Body Wisdom

Upcoming Events
Our award-winning dance and movement programme for people aged over 50 years...

Body Wisdom image by Living Witness

Body Wisdom

Are you aged 50+ and interested in dance and movement? Maybe you are creative in other ways and would like to extend your creativity into another area? Maybe you just loved to dance when you were younger and are looking for a new opportunity to dance once again? Maybe you have been put off by the idea of having to keep up with the athleticism of younger dancers?

If so, then this is the project for you.

Forget about needing to be young and athletic. In this project the wisdom and experience written into the bones, muscles and sinews of older people is a positive advantage.

Led by experienced Echo Echo Ensemble Artist, Kelly Quigley, the movement style is very relaxed and exploratory.

Body Wisdom has gone from strength to strength in recent years with a core group of regular members. The Body Wisdom programme was previously awarded a BBC Performing Arts Award and was shortlisted for the Voluntary Arts Epic Awards.

New participants are very welcome to join and no experience is necessary.

The atmosphere is friendly and supportive. Feel free to try out one class with no obligation to return, or to simply come along to watch if you are unsure. 

When and Where

Echo Echo Studios, Magazine Street, Derry-Londonderry.

Check our What's On section for latest dates and times.

Testimonials

I have enjoyed being part of body wisdom – like being a child again – invited to play on the floor, ‘let me out of my box.’ I have learned so much. There is such delicacy and potency in the slightest gesture, or in the biggest. I am constantly surprised and delighted by how articulate the body is – this heap of old bones, some of them sore. The process of finding dance within myself and within the group – with all the trust and sharing that involves – is very special, life-enhancing. I am always elated at the end of each session. I am attentive to movement in a new way. I find dance everywhere, or it finds me. Body Wisdom participant

To me Body Wisdom was a physical, mental and spiritual experience. I loved the freedom of movement it gave me. I have arthritis and was fixated on what I could not do. Body Wisdom changed my focus to what I could do.  Body Wisdom Participant

My two years coming to Body Wisdom have really been a life saver for me, in many ways, which are too personal to share. One of the things I love about our classes is that "There is no wrong way ". In life we are often corrected, from an early age we are told we are not doing IT right, whatever it may be, big or small, important or not. To experience the freedom and permission to do IT my way, to trust my judgement, is a very powerful positive thing. It helps me believe I am ok.  Body Wisdom Participant

Thanks

Previous Body Wisdom projects have been developed and delivered in partnership with WEA-NI Learning Age Project and with funding from The Atlantic Philanthropies, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Derry City Council, and BBC Performing Arts Fund.

Body Wisdom in the Community 

Body Wisdom in the Community was a three year outreach programme for older people in care settings. The programme was delivered by Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company in partnership with Strabane Community Project and Praxis Care (NI) and supported by Body Wisdom regular participants as volunteers.

The Body Wisdom in the Community programme took place through 2018-2021 and was supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Arts and Older People Programme.

ACNI logo

Gallery images

by Sarah Bryden Photography and Living Witness Productions.

 

 

 

 

Projects

Projects

Echo Echo Festival Presents Tradition and Beyond (2023)

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Echo Echo Festival 2023

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Echo Echo Festival Presents Tradition and Beyond (2022)

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Residency Programme

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Echo Echo Contact Festival 2018

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Ripple Affect

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GHOSTS by Gemma Walker-Farren & Echo Echo

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A Box

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Parent & Toddlers

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Open House

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Echo Echo Digital Programme (2021)

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Dance Picnic

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How To Watch Dancing...

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Making Moves Youth Dance

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Echo Echo Contact Festival 2019

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Amid the Noise and the Haste by Colin Norrby (2021)

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Consequences

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Fractals

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Music Programme

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In Tall Grass

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Lost in Frost

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Walk By

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Echo Echo Festival 2021

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Kids Classes

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Without

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Body Wisdom

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The Motion Ensemble

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Ludo Lusi Lusum

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Almost Blue by Irish Modern Dance Theatre

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The Cove

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The Henry Girls and Echo Echo

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Body Wisdom in the Community

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Old Bob's Tale

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Festival Open Call (2014-21)

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Contact Improvisation

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Echo Hunt

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Echo Echo Festival Presents 2021

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Echo Echo Festival 2019

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Festival Workshop Tour (2019)

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Echo Echo Festival 2018

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Festival Workshop Tour (2018)

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Festival Workshop Tour (2017)

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Echo Echo Festival 2017

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Echo Echo Festival 2016

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Festival Workshop Tour (2016)

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Echo Echo Festival 2015

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Echo Echo Festival 2014

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Echo Echo Festival 2013

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Vertical. Nature. Base.

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Into Contact (2010-12)

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Payment Buttons

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Thank you

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