BBC Young Dancer winners bring together their distinct styles
9th July 2020
Photo credit: Vincent King About the Elephant commissioned by SAMPAD Arts in partnership with Serendipity Arts Festival.
Emerging artists Connor Scott (Rambert School 2018) and Vidya Patel met in 2015 when they represented two different styles (contemporary and Kathak) in the inaugural BBC Young Dancer competition. The pair collaborated in a compelling duet, About the Elephant, filmed in 2018 at Newcastle’s Dance City and available to watch online here: About the Elephant.
They visit Rambert School virtually this week, to work with students as part of our Fresh Friday Series.
We asked them to share details of some of their recent projects.
Vidya:
HUMANbody Series is a self-initiated project combining my love of art and people with hopes to share and celebrate individuals.
Each HUMANbody has its own narrative aside from the preconceptions, stereotypes, and judgments which arise at face value. The aim of HUMANBody series is to celebrate the uniqueness of each individual through a series of multi-layered imagery.
I am also part of volunteer led initiative called Manch UK which launched in April 2020 initiated by Mira Kaushik and in a very short time, the platform has reached a global digital audience of over 50,000 people through its ‘Meet the Artist’ series.
Manch UK is an intimate, virtual stage promoting cross-arts events, collaborations & experiences from the South Asian subcontinent. The purpose is to bring together artists & global audiences on this digital venue to share their love for the arts.
I am also currently working with artist Hetain Patel to develop a new solo work on me through Dance Hub commission. I have also been working with Thick and Tight and Corali Dance in a project that began before the lockdown called ‘Excellent Together’ which has been a great way to be connected and during lockdown.
Connor:
Upon graduating from Rambert School in 2018 I worked with Humanhood Company (UK/ES) creating and touring their first ensemble work ‘Torus’ throughout the UK and Spain. I have also continued to work with Theo Clinkard on his new creation ‘The Century Project’.
In 2019 I joined Teać Damsa Company for the creation of ‘MÁM’ choreographed by Michael Keegan Dolan. I continue to work and collaborate with photographer Paul Phung as movement director and recently collaborated with Edd Arnold for his work ‘Tulips’. I have been concentrating on my own choreographic work in 2020 and plan to begin the creation of a new work later this year.
You can watch some of my work HERE.