Independent Dance Artist
Rediscovering Landscapes
An interactive installation including filmic elements created by Melissa Heywood as part of an undergraduate research study.
What can dance do to support the climate crisis?
Within this installation you are invited to experience the findings from an investigation into the effectiveness of dance as a method of climate communication. With a focus on how it can combat anthropocentrism and other psychological barriers to climate action.
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Dancers: Jemma Stein & Katie Taylor
On Belay! Climb When Ready
Choreographed by Melissa Heywood.
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Chosen to be performed in Bonnie Bird Theatre, London as part of the Trinity Laban BA3 Choreography Showcase
On Belay! Climb When Ready is a physical exploration of how different rock-climbing techniques can be explored, interpreted, and translated through the dancing body for performance. Watch as the dancers (Elise Machin, Paola Quintana and Chander van Daatselaar) climb together and independently while pushing the limits of this new physical language created in collaboration with choreographer Melissa Heywood. The work aims to take its audience members on an adventure, up a cliff face and into a climber’s world with its open and exposing sound score created by Louis Greatorex.
Watch the teaser HERE
Exposed by the Elements
Collaboratively created by Melissa Heywood, Sanya Malnar, Mila Fernandez & Ruby De Ville Morel
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Chosen to represent Scotland at U Dance National Showcase 2021, One Dance UK
Exposed by the Elements is a short film that explores the question: how can we embody and reconnect to the four elements (earth, wind, water and fire)? It reintroduces the dancer and viewer to the overwhelming power of Mother Earth.
Watch the full film HERE
The Soul Species:Â CALLUNA VULGARIS or simply, heather.
Collaborativly Created by Melissa Heywood and Katie Taylor
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Shown at Aberdeen Art Gallery and during the 2020 DanceLive Festival, Aberdeen
With regards to the natural order of the planet and its intricate ecosystems it seems that humans place themselves at the top of the pecking order but how valid actually are we in the eyes of the Earth? In this short contemporary film we explore our connections with heather the patriotic and all-consuming plant of Scotland. We explore how the Earth views us in comparison to this plant through a site-specific working style, intertwined with the Waulking songs sang by the highlander women of Scotland and a sound score created to help bring you back down to the Earth.
Chalked: A Mapping Exploration
Created by Melissa Heywood
This film explores the questions if it is possible to capture a human’s experiences and relationships within a map/diagram of themselves? The work was developed from my continuous research into memories and mapping. It was inspired by both the artist Sol Lewitt and anthropologist Timothy Ingold.
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Watch the full film HERE.
