S MA
Projects
Sonya Russell-Saunders
S MA the body // performance // technology // behaviour Website link www.somaprojects.uk
Sonya Russell-Saunders is a curator
moment and the art work encountered
Art Market, this has enabled her to
and researcher devising experimental
and a space for active reflection.
begin in-depth practice and theoretical
and collaborative curatorial methods.
research and collaborate with highly
She works with multi-disciplinary artists,
In August 2016 she launched SOMA
performers and dancers to examine
Projects formalising her collaboration
performative practices, including the
with choreographer and performer
For full details of her past projects and
roles of the curator, artist and audience.
Martin Prosser. SOMA combines
research see:
Her approach to exhibition making
an interest in artistic practice
www.sonyarussellsaunders.com
is dynamic, live experiences and
that examines performativity and
situations are recorded and are
human behaviour through everyday
Contact:
relayed back into the site they were
technology. SOMA aims to be inclusive,
sonyarussellsaunders@gmail.com
created, engaging with site and
share knowledge and create new
situation specificity, documentary as
aesthetic experiences.
fine art, and the audiences experience
somaprojects.sonya@
of unexpected temporal and spatial
SOMA will work with a series of
gmail.com
situations.
Associates experts in order to produce innovative performative audience
somaprojects.martin@
Through sociological theory and
gmail.com
her own observations of human
@SOMA_Projects
centred events. www.somaprojects.uk
behaviour she designs and stages
Sonya has curated and produced
situations to create a meta art work,
over 18 exhibitions and performances
the sum of all the artistic practices
showcasing multi-disciplinary artistic
and the audience that activates it,
talent from across the UK. She holds
situated in a space where sociological
MA Contemporary Curatorial Practice
theory is embedded. These situations
BA Hons (First Class) History of Art and
allow moments where an audiences
Design. In April 2016 she was awarded
experience and understanding shifts,
Curatorial Professional Development
heightening awareness of the site, the
Bursary from New Art West Midlands
Image credit: Daniel Salisbury, 2015.
innovative artists.
Martin Prosser
Ana Rutter
Martin Prosser is a London based
As part of his works he teaches
Ana Rutter is an artist and a PhD
Ana has worked with Sonya Russell-
Performance Maker, Performer and
embodied movement practices to
candidate at Birmingham City
Saunders on two previous projects in
Writer.
get the participants to understand his
University School of Art.
2014 and 2015 and is an associate of
He has studied a BA in Performing Arts
process of work as well as having a
at the University of Bedfordshire, then
better understanding of themselves.
further continuing his studies at Brunel
SOMA Projects. Her research is concerned with affective experience created using
She is currently developing a number
University with an MA in Contemporary
His work revolves around the
re-mediated gathered material,
of projects individually and in
Performance Making.
audience, looking at different ways of
she is interested in the everyday
collaboration and has shown locally and nationally over the last few years.
involving them into the performance.
and specifically the aural everyday
His choreographies and directed
Exploring with repetition, intimacy and
landscapes that we live within.
pieces have been performed around
technology to create original pieces of
the UK, as well as co-directing and
work.
performing in a live online stream
For further information on research and Her work in this project explores
projects please visit
notions of documentary and
www.anarutter.com
production between Ohio and London.
Website
collaboration, but with no critical
He has also worked as an Intern for
www.martindavidprosser.wixsite.
distance, it takes as a starting point her
Contact
theatre company Look Left Look Right.
com/martin-prosser/home
own personal response to place, event
anagabrielle@btopenworld.com
Martin makes up one half of SOMA
how it is then re-constructed into works
Projects. Having worked with Sonya
www.facebook.com/
without linear narrative.
Russell-Saunders over two previous
martindavidprosser/
and situation; to what is gathered and
projects (Interaction Order and
She is exploring details and minute
Collective Representation), he finds his
parts of activities and interactions. The
interests are similar to Sonya’s.
fleeting moments of encounters which are often slightly out of focus and just out of reach.
Image credit: Rosella Galindo, 2016.
Image credit: Rosella Galindo, 2016.
