21:15 – 21:30: Optional sharing / wander round; chats!

Grab your tickets here!

YIN / YANG

Join us at the Vellum Mill Gallery for an evening of a ‘dance-of-opposites’. Mel Simpson and Arzu Taylan-Ersoz will be performing an improvised dance duet exploring opposites, contrast, energy exchange, balance, speed and stillness.

We invite you to create your own art (be that drawing / sketching / painting / poetry / photography or simply enjoying being an audience member, calmly observing and noticing). Explore the duality of light and dark, soft and strong, yin and yang in this unique event. Immerse yourself in ideas of opposition, unity, energy flow , contrast, division and connection. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience live dance and optional art.

Open to ALL levels; complete beginners welcome (drawing stick-people, or exploring abstract mark-making is HIGHLY encouraged!).

Some very basic paper, pencils, chalk and some charcoal provided… if you would like to use indian ink, pastels, paints, canvas etc please bring them along.

Some seating will be provided, but feel welcome to bring your own fold-up chair or cushion if you wish. There will be some space for artists to bring their own easels for those who prefer to stand. Please do bring something to lean on as there are no tables!

Featuring:
Dancer-choreographer -conceptualist Mel Simpson

Introducing dancer Arzu Taylan-Ersoz

See you there!

MORE INFO:

DANCE or DRAW founder and host Mel Simpson is an award-winning London based Dancer, Choreographer, facilitator and dance education specialist, working with hundreds of schools and colleges annually both UK-wide and internationally (Singapore, Oman, Indonesia, Dubai…).

With influences ranging from David Lynch to Bowie; Kate bush to Bob Fosse, Mel has choreographed numerous large-scale projects including Secret Cinema, London Olympics 2012, The Globe, and The Irrepressibles, and has performed at numerous venues including Glastonbury and Latitude Festival, BAC, Royal Academy of Art, The Place, Lilian Baylis Sadler’s Wells and Opera Holland Park. During Lockdown, Mel founded the interdisciplinary ‘DANCE or DRAW’, bringing music, art, dance and literary enthusiasts together via exuberant artistic experiences set to spark creativity. Gesamtkunstwerk if you like! (literally: ‘total artwork’).

Mel recently choreographed the community film ‘We Dance for Life’ in collaboration with Sutton Council, the Institute of Cancer Research, London Cancer Hub and the Royal Marsden, which has won numerous awards worldwide including “best experimental dance film” at the WILDsound Festival in the USA / Canada.

Mel will be joined by local artist Arzu Taylan-Ersoz, who received formative dance and yoga training in Turkey, and continues to explore these alongside her visual artistic practice. Arzu creates art from the heart, has over twenty years of tuition and facilitation experience and often takes commissions for digital art and large scale murals.

Tickets for the show are available here.

Dancer-Choreographer Mel Simpson: @mel_simpson_dance / www.melsimpsondance.co.uk

Artist Arzu Taylan-Ersoz @artatelierarzu / www.atelierarzu.com

[Photography: Lesley Ann Albiston]