About
My name is Linda Tee and I am currently completing the Masters in Dance Research for Professional Practitioners at Rambert School. I trained in ballet and contemporary as a teenager, and later in Social Work and Dance Therapy. I have been involved in dance projects in Namibia, South Africa, Bermuda and the United Kingdom. Most recently I have worked with children with SEN (Special Educational Needs) in schools, and with under fives in Bournemouth, UK.
This website is about my research project exploring ways in which families can dance together, with a special focus on props used as affordances
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The research project involved running four dance sessions with families from the local area. The invitation was open to any children and their grownups and to those with SEN/disabilities.
How it all began
As a child I loved to collect and place trinkets and small objects in my printers tray. To this day, I still love these objects, not for what they are, but for the memories stored in these tiny things. I love the idea of having objects that can come with me, wherever I am in the world. The connection between objects and dance started when I was asked to improvise with sand in a dance piece for the In Motion Dance Company in Bermuda. The stage manager told the choreographer he did not want sand on his stage, so they looked in the costume box pulled out a leftover piece of lycra fabric, and instead of sand I improvised within a lycra bag (as seen below). A variation of this idea survived through to another two choreographic pieces. But a love affair with props had begun. The lycra bag gave me a confidence in my improvisation as I was hidden within the fabric. The history that I have with lycra in particular cultivated an ongoing curiosity. Another example is my silk parachute, It has travelled the world with me, moved and danced with thousands of different people, and brings a certain dynamic to the dance class. It is not only the parachute, but the relationship I have with it. I want this object to be part of the session and for it to be given the opportunity to perform, with the addition of music and lighting.
I have always been interested in the way objects can be used in performance to enhance dance. Throughout my journey as a dance teacher, I have included objects in my dance classes and gradually expanded how these can be used. Objects as creative affordances have become central to the practice that have used in this project.