Danai Pappa & Neal Spowage
Danai Pappa is a Greek born performer,
Neal Spowage is British born artist
He has supported The Chameleons
Danai and Neal have been
choreographer and video dance maker
who designs, builds and composes
Vox, The Damned and The March
collaborating since 2011 and have
based in London. She is a founding
with Sculptural Electronic Musical
Violets. He is a significant on-going
created three projects; each one a
member of Agony Art and curates
Instruments and realises works for
contributor to the Dirty Electronics
duet and each one designed to explore
performance events in East London.
them using the disciplines of Dance,
Ensemble in Leicester, and has been
their personal relationship and create
Her work has been shown across
Video Art and Live Art. Neal’s research
involved with various Dirty Electronics
images from movement and sound.
the UK and Europe and includes
interests include collaborative
events over the past eight years.
They investigate gender dynamics,
dance, dance theatre and site specific
relationships, movement, interaction,
interaction, sound as an artefact,
performances. She has a background
sculpture, objects as totems, live
ritual and totemic values combined
in humanities and has also studied
performance, negotiating expertise
with negotiations of expert/inexpert
dance and choreography at Middlesex
between disciplines, perception,
movement between disciplines, using
University. She considers choreography
gender dynamics, video documentation
junk noise sculptures as a creative
to be a tool to explore the world,
as art, the body and choreography.
conduit. Two of their collaborations,
formulate questions, answer them and
He completed a doctorate that
Cold Papaya and Frozen Venus, were
further stimulate her curiosity.
investigated these areas in 2016.
shortlisted for the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space in
www.danaipappa.co.uk
He is an experienced rock musician who has released a commercial CD album, SUGAR (2009), on Resurrection Records with the Screaming Banshee Aircrew and performed in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. www.nealspowage.com
Image credit: Neal Spowage & Danai Pappa, 2016, credit Neal Spowage.
2015.
Rosella Galindo
Rosella Galindo is a dance artist,
As a PhD student, she has presented
As a choreographer, she has
Aguascalientes’ dance historical record
researcher, and digital media producer
her research in the second Virtual
experimented with contemporary and
as well ascultural policies.
based in London. She is a member
Social Interaction Workshop (University
street dance languages. As a dancer,
of the International Dance Council
of Salford, Manchester) and Inter/
she has worked with DAP-Lab (dance
She has been awarded grants to
(CID/UNESCO) and the Cognitive
Sections (QMUL, London).
and technology), Ensamble 21 (jazz
conduct the research ‘Dance and
dance), Beyond the Groove Company
Interactivity: reflections on the
Science Research Group at Queen Mary University of London, where she
She directed the video documentary
(street dance) and ColectivoVortex
aesthetic experience of the performer
is a Media and Arts Technology PhD
‘Hacking the Body 2.0’, focused on
(contemporary dance), performing
in Dance with Digital Media through
student.
the homonymous project by Kate
around Mexico, Las Vegas (USA) and
the technique of Motion Tracking’
Sicchioand Camille Baker, which
London (UK). She was member of
(CONACYT, 2012-2014) and ‘The
Her aim is to merge arts, media and
employs DIY wearable technology
Mexico’s representative team (Beyond
Shadow of Dance: the historical
digital technology to create meaningful
for dance performance; and created
the Groove) in the Hip Hop World
development of Dance at the Cultural
interactive systems and explore new
‘BLight’, an interactive installation
Championship during 2013. She has co-
Institute of Aguascalientes’ (ICA, 2012);
artistic languages.
based on the challenge of tracking light
directed dance performance, managed
as well as a grant to create the artistic
with low technology.
dance groups and the executive
project ‘Dance to the Beat III: breaking
production of diverse live showcases
borders’ (ICA, 2010).
Rosella has collaborated with Split Britches in the Green Screening
During her graduate studies in Mexico
and theatre performances, such as
workshops to develop interactive
(MA in Art, Universidad Autónomade
Dance to the Beat (2007, 2008 y 2009),
Galindo freelanced for over eight years
digital scenography for stroke survivors.
