My journey with the Hannover and Bristol exchange has been one of growth, creativity and connection. What began in 2022 as a dancer travelling to Hannover has developed into an opportunity to explore my artistic practice, build confidence and take on new responsibilities as a young leader.
In 2023, I returned to Hannover alongside Helen and Luke, shadowing the organisational side of the project. Last October, I rejoined as an alumni dancer, contributing to the research and development that shaped this summer’s theme, Letters from Home. This allowed me to explore the themes through movement and reflect on my own artistic response before stepping into a leadership role.
During this year’s two-way exchange, I led the creative week in Bristol, guiding the Hannover and Bristol dancers through a process inspired by research from three Lockleaze community groups. Together, we explored what home and community mean to us, the memories attached to particular places and the everyday moments that make us feel safe, connected and part of something.
Through improvisation and creative tasks, the dancers transformed their own experiences, alongside stories shared by the community groups, into movement. We also reflected on a poem written by Cleo Lake, which helped shape the emotional atmosphere of the piece. Headphones became a key visual, representing comfort, safety and the memories we associate with music and places within our communities.
What I found most rewarding was seeing individual stories come together to create something collective. The dancers generated much of the original material themselves, discovering similarities between their experiences in Bristol and Hannover. This reinforced the importance of giving young people ownership of their creativity and creating an environment where they feel confident to share their ideas.
Stepping into the role of young leader challenged me to balance trusting my creative instincts with making space for others. With different levels of dance experience across the group, I learnt the importance of adapting my approach, recognising individual strengths and ensuring everyone felt valued. Having experienced the project as a dancer myself, I understood how important it is for young people to feel confident and make the most of the opportunity to learn from and connect. The experience taught me that leadership is not about having all the answers, but about listening, encouraging and trusting the people around you.
When the exchange moved to Hannover, our roles as young leaders switched, with Milena taking the lead and developing her own choreography. Having the opportunity to step back and observe allowed me to learn from a different creative perspective, gaining insight into her approach and the decisions she made as a choreographer. It reminded me that developing as an artist is not only about leading, but also about remaining open to new ideas and learning from others.
Working alongside Milena has been one of the most valuable parts of this experience. Sharing choreographic ideas, reflecting on our challenges and supporting one another throughout the exchange created a genuine connection. Despite living and working in different countries, we discovered similarities in our experiences as emerging artists. Building this relationship has shown me how cultural exchange can create lasting connections that extend beyond the project itself.
The exchange culminated in the performance of our piece, Let Us Start from Where We Were, at the RISE summer show, In Good Company. Watching the dancers perform was a powerful moment. In just one week, they had developed such a strong connection that it felt as though they had been dancing together for much longer.
Seeing the piece come to life was particularly meaningful when reflecting on my own journey. It was a proud moment to witness how far the dancers had come, while recognising how much I had grown creatively and personally through the project. It reminded me of the lasting impact this exchange has had on me and the strong connection I have developed with it over the years.
Looking ahead, I hope the project continues to grow, creating opportunities for young people and emerging artists to develop their practice, build confidence and connect through dance. I would love to continue developing my role within the exchange, strengthen my connection with Milena and explore more opportunities for us to learn and create together.
Reflecting on my journey so far, I feel grateful to have grown alongside this project, moving from dancer to young leader while continuing to discover the kind of artist I want to become. More than anything, the exchange has shown me the power of creating together, learning from different perspectives and building relationships that stay with you long after a performance.