Scratch Nights x Dance

Dylan and Mama (aka Katherine) are making a “furiance” (a funny, curious dance). There will be magic tricks, snacks, dice rolling and, of course, some dancing. We might even get you up dancing too. Join us for this tender, playful duet that explores the joys of being 6 (and 37).

About the Artist:

Katherine Hollinson is a performer, maker and teacher from Manchester. A common thread running throughout my practice is the need to challenge notions of who can and can’t dance and to minimise barriers to accessing dance as a watcher or mover.

Katherine’s most recent work was commissioned by HOME Manchester and was co-created with her sister Gemma. ‘Would you care to…’ is an interactive film that explores Gemma’s experiences living as a Disabled person in an ableist world, through the lens of their sisterly relationship. As one half of Them Two Dance, Katherine created unexpected, accessible and delightful work for the outdoors with Connor Quill.

Dylan Errington is a 6 year-old lego fan and skyscraper lover from Manchester. This is his first performance.

Connect: @kikiholli

"How are you?"—a polite greeting often met with the automatic reply, "I am good."

This piece explores the emotional journey of JP, navigating the cultural differences and personal struggles after moving from Hong Kong to the U.K. Through expressive body movement, it reveals the vulnerability of living in a new environment and concealing true emotions. The work reflects on the complexity of adaptation, questioning the gap between how we feel and what we actually express.

About the Artist and Collaborators:

JP Hon was born and raised in Hong Kong and graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2021, majoring in contemporary dance. In 2022, she moved to the U.K. to continue her journey as an international dance artist. She is currently based in Manchester, working as an apprentice company dancer with Company Chameleon.

JP trains in various dance styles and movement practices, including contemporary dance, popping, capoeira, acrobatics, hip-hop, jazz, and yoga. She is passionate about blending these styles, exploring interdisciplinary possibilities, and maximizing versatility in her work.

Sound Designer: Lalsangliana Zadeng

Connect

Instagram: @jp.hon /

Website: https://jphon0105.wixsite.com/danceartis

How many disabled dancers have you seen on TV, in films, or musicals? With so little representation, It’s no surprise I believe people who told me my dance career was over when my disabilities became visible. Now I am taking my spot on centre stage back; With a glittering and glamorous act paying homage to dance classics that have never previously included a body like mine.

About the Artist:

Porcelain is a disabled dancer and multi-disciplinary artist. She was one of six upcoming choreographers in the northwest selected to debut new work for Liverpool Dance Prize at Leap Dance Festival. Porcelain debuted Tacaíocht a new act exploring independence vs interdependence. She has recently danced with: Emergency Mcr, The Liverpool Biennial, South African Dance Group UnMute and many more. Her cabaret acts have toured internationally including: Cirque Le Soir Dubai, Reykjavik Kabarett , Wunder Kabarett Paris and many others.

Connect:

https://www.instagram.com/porcelaindelaneyy/ 

https://www.facebook.com/PorcelainDancer

https://x.com/PorcelainDel

A Queer female love story set in the early 1900s, based on historically documented anecdotes of Queer female couples. Travel back in time with this interdisciplinary performance, exploring these themes through the mediums of dance, portraiture, costume, photography, and music. Inspired by the lives and relationship between Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore, this confrontational performance art based work has been designed to highlight the importance of Queer female artists and their actions in paving the way for us today.

About the Artists and Collaborators:

Wiswould Wise Productions is an Australian-British, Queer, and Neurodiverse company, specialising in interdisciplinary performance-based art. Both Lucy and Gwynneth are recent University of Salford graduates in dance, and together enjoy exploring the interdisciplinary connection between cinematography, photography, music, and art, placing dance at the forefront. The company strives to create a unique fusion of contemporary, ballet, popping, hip-hop, and elements of acrobatics. These styles, brought together from both performers’ individual dance backgrounds, aim to broaden audience perspective of the possibilities of dance and performance art. Collaboration is a significant part of the company’s creative process and tackling themes that elicit a personal connection is an important factor in the creation of the company’s work.

For this project, Wiswould Wise Productions are collaborating with Annie O’Hehir (Researcher and Curator of Photography at the National Gallery of Australia).

Annie O’Hehir has offered external mentoring for Wiswould Wise Productions during this process as she has completed previous research on the works of, and the relationship between, Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore. In 2020, she published a personal letter entitled Dearest Claude through the National Gallery of Australia. This letter has since become a main source of inspiration for Wiswould Wise Productions in the creation of What Do You Want To See?

Connect:

Instagram: @wiswouldwiseproductions