'To Motherhood' was a creative project that gave space and expression to the personal experiences of the many aspects of being a mother. Invited through an open call a group of local mothers came together to creatively explore their everyday experiences of motherhood through movement and writing. During Spring of 2022, they danced, reflected, wrote and shared their personal stories and shaped them into the choreography and poetry which was captured in a film.
Concept and direction: Helga Deasy
Facilitator of creative writing: Neo Gilson
Facilitator of movement and choreography: Helga Deasy
Performance, choreography and spoken word: Jean Gardiner, Neo Gilson, Ann Njeri Njuguna and Macha Shewolf
Film maker: Catarina Araujo
Original composition: Justin Grounds
Vocals: Jessie Kennedy
'To Motherhood' was created as part of Helga Deasy's Cork City Dance Artist in Residence Programme at Dance Cork Firkin Crane 2021-2023 kindly supported by Cork City Council and The Arts Council.
Participants' feedback:
"It was meaningful and heartfelt to hear all the wonderful experiences of mothers. It’s amazing that we are different yet there was commonalities in our lived experiences."
"At first, I thought I’m not a dancer, but with the movement sessions Helga did, I see dancing differently and I see myself dancing, moving, creating and loving every bit of it. I enjoyed the movement session offered by Helga, it really made me connect to self and all the possibilities that exists around me, be it nature, the environments, sensory etc. I would love to attend future sessions. What an awesome experience."
"It was an extremely powerful and enlightening experience."
Concept and direction: Helga Deasy
Facilitator of creative writing: Neo Gilson
Facilitator of movement and choreography: Helga Deasy
Performance, choreography and spoken word: Jean Gardiner, Neo Gilson, Ann Njeri Njuguna and Macha Shewolf
Film maker: Catarina Araujo
Original composition: Justin Grounds
Vocals: Jessie Kennedy
'To Motherhood' was created as part of Helga Deasy's Cork City Dance Artist in Residence Programme at Dance Cork Firkin Crane 2021-2023 kindly supported by Cork City Council and The Arts Council.
Participants' feedback:
"It was meaningful and heartfelt to hear all the wonderful experiences of mothers. It’s amazing that we are different yet there was commonalities in our lived experiences."
"At first, I thought I’m not a dancer, but with the movement sessions Helga did, I see dancing differently and I see myself dancing, moving, creating and loving every bit of it. I enjoyed the movement session offered by Helga, it really made me connect to self and all the possibilities that exists around me, be it nature, the environments, sensory etc. I would love to attend future sessions. What an awesome experience."
"It was an extremely powerful and enlightening experience."
