Moxie Brawl rehearsing in the Long Gallery at Charlton House. Photo by Roswitha Chesher
GLORIA! is our ‘curiously kitsch’ dance film, created by award-winning filmmaker Roswitha Chesher and featuring Gloria “Exclamation Mark” (aka Sarah Blanc) – a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of our vision as we took Greenwich Dance confidently into the future.
Funding to create it was given by Arts Council England as part of a project to help give the organisation visibility and connect us to and celebrate ‘everyday artists’.
We gave Ros the loosest of briefs – to try to find a method of ‘way finding’ to the stunning but lesser-known (within the dancing community) Jacobean manor house which is Charlton House. In it, we wanted to celebrate this beautiful space whilst also celebrating those who dance with and alongside us.
Founder Richard Blanco, Luca Silvestrini, Yael Flexor, Anna Williams, Tom Roden and Chris Nash so kindly agreed to cameo (thank you all) and Levantes Dance, Lotus Youth Dance Company with Artistic Director Colleen Joseph, artists Lizz Fort, Akeim Toussaint and dancers from Charlton Park Academy, Dancing to the Music of Time and artists from professional class also featured.
The result is a bonkers celebration of all that is dance which has won awards at film festivals including Dallas Film Festival, Screen.Dance Scotland, and Exchange Choreography Festival in the USA.
GLORIA! the Director's Cut. A film by Roswitha Chesher
“When I was first asked to take time out of my busy schedule to help an organization such as Green Wich Dance. I first of all said who? Then I asked, how much? They told me and I said no. They then offered me a little bit more, and I said ‘that’s more like it, honey’. Anyway they put me up in one of the gorgeous rooms at Charlton House, Ros Veeta was at my beckon call and I had the time of my life working with everyone. As soon as I stepped on set- it was just Gloria!-ous…. get it? Everyone I met was so lovely and treated me as if they had never heard of me. I am proud of what I created for this wonderful organization – who deserve it all, and more. And yes Green Wich Dance, you are so very welcome- I’m just delighted that my name and face could get you and Ros Veeta’s work seen around the world. Any time. #Humbled #Blessed”
Gloria her ACTUAL self
“I had the time of my life working with Ros on Gloria! Ros is such a visionary and you never know what you will be getting up to each day as it was such a fluid process. Team this with the confidence and trust from Melanie, and well, it was just a dream. One of my most fun memories was filming with the legendary photographer Chris Nash with Gloria!, kind of like a press shoot kind of vibe, and the chair I was sitting on, started to slowly rip and I had to first of all try and pretend it wasn’t happening as we had to keep rolling. But it eventually gave way and well, it was so funny. We laughed so hard and I’m glad it made it into the final edit.”
Sarah Blanc
Dancing to the Music of Time participants at Charlton House. Photo by Roswitha Chesher
Dancing to the Music of Time participants at Charlton House. Photo by Roswitha Chesher
