Dana is a choreographer, designer, educator and researcher.
Her work examines the role of somatic practitioner in being of myth, as land speaks. She explores the role of body as conductor to the psyche of land. The phenomena that human psyche and land are one, yet dual entities.
She uses light as a means to bridge the ephemeral and material worlds, as in her sculpture Light Cone inspired by the tradition of cairn building in Scotland. Light Cone is permanently installed at Sleat primary school, Isle of Skye.
Her work with digital sonologist Con_fuzed, saw a collaboration take place across Europe. Creating integrative, live movement and sound compositions using Max MSP. Performances were directly informed by venues where the collective was installed – from the infamous Tacheles Art House, Berlin to Den Haag Conservetoire, Holland.
Dana recently graduated from UCLan with a distinction in (MA) Somatic dance and Wellbeing. Trained in choreography at Dartington College of Arts, she received a one year Erasmus scholarship to train at Ernst Busch Performing Arts Academy, Berlin. She also holds an MRes in Creative Practices from the Glasgow School of Art.
Dana has worked on solo and community projects locally and internationally. She has participated and shown work at venues such as - Manchester Central Complex, Dance Base, CCA, Dance House Glasgow, Dance House Eire, Earthdance USA, Nomadic Arts Festival Poland, Burdag Studio Poland, City Moves Aberdeen, Bodysurf Findhorn, Atlas Arts Isle of Skye, Tramway, Festival of Neue Musik Berlin, Mime Centrum Berlin, Kunsthaus Tacheles, Jerwood Foundation, Lightmoves Festival Eire, Lightwaves Festival and most recently An Lanntair Outer Hebrides and The Workroom, Glasgow.
Awards: Lightmoves, Ireland ‘16
Oppenheim Trust Award, ‘16
Federation of Scottish Theatre Step Up Mentee, ’16 Creative Scotland bursary ‘14
Distinguished young choreographer - International critics list, Tanz/Ballet ‘08
Themes and keywords that may define her practice: #multidisciplinary #dance #sensory #sound #sustainability #ecology #land #sea #rainbow #language #liminal #borders #intuition #wellbeing #dignity #value #mythopoeic #consciousness #presence #spirituality #ecology #somatic #practice #choreography
Out with performance Dana has been arts and decor co-ordinator for Doune the Rabbit Hole and Solas festival, Scotland.
Contact - danajmacpherson@gmail.com
For more information on Somatic Movement Education and how to book a session please see - www.bodysurfskye.co.uk