Common dance

Rosemary Lee choreographed the dance specially commissioned and created for the Greenwich Dance Agency's historic and striking Borough Hall, treating the vast space as a symbolic common ground. It investigated the notion of commonality, identity and examined the spatial forms, movement and qualities that could be seen as universally known by every human. Lee worked with a selected cast of 50 dancers, professional and non professional, and ranging in age from 8-84. Her aim was to create a dance that could serve as a contemporary folk dance in spirit, one that could be danced for an audience, but owned by them too. Common Dance explored the relationship with both the collective audience and the individual audience member trying to find ways to make the experience of passively watching, one of inclusive engagement and participation without fear.

For this event Lee commissioned Terry Mann (composer) to create three choral works interlinked with an ambient sound score. Lee edited and collated the libretto drawing on poetry ancient and new from across the world to create the text. The work was performed by the Finchley music group, a choir for young people. The work subsequently was awarded the first John Drummond award.
Lee also took part in seminar arranged on the making of ‘Common dance’ which explored notions of commonality and identity, the issue of touch and its role in the work, the creative process, traditional and indigenous forms of music and dance. Held at Greenwich Dance Agency 01 November 2009.