Photography: Manu Valcarce
Feet off the Ground is an all-female performance collective making innovative, physical and engaging dance in varying settings and contexts.
We represent women in a strong, physical capacity and challenge audiences to perceive the female form in nuanced ways. We cross movement languages and utilise Contact Improvisation and Partnering techniques as a common ground for research and performance devising. Championing the female body, we push physicality and work against the traditional roles of women in dance.
Our principles are simple: explore the unfamiliar, take risks and think big with artistic integrity.
Feet off the Ground are supported by
COLLECTIVE MEMBERS
LUCIA CHOCARRO
Lucia is from Pamplona, north of Spain. Moving to the UK to pursue her training in dance, she graduated from London Contemporary Dance School in July 2013 with a First Class Honours. Lucia has worked on a variety of projects across the UK and internationally, and has performed with Punchdrunk, Gecko Theatre, Wayne Parsons Dance, Jamaal Burkmar Dance, BitterSuite, Sillis Movement, Sarah Dowling, Victoria Fox, Just Us Dance Theatre (Joseph Toonga) and worked as a Special Action Artist for Wonder Woman and Justice League with Warner Bros Productions. Lucia is also a certified Yoga Alliance Teacher and practitioner.
Find Lucia...
Performing internationally in The Wedding by Gecko Theatre. For dates and more information click here
Covering Yoga classes. For coming up class information click here.
ROBYN HOLDER
Robyn grew up in Makhanda, South Africa. She attended Lewisham College and graduated from London Contemporary Dance School in 2013. Robyn has collaborated and performed on a number of projects in the UK and Europe including the East London Music Group’s production of Stravinsky’s The Soldiers Tale. Robyn has performed as part of a number of immersive performances at The Royal Opera House including The Nose and The Magic Flute Reimagined under the direction of Sarah Dowling. She most recently worked with Glyndebourne Opera on their productions of Cendrillon and Rusalka. Robyn is the Children’s Creative Movement Facilitator at Chisenhale Dance Space.
Find Robyn...
Performing in Her Past In Their Present Now for Grov Productions in Norway Spring 2020, for more information click here.
Teaching at Chisenhale Dance Space leading all children's creative movement classes every Saturday &
teaching weekly at Marble Hill Dance Studio.
SOPHIE THORPE
Sophie is from Nottingham, England. She graduated from London Contemporary Dance School in July 2013 and went on to join Verve, the postgraduate performance company of Northern School of Contemporary Dance, where she graduated with Distinction. Sophie has worked with a variety of choreographers including Ben Duke, Theo Clinkard, Sarah Dowling, Lea Anderson, Jamaal Burkmar and Tom Dale, performing both nationally and internationally. She has also worked in Opera performing in Glyndebourne’s ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’ & 'Cendrillion'. Sophie teaches a range of dance and movement classes across London.
Find Sophie...
Performing in Her Past In Their Present Now for Grov Productions in Norway Spring 2020, for more information click here.
GUEST DANCERS
PATRICIA ZAFRA
Patricia is from Valencia, Spain. After training at the Maria Carbonell Dance School she moved to London to complete her degree at London Contemporary Dance School, where she graduated from in July 2013. Since completing her training, Patricia has performed on a number of varying projects and has worked with New Movements Collective, Just Us Dance Theatre, Rick Nodine, Theo Clinkard, Saju Hari Dance, deaf choreographer Chisato Minamimura and Nutkhut Company. Patricia has worked as a supporting artist on a number of TV and film productions including The Crown and Guerrilla. She has also recently completed her Yoga Teacher training in Rishikesh, India.
Find Patricia...
Teaching regular weekly Yoga classes at MoreYoga Camden, Greenwich & Woolwich.
Click here for more schedule information and cover updates.
Teaching weekly at Rainbow Montessori Nurseries & Marble Hill Dance Studio.
