Roehampton Alumna choreographs and directs video collaboration with Tate Modern
- Tuesday, July 5, 2016
A Roehampton alumna has recently choreographed and directed a video that was commissioned by Tate Modern and stars singer song-writer, Mabel.
Holly Blakey, who graduated from the Department of Dance in 2009 has previously worked with artists such as Florence and the Machine and Coldplay, and brands such as Gucci.
Holly Blakey explains the project: “The choreography and the video as a whole had many briefs, to respond to Mabel and her love for 90’s pop videos, to respond to the new Tate building in exploring the new space and to work alongside Gustav Metzger’s 1965 piece Liquid Crystal Environment - an immersive light display using heat-sensitive liquid crystals exhibited at the Tate Modern. Everything down to the cast and what they wore was keeping to the varied criteria. It was an exciting challenge and I really enjoyed this process.”
On other projects Holly Blakey said: “All of my projects have meant different things and have different homes in my heart. Choreographing music videos for Florence and the Machine, Coldplay and Gucci are big achievements, but equally some of the smaller projects offer a different kind of creative license enabling everyone to collaborate without boundaries which makes it a hugely enriching experience.”
She is currently working on a new project that will be touring live at the end of this year, called Some Greater Class commissioned by the Hales Gallery.
Her advice to students in pursuing their dance degree and careers is: “Be bold, unafraid, trust yourself and think outside the box.”
See the video that Holly Blakey has directed and choreographed here.
The Department of Dance is rated number one for dance research in the UK (REF2014). The immersive, supportive dance culture enables students to launch and expand their careers as well as benefit from established dance partnerships.