EMOTION took place at SDS on Sunday 13 July 2025. Here we collect together some pieces of writing produced by people who came. All images from Jemima Yong.
Lydia Wharf in Dance Art Journal
“Could this appetite for coming together in a process of co-creation satisfy something more fundamental? Something that’s borne of wider society, in this quite particular moment of widespread polarisation, loneliness and isolation? A Covid hangover. A by-product of rampant capitalism. Is dancing together the antithesis of those ills? The remedy? ”
Jay on Substack
“It was beautiful to see the individuality of everyone which made the movement feel relatable and human. Often dance can feel unreachable … the beauty of this piece was ability to show each person in their own light whilst also performing as one and bringing the audience in with them. I thought of my own body and how we often forget to move for the sake of moving. We are so weighed down by self judgement and shame that we forget how much our bodies can do and how amazing they are.”
Janjira Matthews from Dive(rse) Dance
“Every mover has a deeper connection with every section of EMOTION, and with one another. Despite being a large gathering of people, the sense of community is undeniable. EMOTION achieves what community dance projects should be doing: spreading dance to anyone who has the curiosity, forming connections between people of all backgrounds and addressing the everyday in an atypical way.”