HELLO THERE.
I’M JOHN.
I HOPE MY INTRIGUING PARCEL PIQUED YOUR INTEREST.
It reflects my reputation as an authentic disruptor in DANCE and PARTICIPATORY ART.
I’ll be permanently based in your area from May 2023 so I’m reaching out now to new project collaborators.
WHAT’S IN MY TOOLKIT?
I’m a CHOREOGRAPHER, DRAMATURG, CONSULTANT, MENTOR, EDUCATOR and Artistic Director of NOCTURN.
Involving and affecting local communities and/or other professionals in my work, people’s lived experiences are right at the heart of my creative process.
I’m a gay man from a working class background in the North East, living currently in Berkshire but relocating to Scotland in May 2023.
My journey into professional dance began in my late 30’s when I left my office job security behind and risked a full career change by retraining in contemporary dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
CREATING DANCE FOR AN INTERACTIVE AGE.
With an invitation to co-create interactive digital dance adventures, NOCTURN shines a light on later life dancers.
My work utilises everyday technology, social media, apps, gaming etc., exploring our dependencies and its wider impact on our lives, both positive and negative.
SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE STORIES.
LIVE PERFORMANCE.
OUTDOOR ART.
GAME & PUZZLE BOXES.
LIVE STREAMING.
QR CODES..
PROJECTION.
APP DEVELOPMENT.
MOTION SENSORS.
DANCE FOR CAMERA.
AUGMENTED REALITY.
15+
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND FUNDED PROJECTS.
Initiated or been partners on.
70+
FREELANCE ARTISTS.
Employed & supported.
7,000+
ADULTS & YOUNG PEOPLE.
Engaged in art experiences.
COLLABORATIONS & PERFORMANCES.
Dance artists I’ve collaborated with or performed for include:
Charlie Morrissey
Akane Abe
Athina Vahla
Naomi Lefebvre Sell
Theo Clinkard
Julia Gleich
Irven Lewis
Helen Parlor
Lou Cope
Charlie Brittain
A DANCE &
DIGITAL DISRUPTOR.
Take a look at some of the projects I’ve created and also been a partner on.
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THE RIDDLE.
A digital outdoor treasure hunt. Currently touring and presented at FITS 2022 Romania, Reading, Basingstoke & Greenwich Festivals. Developed as a ‘box’ for Greenwich Dance’s ArtsUnboxed to safely create, produce and tour dance work.
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SMILE INSIDE.
Commissioned by iID dance company and Oxford Health Arts Partnership to combine several personal stories from hospital patients in an engagingly beautiful dance film.
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AND THEY HAVE ESCAPED.
Fusing a museum’s collection with dance for film, iPads, location sensors & projections in an installation that explored our fascination with living our lives through our mobile phones.
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REVELATIONS OF MISS WHITE.
An innovative online dance mystery told solely through Miss White’s Facebook profile. Funded by Arts Council England and Corn Exchange, Newbury.
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THE FORTRESS.
A touring medium-scale outdoor festival piece for Beautiful Creatures Theatre, Reading.
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FRACTURED LANDSCAPES.
A live and online work exploring the theme of bereavement.
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DAREYOUWATCH.
An immersive site-specific performance streamed live over 18 hours - the culmination of a 72-day transmedia campaign, web feeds and social media chatter.
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TREE OF LIGHT.
A large scale outdoor work by the Legacy Trust as part of the UK's Community Celebrations for the London 2012 Games – South Park, Oxford / Madjeski Stadium, Reading / Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames.
AN EDUCATOR.
I’ve often been celebrated for inspiring and empowering adult and young people alike during my 17 years of community and school outreach work.
Guest lecturer for Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Guest teacher on the professional programme at The Place, London and other companies i.e. MÓTUS, ZoieLogic Dance Theatre, etc.
Regular teacher at the yearly national industry event Move It, Excel, London.
17 successful years of varied adult class programming and delivery.
Featured in publications such as ‘Animated’ (People Dancing) and ‘Headteacher Update’ for all UK Primary Schools.
Contributed to Kidscape’s groundbreaking book - ‘How to create kind schools’ alongside contributions from Dance United and 2Faced Dance.
Former board member of the National Dance Teachers Association, now called One Dance UK.
AND A VIDEO EDITOR/MARKETING WHIZZ.
Founder of NOCTURN Designs www.nocturndesigns.com, a friendly, supportive & affordable design service to take you, your art or your small business online.
Designing visually impacting Squarespace websites and marketing materials for print and social media.
30+
YEARS EXPERIENCE.
Budget forecasting & monitoring
Program evaluation
Cross-cultural & digital communication
Mentoring professional artists, adults & young people
Graphic and Web Design
15+
YEARS EXPERIENCE.
Professional choreography
Empowering later life & adult dancers
Community development with arts/heritage organisations, venues & the private sector
Innovative public indoor & outdoor engagement projects
Co-creation with pro/community dancers & other artists
Self producing interactive & immersive art
Engagement of young people & schools
Succesful fund writing
Government public sector employment
5
YEARS EXPERIENCE.
Video editing in DaVinci Resolve
Dramaturgy
TAKE A LOOK.
START BY SAYING, HELLO.
Let’s make something amazing together.
