Jean Abreu’s classes focus on using the body as a tool to articulate human emotions, memories and experiences. Jean considers the body as the holder of the key to who we are and how we feel, offering us a channel and primal universal language which we can communicate with, opening up endless possibilities of translating our inner sensations, processing information and connecting with others. His classes as well as technique focus on the thinking and decision-making process that accompanies movement. His methodology encourages dance artists to search for movement impulses that are urgent and necessary, for a body that is present.
“I seek to inspire people to move freely and most of all, the ability to generate movement themselves based on an emotional response and framework. What fascinates me is the thinking processes, the trying, the concentration, the focus and the pursuit of solving a problem with the body, therefore the person behind the body.” Jean Abreu
Please note that due to illness, classes on Monday and Tuesday will now be led by Rachel Lopez de la Nieta.
‘From a baseline of tuning into sensation and accessing embodied awareness, we will explore perceptions of internal and external landscapes by investigating the shifting compositions of self and other. Through ritual play in formal constructions, drawn from variations of Authentic Movement/mover witness practices, we will experiment with ways of seeing and being, moving and sounding that allow us to read and be read by others within the field of phenomena. There will be opportunities to voice, mark make, and process emerging content.’ Rachel Lopez de la Nieta
For safety, we would like to encourage everyone to take a Covid-19 lateral flow test before attending. The studio will also be well-ventilated even in colder weather – please bring extra layers for warmth. Siobhan Davies Studios current risk assessment and policy is available to read here.
Born in Brazil, Jean Abreu moved to London in 1996 after receiving a scholarship to study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance. In 2003 he was awarded the Jerwood Choreography Award and became an Associate Artist at The Place in London.
Since then his work has toured throughout the UK, Europe and Brazil including performances for Royal Opera House, Dance Umbrella, Southbank Centre, Julidans Festival and the Auditório Ibirapuera São Paulo.
He founded Jean Abreu Dance in 2009. Across his career Jean has been a movement director for fashion magazines and global advertising campaigns. He has taught extensively in the UK and abroad in renowned dance organisations and universities.
Rachel Lopez de la Nieta is co-director of collective performance company Dog Kennel Hill Project, with Ben Ash and Henrietta Hale. Their work is performance, dance, embodiment, choreography and lived philosophy. They develop investigative projects for specific contexts or communities including theatres, galleries, screenworks, and non-traditional or outdoor sites. Most recently they produced a 10 year retrospective of their varied practices at Brighton’s new Centre for Contemporary Art.
Independently, Rachel has been commissioned by LaSalle Arts College Singapore, Maiden Voyage Dance in Belfast, Arts Cross Beijing, Scottish Dance Theatre, The Place Prize and The City of London Festival. She has worked across opera with Harrison Birtwistle and ENO, fashion and commercials. As a dancer she has collaborated for over 20 years with choreographers and was a founder member of Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre.