Blog | Divija Melally (Artist Commissions)
Divija Melally
Akademi Artist Commissions recipient, Divija Melally, shares the creative journey behind her new project exploring the relation between movement and health and well-being.
When I started working on my commission from Akademi, I had a rosy picture: I would work with three older dancers with varying levels of experience and entry points into dance, and we would create something around Dance and Wellbeing that would be shared with the public. What the commission has turned out to be is a HUGE learning process for me, my practice, and my life, and I am grateful.
My original time frame of a few months was thrown out of the window, and 2 years later, I am still figuring things out: usual 9-5 rehearsal schedules are not ideal, health and personal stuff come in the way, and it is a different body every day. I am lucky and blessed to be working alongside my trusted collaborator Saili Katebe, and with three amazing dancers and people: Adrian Longstaffe, Alexandra Pickford and Peter Thompson, with a combined age of 227 years. They are a well of knowledge and experience, keep me on my toes, and call me out when something does not make sense or I get things wrong.
Adrian is recovering from a stroke, and I don’t think anything speaks to the role of dance and wellbeing more than how much art, dance and creativity has progressed his recovery.
I have realized that the end product of this commission is not the product itself, but the process. It is how we learn to meet and honour our body where it is at each moment, and how wellbeing is not something that can be performed just for one day, but a journey that moves with us.
I am also extremely grateful for the flexibility, understanding and support that Akademi has provided throughout, including extending deadlines, allowing my process and ideas to change and flow, and always being there to have a chat when needed. My commission was in exploring dance and wellbeing, and this work and learning has only been possible because wellbeing and kindness is woven into the fabric of the commission and the organisation.
What’s next
I hope to continue working with my collaborators, and look for ways to develop and share this project with different groups, such as in care homes in the region. I hope the project can make an impact, even if it’s in a very small way, like getting someone who usually wouldn’t, to move for a few seconds.
This project has also inspired me to co-create work with different groups, and also look for opportunities to create an inter-generational performance.