A Week of Dance, Creativity, and Community at HfC

During March, Hall for Cornwall fizzed with energy as emerging dancers, retired dancers, professional dancers and curious dancers from across Cornwall convened to participate and be inspired by Shobana Jeyasingh Dance (SJD).  

As the Cornwall Playhouse prepared to present SJD’s We Caliban, we worked with the company to shape a full week of workshops, creation, conversation, and performance.  

From emerging dancers taking their first steps on a national stage to mature dancers rediscovering pride in their own movement, local artists gathering around a shared love of dance to audiences hearing directly from one of the UK’s most influential choreographers, it all fed into a week where brave and brilliant new work didn’t just visit Cornwall, it found a home here. 

“What you are doing at Hall for Cornwall is epic for dance and the arts in Cornwall.”

- Workshop Participant

Three early career dancers in rehearsal for their We Caliban curtain raiser. © Hugh Hastings

A Residency That Raised the Roof 

We kicked things off with Window into the Tempest, our four-day creative residency for early-career dancers, developed in partnership with SJD. Six emerging artists from across Cornwall stepped into Shobana’s choreographic world, exploring ideas, playing with movement, testing impulses, and building a brand-new ‘curtain raiser’ performance, to play before We Caliban, together. 

The residency gave them the chance to create and perform work following the process of an internationally renowned company. 

For those participants, that experience matters. It gives early career dancers in Cornwall a space in which they can belong. It shows that our stage is theirs too. That the possibilities are endless.  

Get Creative Manager, Sally Knight, pictured with SJD team and participants of the Windows into the Tempest dance residency. © Hugh Hastings.

Mature Dancers Rediscovering Their Spark   

Midweek, we opened our rehearsal rooms to a totally different cohort - 26 mature dancers aged 50+ from all over Cornwall - for a workshop led by SJD company members in partnership with Inner Ground.  

Warm-up exercises turned into shared laughter, dance phrases from We Caliban unlocked new confidence, a creative task had dancers discovering boldness they didn’t realise they still had. 

“It was welcoming, inclusive, challenging and enjoyable, and for two hours I could forget the sadness of the world.”

- Workshop Participant

“A beautifully taught proper company class… it gave me confidence that I can still dance!”

- Workshop Participant

Strengthening Our Partnership with Falmouth University 

At the beginning of the week, two of SJD’s professional dancers headed to AMATA at Falmouth University to deliver inspiration, technique, and industry knowledge to BA Dance and Choreography students. Our partnership with Falmouth University is deep rooted in a shared vision to be the home of creative aspiration, bringing transformative opportunities to the next generation of creatives across the Duchy.  

Firing Up Cornwall’s Artist Community 

Before the main show, our Artist Social brought local creatives together - a space for swapping stories, sparking partnerships, and soaking up the excitement of seeing major national work right here in Cornwall. 

And after the performance, audiences stayed to hear Shobana deliver a Q&A , inspiring attendees with clarity, generosity, and sharing the fire that fuels her choreography. 

When asked what makes dance unique, she said: 

“Writing something in a body - which is what dance is - is unique in itself. The body is a fluid and changeable thing.”

She shared her process too - the two-year journey from idea to stage, the filming, the weaving of elements, the long rehearsal room explorations and the essence of the work: 

“Art relies on people’s passion… it happens because of people’s commitment. Dance is very ephemeral, and the hope is it makes people happy.”

Shobana Jeyasingh, pictured on the steps to the stage in the Cornwall Playhouse auditorium. © Hugh Hastings.

Are you a creative looking to connect? Husa is our programme for fuelling artists in Cornwall. Dive deeper into what we’ve got to offer - take a look at our upcoming events page to see what’s on, and sign up to our Newsletter for updates.

Searching for more dance at the Cornwall Playhouse? Keep an eye on our What's On page for all the latest events from Rambert, Motionhouse, Birmingham Royal Ballet and more...

Cover photo credit Chris Nash.