Part walking tour and part dance show, The Performance Path was created at Eastbourne Walking Festival 2022. In 2023, a Project Grant from Arts Council England allowed the project to grow into a series of 8 walking tours, 3 indoor shows and 9 community dance sessions designed and delivered in Eastbourne. Lead artist Yanaëlle Thiran and her creative team also produced a short film, a photo book and a podcast episode, all presented below. The film and book were released at the end of project party in November 2023.
Photo Book
The Performance Path book was compiled by Eastbourne-based artist Loupe Cooper, with input from 62 individuals who walked one or more of the Performance Paths offered in 2023.
The book includes photos by Antony Edwards, Steven Cropper, Loupe Cooper and Oliver Piotrowski. The cover image shows dancers Annie Levack, Stephanie Baker and Yanaëlle Thiran rehearsing in front of the Dance Diagonal mural by Lothar Götz at Towner Eastbourne.
Podcast
In September 2023, the Edge of England podcast released a 52-minute episode about the Performance Path. Project leader Yanaëlle Thiran tells podcast host Emily Jeffery about her desire to dance in the open, engaging with the elements, passers-by, the street furniture, and even the odd curious dog. Her story reveals a search for creative fulfilment and a deeper connection with the landscape she lives in.
Creative Team
Yanaëlle Thiran, dancer, choreographer, project manager & walk leader
Loupe Cooper, art workshops facilitator & book designer
Oliver Piotrowski, walk assistant, technical manager, poet & artist
Nathan Gardner & Lana Larrad-Tye, filmmakers
Emily Jeffery, podcast host & editor
Keil Morris, co-facilitator of the dance workshops
Helen French, Emily Gow, Emma Peters, Petina Hapgood, Lydia Le Bas, Alina Scharbl, Annie Levack, Stephanie Baker, Flora Dickie and Abbie Mizen, performers & co-creators of Diagonal Dance III
Ruby Colley, composer
Charlotte Spencer, mentor
Features
Testimonials
A moving, elegant, beautiful, emotional, inspiring performance.
Performance Path walker
So many people including Peter and me enjoyed it so much and were able to experience Eastbourne in an innovative way.
Performance Path walker
I loved all the performances: the dances and Eastbourne created a beautiful atmosphere!
Performance Path walker
Performance Dates
- Outdoor walking tours: 17, 22, 24 & 25 September, 1, 2 & 15 October 2023
- Indoor performances with Eastbourne Dance Space: 27 & 28 October 2023
Credits
Photographers: Antony Edwards, Steven Cropper, Camilla Greenwell (headshot of mentor Charlotte Spencer) & Georgina Piper (photo of composer Ruby Colley).
Composers: Ben Henry Edwards, FullMarx, Joyce Cooling and Mimir Iversen.
Mural artwork featured outside Towner: Dance Diagonal by Lothar Götz.
Funders: Arts Council England and East Sussex Arts Partnership.
Partners: Age Concern Eastbourne, Eastbourne Alive, Eastbourne Dance Space, Eastbourne Walking Festival, Jewelled Bird Dance, Printers Playhouse and Towner.
The Performance Path was created at Eastbourne Walking Festival 2022. Please browse the 2022 project page to find out more about this initial version!
Yanaëlle Thiran 