Part of Reimagining the way we live

dancing…and dancing…and dancing asks how social dance - in public spaces, private spaces, with chosen and random groupings of people - can be a source of connection, and even home, in our communities. Responding to the iconic scenes of Plymothians “dancing…and dancing…and dancing on the Hoe just as they did all through the ages…” in the film The Way We Live, the day positions dancing as a way to feel at home with each other.

We ask: how are our traditions of moving together evolving?

The day traces an evolution of social dance, picking up from the time period of the film with traditional swing dance and moving through to contemporary folk imaginaries and improvisations. We begin with a workshop in and presentation of the history of swing, led by Mad About Swing.

Next, the new Morris group MASH perform a suite of dances. Departing from the notion that 'folk is what the folk are doing now’, MASH makes dances drawing on shared cultural context for a mixed group of choreographers, dancers, live artists, musicians, artisans and enthusiasts, creating a joyful space in which to explore how their community moves together in a time when many spaces for artistic experimentation and research are disappearing.

This will be followed by a contemporary dance improvisation in conversation with the film The Way We Live itself, with the artist-researchers reflecting through action on the histories in the film and composing a new performance in real time. How do tensions between a digital, screen-based life (at home and in public) interact with the human need to be present with each other and the real desire to move together?

Finally, we all come back onto the dance floor, to experiment with these ideas themselves, using movements from the swing dance lessons earlier in the day, copying the MASH group’s moves, and getting creative, accompanied by a live band for a big, swing party!

Schedule for the day:

1500-1630 Mad about Swing - workshop and performance

1645-1730 MASH - performance

1745-1830 The Way We Live – contemporary dance improv with the film

1830-2000 dinner / drinks break (feel free to bring dinner in, bar available)

2000-2145 Swing Band and dancing

Join us for all, or just part(s) of the day.

Please note entrance for this event to the Urban Room will be through the main Roland Levinsky Building Crosspoint area

This event is part of Reimagining the way we live. Developed by the University of Plymouth, Nudge Community Builders and The Box, this collaboration explores how communities, researchers, creative practitioners and policymakers can work together to shape more liveable, inclusive and resilient places. Running across 2026–2027, the Urban Room space and programme will be used to explore how we live now – and how we might live better in the future.

Tickets £3 / £2 concessions/Under 18s free (must be accompanied by an adult) – advanced booking advised

IMAGE: MASH

Description supplied by the event organiser.