Bytes for Camera” in 2003 where I was one of four choreographers selected to work with four video directors. I was teamed up with Matthew J. Humphreys whose interest in low tech, Super 8 and “amateur aesthetic” combined well with my fascination between trained and non-trained movement. The biographical video of Humphreys' “Lost Reels” has won many prizes.


I chose to work with performance artist Fergus Byrne (Dublin) with whom I was part of a performance project at Chisenhale Dance Centre led by director and choreographer Stuart Lynch. Byrne has a strong background in the movement technique “Body Weather”, developed by Japanese dance Min Tanaka. Carole Blade of WID suggested dancer-performer Hannah Prior (Cardiff) who has a background in contemporary dance, theatre and circus.

The team was mentored by Dan O’Neill, founder member of the award-winning Featherstonehaughs, who performed with many other leading dance companies, including DV8, Second Stride, and Toronto Dance Theatre, and is a choreographer and film-maker.

“Somewhere There” was shown in 2003 in Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff in 2004 as part of the culmination of Welsh Independent Dance’s Dance Bytes for Film. In 2004 “Am I This” was selected for “One Minute Wanders” at The Place Dance Film Festival (London). “Together?” was edited in 2007 from footage that had not previously been used.


The three films were made possible by Welsh Independent Dance’s Dance Bytes for Film along with Newport Film School. 

FERGUS BYRNE (Dublin) works across varied media with the physical actions and perceptions of the body as a consistent reference. The use of different media gives multiple perspectives on specific themes. Currently he is working with Arts Council funding on a project, which focuses on the statue “Wrestlers” at the National Gallery of Ireland. This genre crossing project brings dancers and martial artists together in an exploration of the contrasting intentions behind their respective movements. He has trained extensively in Body Weather including in Japan with the founder, Min Tanaka.

MATTHEW J. HUMPHREYS (Northampton) studied at Newport Film School where his evocative biographical film “The Lost Reels” won many awards including the Helen Keller International Art Award (2004); and the Royal Television Society Factual Student Award, Bristol & Wales Region (2002). As well as making pop videos for leading groups and collaborating with artists he has just completed an MA at Central Saint Martins (London) where he continued to explore biographical themes.In 2006 he was part of the team in Buenos Aires that documented Oscar Edelstein’s opera “Los Monstruito’.”

HANNAH PRIOR (Cardiff) comes from a contemporary dance training yet has experience in theatre and circus. She has worked with choreographers such as Sean Tuan John.