Hip hop culture is layered with references and samples, borrowed influences and bold remixes of inspiration.  Allusion, quotations, out and out plagiarism – theft – biting, translation, pastiche, and parody are all rife within the hip hop arts, and they help us to find meaning in a rap, a throwdown, a full graffiti production…   The Only When Its Feathers are Grown R&D borrowed the literary device of intertextuality to explore the interconnectivity of different art forms and how those relationships can alter meaning.

Fly No Filter are exposing themselves to a range of resources from which to respond to, reference and remix in support of the project.  They caught Jasmine Vardimon‘s Medusa at Cambridge Junction, and attended a follow-up masterclass with one of her company dancers.  They looked at site specific creation with Dante or Die, and have collated ideas from the Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition at the Barbican earlier this year, with a photoshoot.  Tomorrow they are grasping the opportunity to see how the collaborative working practice of Swimming Horses creative collective comes together in a performance as part of Cambridge University’s Festival of Ideas; 6.00pm at Waterstones.

Only When Its Feathers are Grown is supported with public funding from Arts Council England 

SIN Cru intern, Tom O’Donohoe, prepared to interview Dr Michelle Nyangereka in the field of Abington Woods, feeling the warm breeze and watching the leaves skid across the grass.  He decided to set up in an area where the sun was in clear view and they wouldn’t be disturbed by falling debris from the surrounding trees.

Michelle is a psychologist with a deep interest in the myth of The Descent.  Mother to two children and two cats, she meditates in her spare time to focus her mind and get ready for the day, and also to unwind at the end of each day.  Michelle is bringing her specialist knowledge and meditative calm as a contributor in the R&D project, Only When Its Feathers are Grown.  Her role is to highlight the story of The Descent through the narrative of the lead characters, Roni and Mia, and to also explain the psychological side of The Descent to help the company connect and understand the myth, so we can then use this during the creative process of the project.

Michelle believes that The Descent it is a rite of initiation for women, to help them connect to their true feminine nature, and by extension support men to form a healthier relationship with their feminine side.  An understanding of the concept is also used to encourage masculine and feminine balance in the body of both men and women.

It’s Michelle’s first time working alongside Fly No Filter and she is considering how the company will be able to listen to what she has to say on deeper levels, over a relatively short span of time.  Usually when exploring the psychologies of The Descent, Michelle would work with a client over an extended period with an existing understanding of their background, and an established relationship.  For this project, she is coming in to it cold, meeting members of Fly No Filter and collaborators for the first time, so she is feeling her way around how we might access the myth of The Descent.

Tom has never looked at how a psychologist can help create dance work, and seeing how all the tiny pieces of un-related matter actually connect to develop movement phrases, is arresting.  As it started to get colder, the wind slightly harsher and with Tom still learning about Michelle’s role, what she does, and how she will bring that into the creative process of this project, they headed back inside to prepare for tea.

Tuesday mornings have become a small and important haven for a group of Abbey mums calling themselves A Piece of Cake.  Supported by Cambridge City Council, A Piece of Cake has been baked by Menagerie Theatre as an opportunity for local mums to get together and explore issues through theatre, with a mug of tea and a slice of cake.  Last year the group was led by Caroline Rippin who handed the electric whisk over to Fly No Filter‘s AD Lucy Crowe for the autumn term.  Lucy has been working with the group on themes, concepts, and theatrical styles relating to the Only When Its Feathers are Grown r&d.  The women have had the opportunity to work with Fly No Filter company member, Lauren Stewart on characterisation which they were elated with, and asked if Lauren’s portrayal of a moody teenage girl could return every week, but not to wait for them at home 🙂  In a parallel, A Piece of Cake have taken a trip to see Caroline in action as she rehearses for The Great Austerity Debate, and will all be catching up with its developments when they see the final performance on tour in November.  Tuesdays for group members Emma and Claire, are “the best day of the week which we both look forward to.”

For more info about the group, please email: office@menagerie.uk.com

We are all very happy and excited that Fly No Filter‘s Artistic Director Lucy Crowe has been awarded R&D funding from Arts Council England to explore ideas for a new interactive performance installation.  Lucy is collaborating with psychologist Dr Michelle Nyangereka, and photographer Mitzi de Margary to investigate personal unravellings.  With dance artist and Fly No Filter company member, Lauren Stewart, Lucy is layering bboyin, photography, and therapy to tell the intertwining story of an adolescent and her mother.  For those of you who have been following the journey of Roni and Mia, this is the second creative instalment in the Venglorious saga.

Keep abreast of this blog and our IG for project updates and opportunities.  Peace out

Join Classworks Theatre at Cambridge Junction for their new play about the power of protest.  Written by Ros Connelly and directed by Jenny Culank,  No Surrender is drawn from the personal writings of Constance Lytton, and tells the moving story of how a shy woman from the heart of the establishment became one of the bravest icons of the suffragette movement.

Sunday 14th October, 7.30pm, Cambridge Junction, box office: 01223 511511

As we come towards the end of the first week of October, the season is beginning to change, we’ve held our conker championship, and welcomed two new members to our emerging artists scheme, eOTo.  To find out more about what Tom and Sarah have let themselves in for, head over to our archive page to read their introduction.  Those of you who are reaching Foundation Fridays tonight, will meet them both and train with them then. If you have yet to register on Foundation Fridays, email: education@sincru.co.uk and if you would like more info on the eOTo scheme, contact: director@sincru.co.uk.  As always, thank Crunchie.  Peace out.

A lot can go down between Thursday and Saturday, including our fabulous Foundation Friday short course.  Suitable for everyone, these dance workshops will break down the art of Bboyin insuring by the end, you can throwdown in the go down at the beginning of the weekend.  Come and experience the gamut of the dance style of bboyin, in four unbelievable Fridays.  To register of for more info, please email: education@sincru.co.uk

We are honoured that The Glorious Tour’s esteemed lighting designer, Trui Malten is going to be included in an amazingly high standing programme of works next week, at Sadlers Wells with Vera.  Vera is a ten minute ballet by the brilliant Stina Quagebeur.  Stina is one of the etoilles of the English National Ballet and has created the piece based on the book by Vera Brittain, Testament of Youth.  It will be presented as part of the English National Ballet’s Lest We Forget programme next week.  One not to miss.

Warm-up to Suicide Notes… The Spoken Word of Christopher Brett Bailey at Cambridge Junction tonight, is the venue’s informal scratch night, First Manoeuvres.  Tonight all female cross-arts company, Swimming Horses, will be presenting an excerpt of the very beginnings of their collaborative piece, Mosaicked: Fragmentation in Performance, or hashtagsquadgoals.  The work explores the concept of extremes through the makers’ diverse approaches.  This is a feedback event to help the company develop their practice and build the piece.  Tickets are FREE but booking in advance is always a good look to avoid disappointment.

Hip Hop choreographer and Artistic Director of ElementzEnt, Lindon Barr has been invited to present his work, Perception at the Stockholm Fringe Festival this month. The show raises awareness of mental health particularly in young men, and to spread this message internationally, Cambridge raised artist Lindon, has launched a crowdfunding campaign.  To donate, share, and find out more, click here: Perception JustGiving