Article

Illustration by ostreet.co.uk 2020

Article 1

COVID-19 and disability

Writer: Chiara Bersani, Italian artist
Credit: British Council / Europe Beyond Access

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Article 2

The Spiritual Power and Politics of Dance In Black Majority Spaces
Writer: Myah Jeffers, Barbadian-British documentary and portrait photographer, dramaturg and director

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Article 3

In dance’s embrace
A unique contribution to overcoming the Covid crisis

Writer: Tim Joss, Chief Executive & Founder of Aesop, the charity and social enterprise finding artistic solutions to society’s problems.

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Live Event

Dance Umbrella Digital 2020
23–27 November

This event has passed.

COVID-19 and disability, by Chiara Bersani +

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Photo Giulia Agostini

The Spiritual Power and Politics of Dance In Black Majority Spaces by Myah Jeffers +

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DJ Paulette. Photo Myah Jeffers

In dance’s embrace, by Tim Joss +

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Photo Ranjan Jolly

Artist biographies +

Chiara Bersani

Chiara Bersani. Photo: Giulia Agostini

Chiara Bersani is an Italian performer and author active in the fields of performing arts, research theatre and contemporary dance. As an interpreter and director / choreographer she moves through different languages and visions, touring her work internationally. Her research as an interpreter and author is based on the concept of the ‘Political Body’ and the creation of practices aimed at training its presence and action. Her piece Gentle Unicorn is the manifestation of this research which won Bersani the UBU Award (Italy) for best new actress / performer under 35. In August 2019 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Gentle Unicorn also won first prize in the dance category of the Total Theatre Awards.

Tim Joss

Tim Joss. Photo: Helen Murray

Tim Joss. Photo: Helen Murray

Tim is Chief Executive & Founder of Aesop – www.ae-sop.org and @AesopHealth. Aesop’s vision is ‘A future when arts solutions for society’s problems are valued and available for all who need them’. Its work includes Dance to Health, the national falls prevention dance programme, university-accredited arts-and-health training, and national showcases for health decision-makers.

Tim’s past activities include Artistic Director & Chief Executive of the Bath International Music Festival, Chair of the International Society for Music Education’s Community Music Commission, and a founder of the first social investment fund for the arts. He was appointed a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government in 2005.

Myah Jeffers

Myah Jeffers is a Barbadian-British documentary and portrait photographer, dramaturg and director, living and working in London. She is currently the Literary Associate at The Royal Court and the 2019 Portrait of Britain winner. Her work in both theatre and photography is focused on Black experiences and aims to use portraiture to illuminate Black and queer joy as acts of resistance.

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