In these difficult times, people have found solace in nature in different ways. I have danced my entire life and discovered the joy of moving outdoors 29 years ago. For the past six years, I’ve danced around Hawkwood during walks with my husband, Harvey, particularly on Wick Ridge, which offers panoramic views of the River Severn, Selsley, Rodborough Commons, and Swifts Hill.
Dancing in nature has been a source of inspiration for me, with my movements reflecting the shapes and forms I see around me. The tempo and rhythm are influenced by mood and weather rather than music, allowing me to connect with my own inner dance. It has supported me during difficult times, helping me maintain balance.
During the past six months, I worked with a group of dancers in Hawkwood's woods to create an improvised dance piece. The journey has been immensely rewarding. It began with a sound recording I made with my husband in early spring, during the start of the first lockdown in March 2020. The initial idea was to create a dance piece from this sound recording, but given the difficulties of meeting in a studio, I thought it would be good for us to gather regularly in the woods. This allowed everyone to experience the woods for themselves and discover their own movements and inspirations.
Each week we danced in different spots, witnessing seasonal changes—from lazy summer days to the rich colours of autumn and the bare trees of winter. We observed the woodland growing lighter as the leaves fell, revealing new vistas. In early September, we met as a group again, though physical contact was still restricted. I found myself using the trees as partners, hanging, swinging, and climbing in them.
I started seeing similarities between humans and trees. Trees support one another through their root systems, with older trees protecting younger ones and even nurturing diseased trees. The trees, some over 100 years old, seemed to have stories to tell, bearing witness to countless events, fashions, and conversations over the years. This connection with Hawkwood's woodland has been nourishing and necessary for myself and our dance community of about ten souls.
When we entered the November lockdown and could only meet with one other person, I began sending instructions to everyone by email in advance. This allowed us to continue working on the project individually or with one other person, and even in spaces closer to their homes. Participants provided written feedback, which gave them an opportunity to reflect on their experiences. Their words, pictures, and film clips form a rich archive of work in progress.
Jemima Bennett
Jemima Bennett trained as an actress and dancer at the London Studio Centre of Dance and Drama. She spent ten years touring schools in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand and taught dance to special needs children. Ten years ago, she began running an improvisation dance group in Stroud. With this group, she has created four films and the piece "Life Force" in remembrance of her parents, in collaboration with Nicola Clark and Bartholomew Mason.