Mother Earth – street performance
We are all responsible for our planet. This circuit street performance invites us to reflect on our roles in the climate crisis in a visual and impactful way, and grows our awareness of the nature surrounding us. Award-winning dance artist Ana Silvério will lead the dance through the streets of the city centre. Explore York’s environment – you’ll never look at it in the same way again. Come to see, and if you would like to, join in and interact with the artist
PREVIOUS TERPSICHORING WORK
Terpsichoring at the York Environment Week!
We took part in the York Environment Week 2023, delivering two FREE workshops for children with their families:
Saturday 30 September
Mother Earth Climate change Dance workshops – 5 – 11 years old
9.30-10.30 am
Marriott Room, York Explore Library
Climate racism and climate justice – 12+ and adults
10.45 – 12:00
Marriott Room, York Explore Library
Ana Silvério and Aracelly Firmo
Picture by Mary Benson
Terpsichoring took our show Me, Myself & Misha to the Migration Matters Festival, in Sheffield
Mother Earth’s Day
If you come to York or live here, you will probably notice litter everywhere. This is a problem.
This issue has two important factors. On one side, are the people who are responsible for leaving cans, bottles, all sorts of packages etc behind, regardless of whether they are residents or tourists. On the other side also responsible is the City Council, as the number of bins available is far below what is needed.
The problem is even more relevant because the city often gets flooded! When it is constantly raining, it is not difficult to see gutters on the side of the road obstructed by litter.
Follow this link to see the map of bins in the city of York and zoom in to see large areas without one, even in the centre and surrounding areas.
To address this issue, the two responsible sides (people and City Council), raise awareness about the problem of litter left in public spaces, instigate reflection and conversations about the protection of the environment and the responsibility of our individual actions in it, Terpsichoring developed a cultural action to celebrate Mother Earth’s Day (22/04/22).
About the creative idea
Ana Silvério, artistic director for Terpsichoring, collected pieces of litter from the river Ouse embankment and city centre and cleaned and sterilised them. She characterised herself as Mother Earth wearing a long dress bought in a charity shop and sewing artificial leafs and flowers to it. She also attached several spots of Velcro to the dress, and the other part of the Velcro spots were attached to the litter she collected.
Ana went to the city centre of York on 22/04 from 4:30 to 7 pm, carrying these litter items in a reusable bag and inviting people in the streets to attach them to the dress (on the Velcro spots). This was to instigate the reflection of how small individual actions together contribute to the bigger picture.
Another interactive moment and an element of hope was in collaboration with London-based visual artist and curator Kirsty Kerr. Her ‘Re-Construction Signs’ are tiny placards that signpost life and growth and drive attention to nature in unlikely places. Kirsty generously donated some placards to this action celebrating Mother Earth’s Day in York and children were involved in the action by placing the signs in suitable places.
The component to address the City Council and the insufficient number of bins in the city was the creation of an e-petition using the City of York Council’s petition system. As part of the action, QR codes leading to the e-petition were attached to the bag.
About the reaction of people
Words from Ana Silvério:
“I chose to do the action from 4:30 to 7 pm. During this period, people that come to the city centre for different purposes are passing, like shoppers, those passing to and from work, tourists and those coming for a night out. Any person in the city centre of York needs to be responsible for keeping it clean for the well-being of all, for the city itself and, of course, for the protection of the environment. Therefore, any passers-by, regardless of the reason bringing them to the centre, if they live in the city or are visiting it, was the right person to reach.
The reaction I received changed according to the time of the day. The time of the day also defined the group of people I was talking to. In the beginning, receptivity was welcoming, adults would happily hear and chat and surprisingly, invite all children in their group to come to listen to what I was about to say. Close to 6 pm, people were rushing, rarely in groups and many told me that they could not stop as they were rushing to work. By the end, most people I met were arriving for a night out. Some groups of teenagers stopped to listen to me. Their individual reactions were as different as possible. By the end, most adults refused to stop until I said that I was not going to ask for money.
I specially chose to move and dance exploring ballet technique because it seems more contrastive and, I believe, in people’s imagination less suitable to the image of a person covered in rubbish. Children were particularly attracted to my ballet moves.”
Upcoming performances:
Me, Myself & Misha.
Me, Myself & Misha is a heartfelt, autobiographical work presented by Terpsichoring Dance Company, devised, and performed by award-winning dance artist Ana Silverio. This uplifting and unique production tells the experience of one mother, the challenges she faces and the joys that come with motherhood. The show explores the emotional journey one woman goes on to become a mother. Universal themes of pregnancy and labour are presented using a mix of physical theatre and dance, alongside an original and moving musical score.
