Improplay: Katy’s Story
A Childhood passion
From a young age, Katy had been interested in the unique ways in which people learn and understand the world around them. She was especially curious about her own visual mindset. It was this feeling that made Katy wanted to study education at first. However after a few encouraging words from a supportive dance teacher at high school (…Thank You Mrs Noonan!) Katy found herself in an audition for Northern School of Contemporary Dance, facing a room full of mirrors and thinking “which way do I stand at this ballet barre?!”.
The Studio
The studio quickly became a safe place of discovery and curiosity, and it was there at NSCD where she trained for six years; first the foundation course, then BPA Degree and then Masters. During this time, she researched learning approaches and started to investigate for herself the link between imagination and movement, through improvisation techniques and exploring deeper her own learning style.
As a child, I used to collect ideas and put them into a little tin - feelings, movements and patterns. I didn’t know the importance of what I was collecting at the time, but now I realise they were the seeds for this idea, this project, and this lifetime interest of mine: Improplay
Post graduation
Post-graduation, Katy found herself involved with many professional projects within the freelance world. Highlights included teaching with; the Flying Seagulls Project, Northern Ballet, NSCD, University of Malta, La Casa di Elisa (Italy), and The Peter Glasel School (Germany). Katy’s performance highlights include touring South Korea with Vanessa Grasse’s MESH, Germany and Switzerland with Mirjam Gurtner’s PLAY, Malta and UK with VERVE, and closer to home performing locally with Northern Rascals and Akshay Sharma.
Early projects
In early 2019, with the support of The Accelerate Program (Yorkshire Dance, NSCD, Leeds Dance Partnership) and in particular her mentor, Wieke Eringa, Katy received Arts Council Funding (ACE) for an in-depth research project to further explore the link between learning and the craft of improvisation, with a team of dance artist, music and education research collaborators. This was supported by ACE, Yorkshire Dance, Leeds Inspired and pilots at Wetherby Arts Festival and Wainsgate Dances in Hebden Bridge.
New possibilities
The dedication of time, studio space, and funding, enabled Katy to further translate her process of thought during improvisation (as a performer, choreographer and teacher) bringing flow, freedom, possibilities and feeling of flight to others, beginning with her newly formed artistic team. ‘Improplay’ developed as an innovative research, workshop, and performance project which focussed on bringing together young children, dance artists and educators in creative and reflective spaces to explore the effects of dance improvisation on learning.
The improplay magic
Katy focussed on developing the Improplay methodology. To find ways of sharing the Improplay magic with others, discovering, translating and defining ways to find movement and imagination flow during dancing, regardless of age or experience. At the heart of this magical feeling “artists inspire children & children inspire artists” through the collaborative way of working.
Improplay formed further as a methodology, research process, performance work (collaborating with a community cast of children 4-6yrs/or all ages in intergenerational format) and workshop offers (for schools, families, all ages with live music, or at outdoor events). Katy and her team of Improplay professionals have been documenting their research journey along the way and one day, as asked by our friends at Peter Glasel Stiftung in Germany… Stefan & Inka.. “I will write that book!”
Co-creating with communities to investigate learning and audience experiences has brought so many discoveries and impact for all involved…
You are really tapping into what dance and art can be, a transformative & growing process for the self and a self discovery. Wonderful! You are acknowledging also the wisdom and the young people and offering a less hierarchical process. I am sure you know it is a quite unique approach, and I am sure the Improplay approach/method will have a long lasting life and will influence many.
The journey ahead
From a seed, now to a project, Improplay received two further Arts Council Funding Grants and Leeds Inspired Funding, part of Leeds City Council. The performance work was programmed at multiple local and national festivals including Yorkshire Dances Encounter Festival, National Children & Their Grown Ups Showcase (live streamed and performed at Yorkshire Dance). The workshop Outdoor Event was programmed at Hullabaloo Theatre’s festival and recently the performance work was commissioned by Yorkshire Dance to be restaged with an intergenerational cast to a sold out audience at AGELESS festival, at Leeds Playhouse Courtyard Theatre.
Improplay has a long life ahead of it and we can’t wait to continue the journey.
With thanks to everyone who has been part of the magic of Improplay, then, now and to come!