Photography: Jack Williams
COLLABORATION
Explorative collaboration with live musicians is at the core of the collective’s work. We constantly strive to push the boundaries of our collaborations, working with an eclectic mix of Artists who create a variety of different sounds. Collaborators include:
Alex Paton (multi-instrumentalist) Link to web
Panos Chountoulidis (Sound designer-composer) Link to web
Ashley Molloy-South (cajón)
Sabio Janiak (multi-instrumentalist) Link to web
Wayne Francis (saxophone) Link to web
Sashi & The Wildbeans (guitar, trumpet, jembe, saxophone)
Giorgio Bozart (guitar)
Rachel Musson (saxophone)
Wonkystuff (band) Link to web
Frealane (band) Link to web
Chris Bryan (guitar)
Aaron Knight (percussion)
Coque Gonzalez (electric guitar)
Feet off the Ground have also collaborated with Artists from other disciplines:
Barnaby Booth (lighting designer)
Ben Moon (lighting designer) Link to web
Rafa Carbonell/The Hidden Eye (photographer) Link to web
Addlion Photography (photographer)
Justinas Brikys (photographer)
Deborah Kanfer (photographic artist) Link to web
Alisa Boanta (videographer and cinematographer)
Maria Chocarro (graphic designer) Link to web
WORKSHOPS
Feet off the Ground are highly experienced in delivering a variety of fun and engaging workshops to a range of ages and abilities.
From one-off workshops to more extensive programmes and intensives, we tailor to suit the specific needs and requirements of each group, ensuring that you get the package perfect for you. All workshops are guaranteed to leave participants feeling inspired, energised and with an embodied confidence.
Feet off the Ground lead workshops in:
-
Contact Improvisation and Partnering techniques
-
Contemporary Technique – Combination of Release technique, Floorwork & Partnering
-
Company Repertoire
-
Improvisation, Composition & Play
'The structure of the session was great. It kept us intrigued and involved. I learnt so many new skills in a short time'
Second year BA student,
London Contemporary Dance School
***
'The workshop was really fun, insightful and well prepared and I felt like they really understood the needs of the group. I also loved the combination of technique, repertoire and play’
Professional dancer,
BDN Artists Development Programme
***
'I chose Feet off the Ground to cover classes and run workshops at London Contemporary Dance School as they have a great technical understanding of Contact Improvisation and partnering as well as bringing a fun, fresh energy into their sessions . . . '
Jovair Longo, Lecturer in Choreography & Improvisation at
London Contemporary Dance School
COMMISSIONS
Feet off the Ground have delivered Contact Improvisation workshops and intensives at the following dance organisations: Laban, London Contemporary Dance School, TripSpace, London CI, The Place, Chisenhale Dance Space, Dance4, Brighton Dance Network amongst others.
2019
As part of Feet off the Ground’s UK tour of The Way They Were Then, the collective collaborated with James Allens’ Girls’ School and St Saviour’s and St Olave’s Girls’ School as part of JAGS’ Festival of Women’s Education. The collective choreographed a dance piece entitled As We Are with the students that was performed alongside Feet off the Ground. Both works explored themes of female empowerment, oppression and rebellion. In conjunction with their second tour date, the collective will be creating work with students from Nottingham Girls’ High School and surrounding schools.
2018
As part of Feet off the Ground’s UK tour of Éter, the collective were commissioned by Bilborough College & York St Johns University to choreograph two curtain raisers. Entitled In the Midst of it and Because of Time, these were performed as part of the tour’s programme.
Feet off the Ground was also engaged in presenting a week 5 course of Contact Improvisation to BA1 students at LCDS.
2017
The collective have been invited to create and perform a new work as an Evolution Company for Resolution 2017. Feet off the Ground will be closing the festival.
Feet off the Ground have been commissioned to choreograph a piece for Dance4's CAT students. Moving Landscapes will be premiered at Lakeside Arts in Summer 2017.
2016
Feet off the Ground were one of five shortlisted Artists (out of 195 applicants) invited to spend a day with Balletboyz leading company class and delivering a choreographic workshop.
Recognised for the choreographic strength and performance of Éter ( Premiered at Resolution 2016), Feet off the Ground were selected to participate in a 2-day choreographic intensive led by renowned choreographer Joe Moran. Éter was also selected to be performed at the ‘Postgraduate to Professional’ evening of work at the Robin Howard DanceTheatre at The Place in London 2016.
Collective member Sophie was invited by Dance4 as a guest speaker at their Progression Talks event aimed to inspire the current CAT students.
2015
Feet off the Ground were commissioned to create a piece with the Lewisham Youth Dance Company which was performed at Lesoco Colleges' end of year show and other platforms.
Feet off the Ground were invited as guest speakers at London Contemporary Dance Schools' third years career development day.
2013 & 2014
Feet off the Ground were commissioned to create a site-specific interval performance at Greenwich Dance, London. The night was lead by Just Us Dance Theatre for their evening of work New Beginnings Chapter II.
The collective were selected to return to perform for a second year running.
Commissioned for two consecutive years, Feet off the Ground created outdoor, travelling performances for Play Festival in Wales.