Caroline Bowditch

Australian-born but now Glasgow-based performance artist and choreographer, Caroline Bowditch describes herself as a performer, maker, teacher, speaker and mosquito buzzing in the ears of the arts industry in the UK and further afield.

Falling in Love with Frida

Duration: 55 minutes (no interval)

Description: Falling in love with Frida is an intimate and enticing performance that explores the life, loves and legacy of painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954).

Extra information: The piece can be performed in a variety of venues - non-theatre as well as theatre spaces. It requires an intimate performance space – maximum audience 60.

People on road: 5 plus access assistant

Freight: baggage

Freight details: The piece tours without freight but excess baggage is required as follows:
1 Suitcase of small props and costumes.
1 Suitcase containing festoons.
1 Suitcase containing laptop, tape, first aid, various.
2 Large suitcases containing neon cacti, pap

The Long and Short Of It

Duration: 4 minutes

Description: The Long and the Short of it, a gem of a duet choreographed by Caroline Bowditch and Tom Pritchard, is upbeat and sexy, whilst unpacking some big ideas and offering food for thought.

Extra information: This piece can go into any size space and it could also be used at conferences and other events.

People on road: 2 plus access assistant

Freight: none

Freight details: This piece requires a small piece of staging (100cmL x 40cmW x 30cmH) that could be made in situ

Post show discussions

Facilitated/chaired by a local artist/promoter. Duration 20 – 40 minutes.

Workshops

Workshops will draw on the themes of the work being presented. Participants will be given creative tasks to generate their own ideas and movement. Participants will work in small groups and be encouraged to share and discuss during the workshop.

• Workshops are for people with or without dance experience and will be tailored according to participants.

• Workshops are taught in an inclusive way and are for people with and without disabilities, aged 11+

• Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours

• Space required: Warm and wheelchair accessible with clean, uncarpeted floor with sound system/ability to plug in Ipod.

• Maximum number of workshop participants: 25 people.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Workshops

These workshops will introduce Principles of Universal Design in dance and performance pioneered by Jürg Koch at the University of Washington, Seattle. Instead of a disability specific approach of ‘adapting’ movement to suit individuals, this approach allows everyone in the class to work with the same principles and use them in a way that works for them and allows them to push themselves.

• CPD workshops are for teachers, group leaders or anyone with an interest in working inclusively.

• Age 18+

• Duration: 2 – 3 hours

• Space required: Warm and wheelchair accessible with clean, uncarpeted floor with sound system/ability to plug in Ipod. .

• Maximum number of people in workshop: 10 - 15 people.

Lecture Demonstration

The Lecture Demonstration will explore Falling in love with Frida from conception to realization: how the work was made, the decision making processes involved, working with producing partners Dance4 and artistic collaborators, drawing parallels, taking risks. It will feature excerpts from the work and also use visual aids. Caroline Bowditch will talk about her own artistic practice and also talk more broadly about her work in the UK and in particular in Scotland.

• Lec Dem will be tailored to the audience attending.

• Age 11+

• Duration: 1 hour

• Venue: wheelchair accessible small theatre or lecture theatre or similar.

• Robust table (ideally 180cm x 80cm) and chair to be provided. Projector and DVD player and sound system/ability to plug in Ipod to be provided

Artists Talks

‘From little things big things grow’

Back in Australia Caroline dreamed of dancing as a profession. When she moved to the UK in 2002, this started to become a reality. In this artist talk Caroline will talk about her journey into dance, share some key milestones and highlight what has helped and hindered her along the way. She will also discuss and show examples of her artistic work.

• General audience

• Age 11+

• Duration: 1 hour

• Venue: wheelchair accessible small theatre, lecture theatre, conference room or similar.

• Equipment needed: Data Projector, screen or wall and sound system that can be connected to a laptop via minijack connection as video, with sound, is used as part of this presentation

Seminar

Seminars will focus on information exchange and will be tailored to those attending. Caroline will talk about being a Scottish based professional disabled artist and encourage base level conversations around becoming, and thriving, as a professional disabled artist. She will facilitate discussions around strategic planning and present best models that may be useful/applicable to the local context.

• General audience. May be of particular interest to policy makers, funders, service providers, educators and other decision making bodies.

• Duration: 3 hours – 3 days.

• Venue: wheelchair accessible small theatre, lecture theatre, conference room or similar.

• Equipment needed: Data Projector, screen or wall and sound system that can be connected to a laptop via minijack connection as video, with sound, is used as part of this presentation

• Flipchart - paper and pens, post-it notes.

‘For me seeing the dance work of Caroline Bowditch for the first time, was the catalyst for a whole new approach to my work with communities….this stuff changes lives’

Liz Conacher, Creative Scotland

‘Caroline Bowditch is an exceptional artist. Dance4 is delighted to have both commissioned and produced this new work as well as supporting Caroline through our Associated Artist programme. She is a provocateur and her latest work is one to watch.’

Paul Russ, Chief Executive/Artistic Director of Dance4

‘Caroline is an articulate and intelligent advocate and we knew she could really bring some pizzaz to our panel.’

Sarah Barton, Human Rights Australia