ARTISTIC STATEMENT

"Ever curious, I always have inquiry at the forefront of my projects and practice. I am fascinated by the way movement can affect a person's outlook on everyday life, as well as be a creative outlet for things not able to be expressed otherwise. As a performer, I endeavour to share experiences with audiences that open us all to alternative ways of thinking and hopefully brings us back to what makes us fundamentally human. Eliciting conversations and further questioning is something I always venture to do when I am part of a performance. The sense of community that comes from movement is vital as we can share joy that way.

Through my personal improvisational practice I nurture my curious nature under John Britton's practice "Self With Others"and I have discovered written text and speech as additional avenues for creativity. Improvisation for the self and for performance are both means for exploration in my practice, as well as allowing me to feed my thirst for knowledge about myself, others and the world around us all."

BIOGRAPHY

Eleanor is a Scottish queer dance artist and improviser based in Frankfurt, Germany. She is a graduate of The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance (2020) and a member of Third Thread - a physical theatre improvisation ensemble based in Dundee.

Growing up in Peebles, a town in the Scottish Borders, she gained a technical background based in jazz, modern and tap and began teaching at her local dance school in all three styles.She has since taught tap and contemporary as freelancer to children, adolescents and adults.

During her time at The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance she progressed technically in Ballet, Cunningham, Floor-work and Release Based Techniques. Additionally, Eleanor discovered a love for improvisation and it evidently flourished. She ran extra curricular classes/research sessions for fellow students and was selected for a performance at The Dundee Rep with her piece "May I tell you a..." which explored storytelling through movement based improvisation with an audience participatory element. A large section of her final year was devoted to a research project investigating the relationship between habits in improvisation and expanding one's movement vocabulary in which she interviewed industry experts. She was also the two-time recipient of the SSCD Associate Artist Award for Engagement and Contribution to the Wider Dance Community which resulted in mentorship from Joan Cleville and a placement with Scottish Dance Theatre.

Outside the college environment, Eleanor joined Third Thread improvisational ensemble in 2018 with whom she has a weekly practice and has performed throughout Scotland as part of theatre events. She is a part of "The Body" - Shaper/Caper's youth advisory council which provides mentorship from artistic director Thomas Small, as well as opportunities to influence and participate in the company's vast range of projects. In the summer of 2020, Eleanor was chosen as a recipient of an observer place at the WIG IV (Weekend of Improvisation in Glasgow) event and in summer 2022, she performed as part of Sommerwerft festival with her solo "Soft Self" as part of the curated Queer Night in Frankfurt, Germany.