Shifting people’s
perception
of dance.
.
Radically.
From the UK…
Amy Groves
Shifting people’s perception of dance.
Radically.
Amy Groves in her own words…
…
The greatest creators, from Picasso to Balanchine, were not appreciated at the time of creation. It was as if they were making for the audiences of the future, and I aim to do that in my practice also.
…
Dance is no longer simply a middle class entertainment form, but a way to subtly shift perceptions on topical subjects. It is more than simply aestheticism, it is ugly, sometimes leaving us writhing in our seats at times. That is honest art.
…
The beauty of dance is interwoven intrinsically into it’s athleticism and pain, so why try to hide the very things that attract us to the art form?
Amy Groves in NPAFE’s words…
…Some say that Amy Groves’ style of dance is too modern for classical ballet. Others say just the opposite, that she’s too classical to be thought of as a modern dance choreographer and dancer.
…Seeing a few of her videos for the first time, you might indeed think that classical ballet is Groves’ main play and passion. But then, what about those other videos? Isn’t that a completely different Amy?
…In our view, Groves is among those rare creators of dance for whom both dance styles are fundamental to her individuality and her strength. Indeed, her expertise in both classical and contemporary dance allows her to offer audiences a one-of-a-kind sensation full of choreographic sensuality and emotion.
…There’s no doubt that Groves wants her work to make an impact, to speak rather than merely entertain. In one of her choreographed performances by students at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, “Keep your coins, we want change” she brings forth poverty and the harsh treatment of homeless people by artfully building on the “Keep your coins, I want change” Banksy artwork. You’ll see it below.
…In that work and others, it becomes immediately clear how she uses dance to expertly portray what is right and wrong with the world. Take for example everyone’s addiction to smartphones and all the time lost because we so willingly let our phones dominate our lives. Watching the “Be.Real” video below, you’ll understand Groves’ messaging. No wonder she was chosen at age 19 to stage a new work for world leaders at the ETCH Festival 2021 COP 26 Conference about the climate crisis.
…Groves has a strong opinion about fostering social and professional equality. Whenever she can, she welcomes anyone to participate in her performances rather than auditioning them. Generous in sharing her art, her knowledge and her ideas, she adapts to her dancers, always seeking to understand how her dancers’ minds and bodies move, her “best practice” for highlighting their talents, not just her own.
…Music leads Groves’ choreographic design. Without music, she says, she cannot create at all. And not just any music: she is known for her skills in combining all sorts of musical styles ranging from classical to electronic, using her own smartphone to set everything in place.
…It is as if “tenacity” is Groves’ middle name. Her focus for the future is on forming her own dance company. Her ultimate goal? Creating new works that challenge convention and complacency, using the sensuality of dance to provoke more people to take part in solving today’s profound social and environmental challenges.
…The rest of us are a lot better off that Amy Groves is driven to create.
Amy Groves in her own words…
…
The greatest creators, from Picasso to Balanchine, were not appreciated at the time of creation. It was as if they were making for the audiences of the future, and I aim to do that in my practice also.
…
Dance is no longer simply a middle class entertainment form, but a way to subtly shift perceptions on topical subjects. It is more than simply aestheticism, it is ugly, sometimes leaving us writhing in our seats at times. That is honest art.
…
The beauty of dance is interwoven intrinsically into it’s athleticism and pain, so why try to hide the very things that attract us to the art form?
Amy Groves in NPAFE’s words…
…Some say that Amy Groves’ style of dance is too modern for classical ballet. Others say just the opposite, that she’s too classical to be thought of as a modern dance choreographer and dancer.
…Seeing a few of her videos for the first time, you might indeed think that classical ballet is Groves’ main play and passion. But then, what about those other videos? Isn’t that a completely different Amy?
…In our view, Groves is among those rare creators of dance for whom both dance styles are fundamental to her individuality and her strength. Indeed, her expertise in both classical and contemporary dance allows her to offer audiences a one-of-a-kind sensation full of choreographic sensuality and emotion.
…There’s no doubt that Groves wants her work to make an impact, to speak rather than merely entertain. In one of her choreographed performances by students at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, “Keep your coins, we want change” she brings forth poverty and the harsh treatment of homeless people by artfully building on the “Keep your coins, I want change” Banksy artwork. You’ll see it below.
…In that work and others, it becomes immediately clear how she uses dance to expertly portray what is right and wrong with the world. Take for example everyone’s addiction to smartphones and all the time lost because we so willingly let our phones dominate our lives. Watching the “Be.Real” video below, you’ll understand Groves’ messaging. No wonder she was chosen at age 19 to stage a new work for world leaders at the ETCH Festival 2021 COP 26 Conference about the climate crisis.
…Groves has a strong opinion about fostering social and professional equality. Whenever she can, she welcomes anyone to participate in her performances rather than auditioning them. Generous in sharing her art, her knowledge and her ideas, she adapts to her dancers, always seeking to understand how her dancers’ minds and bodies move, her “best practice” for highlighting their talents, not just her own.
…Music leads Groves’ choreographic design. Without music, she says, she cannot create at all. And not just any music: she is known for her skills in combining all sorts of musical styles ranging from classical to electronic, using her own smartphone to set everything in place.
…It is as if “tenacity” is Groves’ middle name. Her focus for the future is on forming her own dance company. Her ultimate goal? Creating new works that challenge convention and complacency, using the sensuality of dance to provoke more people to take part in solving today’s profound social and environmental challenges.
…The rest of us are a lot better off that Amy Groves is driven to create.
Three short videos…
Turn your mobile device sideways to watch the videos in total full screen!
“Be.Real”. Choreographed by Amy Groves.
Created with dancers at Ballet Cymru and performed at National Dance Company Wales. (Audio at beginning not clear. Unimportant.)
