Inside Out Masterclass with Stuart Waters & Vicky Malin
The Masterclass Series
These masterclasses are co-led by Stuart and the guest artist. The sessions will follow the framework of Stuart's Arts Council project, Inside Out. Inside Out is a research and development project that approaches ways to bring the invisible, visible. Stuart will be focusing on bringing hidden disabilities into the space from his embodied practice, as a disabled dance artist. Participants do not necessarily have to be exploring hidden disabilities, so participants are welcome to bring an existing question or theme that they may want to explore within the frameworks of the masterclass, such as memory, identity or lineage. The masterclass series is also an opportunity to connect and be with a dancing community, to connect and enjoy reflective dance practices.
You do not necessarily need to identify as disabled to attend the masterclass, however we encourage disabled dance artists and artists interested in inclusive practices to come along. Access workers welcome in the space! Please let us know in advance if you have any access requirements you would like our support with.
This Masterclass
Connection points will be made between Stuart's and Vicky’s practices. Stuart's question, bringing the invisible internal systems our bodies hold and discovering ways to make them visible, will lightly hold the enquiry as participants are led through Vicky’s practice.
Vicky will share her current work Our Hands, a one to one or small group encounter that explores our own experiences, perceptions and possibilities of our hands. Vicky will draw from her collaborations with other artists, in particular the work Thank You Very Much by disabled artist Claire Cunningham. Vicky wants to share with you her 'Best Hits', her ‘Little Gems’, the explorations and practices that she values and returns to time again.
We will explore these creative materials and see what we all bring with us that day as we meet, share and create. The session will allow a bit of space and time to respond, experiment and reflect on our practices together.
About Stuart Waters
As an alumnus of Northern School of Contemporary Dance (BA) and London Contemporary Dance School (MA) Stuart’s 26 year career in the dance sector has been eclectic - performing and teaching in a wide range of educational and community settings nationally and internationally as well as touring with a range of companies and choreographers across different touring networks in the UK and overseas.
Over the last decade, Stuart’s practice has shifted into maker, researcher, curator, facilitator, mentor and coach (EMCC Senior practitioner accreditation). Stuart’s practice is an evolving enquiry into care. It is led by his lived experiences, intersectionality and his hidden disabilities as an access-led practice. How does mental health access, recovery, neurodiversity and queerness develop space, practice, process and performance, and how does this enquiry contribute to these conversations?
Stuart’s work includes ‘Rockbottom’ (2016-2019), a touring solo show approaching mental health and chemsex. This began Stuart’s ongoing enquiry into 'safeguarding the dancer in the studio process, live performance and engagement', beginning conversations with communities and audiences around the UK.
Between 2021-2024, through partnerships, commissions and collaborations with The Place, Wellcome Collection, FABRIC, South East Dance, PDSW, ACE, East Sussex Arts Partnership and Brighton Festival, Stuart co-created A Queer Collision, a practice which evolved from an enquiry question into a touring show: how to embed access and audio description to lay the foundation for a queer, time-travelling show which told audio-described autobiographies. The show was also a deep look into care and inclusion for participants, audiences and teams. In the last 10 years, Stuart has also co-led and collaborated with a host of artists and partners to deliver Head:ON Conversations, a thread of Stuart’s work which looks at step-change within the dance and cultural sector. This has developed through films, live events, well being cafés, public speaking, articles and online symposiums.
Stuart advocates for mental health and disability step-change in dance as an Unlimited and Clore Inclusive Cultures alumnus and through his contributions as a trustee with Candoco Dance Company and STEPPS - a mental health charity for dancers.
About Vicky Malin
Vicky Malin is a disabled artist based in Brighton. With 20 years’ experience in dance, she work with respected companies, choreographers and tour internationally. Vicky works extensively through learning and participation programmes, both independently and with organisations such as Sadlers Wells and Candoco Dance Company.
In 2018 she received an R&D commission from Metal Arts/Change-Makers fund where she created a one to one or small group experience called Our Hands. This has been facilitated at the South Bank Centre, Siobhan Davies Studio, DANscienCE in Australia, the Moderna Museet in Sweden, Fresh Street Festival in Galway, Pavilion Dance South West and Our City Dances and Undisciplined Festival with South East Dance in Brighton.
Vicky is currently working with Charlotte Spencer Projects, to facilitate Our Hands’ and ‘Memory Table within libraries and other venues across Sussex as part of the project we are all memory bodies.
Bio provided by the artists.