Pule Quarry, Marsden. Photograph by Tom Lonsdale

The Stanza Stones trail guides are now available for you to download.  These maps will guide you through some of our region’s most stunning scenery, on a treasure hunt to find Simon Armitage’s specially written poems.  There are long walks and shorter ones – something to suit everybody.

Stanza Stones Trail Guide Short Walk – SNOW STONE

Stanza Stones Trail Guide Short Walk – RAIN STONE

Stanza Stones Trail Guide Short Walk – PUDDLE STONES

Stanza Stones Trail Guide Short Walk – MIST STONE

Stanza Stones Trail Guide Short Walk – DEW STONES

Stanza Stones Trail Guide Short Walk – BECK STONE

Stanza Stones Trail Guide Long Walk – LEG 1

Stanza Stones Trail Guide Long Walk – LEG 2

Stanza Stones Trail Guide Long Walk – LEG 3

The brand new Sea Swim book was launched at the Scarborough Literature Festival 2012 and you can get your copy here.

John Wedgwood Clarke’s sequence of eighteen stunning poems was inspired by the Sea Swim project and the way that swimming in the sea can change the way we move, think and feel.  It’s the perfect present for any poetry lover (and the perfect little treat for yourself).

Poor Mo’s got creative block!  Can you help him?

(He’s also got a secret, but that’s for us to know and you to find out………)

In my teens, before I had even heard of contemporary dance or Kathak, I used to do a lot of exercise: running, cycling and swimming.  Looking back this was an instinctive craving to move expressively.

One day while flicking TV channels, I stumbled across the film maker and choreographer Busby Berkeley.  I was hypnotised by a particular sequence called By a Waterfall from the 10933 Warner Brothers movie, Footlight Parade.  The artistry and craft of working creatively in water was captivating; bringing together movement, music, patterns and choreography.  I wasn’t quite sure what it was I was seeing, or how something like that could be achieved.

At that time I used to swim at Bradford University Sports Centre pool for hours on end.  I loved being in water, and it was the only place I could have a blank mind without feeling bored.  On Friday evenings after they closed the pool to the public, there was a synchronised swimming club.  I started to hang around in the pool to watch them train and was eventually invited to join in.  Synchronised swimming made me think differently about exercise; that it was more than simply a way to be physically active but a way to be creatively expressive with movement and with my body.  The seed was planted, and along with it, a hunger to become an artist.

Many year later as the ideas for Synchronised began to emerge, all of these influences crashed together beautifully in my mind.  What if Kathak and contemporary dancers could take to the water, influenced by synchronised swimming as a creative sport, with a reverential nod towards the great Busby Berkeley?  It felt like I was coming home.

Here’s the amazing film clip Balbir is talking about – Footlight Parade

Synchronised, 14 June, Ponds Forge, Sheffield – tickets are available NOW, so don’t miss out!  Get yours at www.arenaticketshop.co.uk

What do you do?

I’m one of the Exhibition Organisers for In the Blink of an Eye exhibition at the National Media Museum in Bradford. I’m responsible for co-ordinating the Museum Collection aspects of the show.

Tell us a bit about ‘In the Blink of an Eye’

The exhibition reveals our fascination with movement and our desire to capture it through photography, film, television and new media.  It explores how scientific endeavours to study movement by photographers such as Muybridge, Marey and Edgerton, formed into artistic expressions of the beauty of movement.  There will also be examples of early optical toys which we have reanimated to demonstrate how Victorians used movement as home entertainment.  The exhibition contains newly commissioned artwork and material from the National Media Museum collections.

What’s your favourite part of the exhibition?

There is lots to choose from, but I think my favourite part is about seeing the invisible. Capturing a split-second in time and freezing it there.  I particularly like Stephen Dalton’s photograph of a squirrel jumping from one branch to another.  The squirrel is caught in mid flight.  It’s an amazing shot; full of colour and movement, even though it’s a still photograph.

What does movement mean to you?

Movement is a means of expression; it’s practicality (A to B); it’s a gift to be cherished.  And speaking as a commuter – it’s a mass participation event.

Stewart Gibb-Lodge is a multi talented actor / comedian with over two decades of experience performing in a variety of styles. He has played lead and supporting roles both nationally and internationally, touring with renowned companies Vincent Dance Theatre, Third Angel, Point Blank, Dead Ernest, The Babbling Vagabonds and Instant Dissidence.

Stew also performs street theatre and live cabaret as Little Jonny Cash, or as Precious Cleaver, one half of the Cleaver Sisters, and is a regular compere at Cabaret Boom Boom in Sheffield. As an accomplished singer songwriter Stew also plays the ukulele, guitar, harmonica, percussion and has trained with numerous clown teachers including John Wright, Peta Lilly, Mike Barnfather, Aitor Bassauri, Petra Massey, Jonathon Kay, Jef Johnson and Jon Davison.

Tom is part of The Traipse.

Tom Rowbottom graduated from Middlesex University in 2011 with a BA Hons in Dance.  At university he gained considerable experience devising his own works and performing in the works of others, including Angela Woodhouse.

Tom has toured the UK, including performing at the Edinburgh Fringe festival and the Siobhan Davies dance studio in London. Tom has competed for several years in a number of physical contact sports like Rugby, American Football and is keen to explore and develop his own creative voice and practice as a professional dance artist.

Tina is part of The Traipse.

Tina Murtagh trained at the Northern School for Contemporary Dance from 2006-2010, during which time she developed a strong interest in improvisation. As a scientist mathematician she is exploring these influences on her own creative practice

Tina has worked with Roberta-Jean in London, experimenting with various types of dancing including jive, moshing, folk dance from different countries and the boogie woogie! Currently based in Leeds she works as a free-lance dance artist and teacher and is developing her creative practice working on a project basis.