Aguascalientes), she was invited
Aura Creativa (2012), Vorágine (2013),
as a filmmaker/media producer for
The project involves the research,
to London as a visiting researcher,
and Belly Gym dance academy artistic
social and performing arts. As well as
design and creation of technological
a performer and tech assistant to
programs and events.
working as a multimedia producer for
tools to support movement expressive
the cross-media Lab Design and
therapies, looking at Kinect Motion
Performance Lab (DAP-Lab) directed
Her academic research focuses on
Capture potential.
by Johannes Birringer and Michèle
contemporary dance aesthetics,
Danjoux, exploring motion-tracking
performance and technology,
systems, interactive interfaces, and
communication into interactive
fashion design/sound.
multimedia systems, reformulation of
the Aguascalientes’ Arts and Culture
artistic languages through digital media, performer’s aesthetic experience and Image credit: Rosella Galindo, 2016.
Instituteand CRENA (Mexico). www.RosellaGalindo.com
Jessica Campbell
S MA
Jessica Campbell is a freelance dance
She has worked with Sonya Russell-
artist interested in physical theatre
Saunders, under the direction of Martin
Projects
performance. Based in Birmingham
Prosser in Collective Representation:
\\ the body \\ performance \\ technology \\ behaviour \\
and London, she graduated from
The Smile and Chat policy, devising
Roehampton University in 2014 with
and performing repetitive pedestrian
SOMA combines an interest in artistic practice that examines performativity and human
First Class Honours Degree.
gestures and embodied movement
behaviour through everyday technology. SOMA aims to be inclusive, share knowledge and
within a gallery context and conceptual
create new aesthetic experiences. SOMA will work with a series of Associates experts in order
framework.
to produce innovative performative audience centered events.
Graham, Limon, Contact, Physical
Contact
Theatre, Ballet, Commercial and Street.
Jessicarhh.c@hotmail.com
SOMA Creative Projects Creative Directors
Her dance accomplishments include, contemporary, release, Cunningham,
She is also a skilled synchronised swimmer and gymnast. She has worked with a number of
Sonya Russell-Saunders Martin Prosser
professional choreographers including
SOMA Associates
Balbir Singh and Anna Watkins, and is
Ana Rutter
mentored by Patsy Brown-Hope.
Dr Neal Spowage and Danai Pappa Jess Campbell
She has undertaken residencies
Rosella Galindo
with Motionhouse, Ballet Boyz, Dark
April Brunt
Island Dance, Third Row Dance Company and DanceXchange. She has
Future Associates
performed across the UK including
Tim Hodgson
the Paralympics Opening Ceremony,
Ben Baker
Olympic Stadium, London in 2012.
Anais Lalange Alicia Kidman
Image credit: Jessica Campbell , 2016.
Image: Still/Image, Ana Rutter, 2014.
Image credit: Interaction Order , 2014, photograph by Tim J Pratt.
gallery
Martin Prosser
S MA
Ana Rutter
Image: Moving/Past, Ana Rutter, 2014.
Image credit: SOMA rehersal, photograph Sonya Russell-Saunders, 2016.
Image credit: Looking/Watching, Ana Rutter, 2014.
S MA
Rosella Galindo
Image credit: Neal Spowage & Danai Pappa, 2016, credit Neal Spowage.
Image credit: Rosella Galindo, 2016.
Jessica Cambell
Sonya Russell-Saunders
Image credit: Jessica Cambell, 2014
Image credit: Interaction Order, 2013, film Tim J Pratt, performer Anais Lalange, photograpgh by Sonya Russell-Saunders.
gallery
Danai Pappa & Neal Spowage
Thanks Huge thanks to Deborah Kermode, Claire Marshall and Jessica Litherland at mac for their invaluable support, Rachel Bradley and Craig Ashley at New Art West Midlands for this fantastic opportunity, Prof. Johannes Birringer and performers at International Metabody Conference, Brunel University who were inspiring and welcoming, Dr Philip Shelton for his time and knowledge on sociological theory, Ikon Gallery for supporting New Art West Midlands, and my collaborators Martin Prosser, Ana Rutter, Neal Spowage, Rosella Galindo, Danai Pappa, Jess Campbell and April Brunt.
S MA