Embedded in Community Dance

DanceCast is a podcast that spotlights non-traditional dance artists. It is produced by Silva Laukkanen, an advocate for inclusive dance based in Austin, TX.

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Bronwen Wilson Rashad, a UK-based dance artist who has worked within several different communities. Bronwen shares how she was part of Julie Liebel's group which had the goal of accommodating her artistic practice while parenting, and how it eventually led her to work with a perinatal mental health team running creative sessions for babies and parents. She is also a member of Molly No-Mates, a traditional Morris folk dance group performed by drag kings, as the word “molly” is associated with queer people. Bronwen describes how she emphasizes process over product when working in community dance settings, prioritizing getting people comfortable in their bodies and finding expression through movement.

Bronwen Wilson Rashad is a dance artist based in the Forest of Dean in the UK. She has a background in contemporary dance and social anthropology. Having grown up outside the UK, with Welsh and English heritage, her practice reflects her interests in belonging, place, and folk culture. She works to create spaces where people can co-create new folk traditions that say something about where we are now. Over the past four years, she has led the Dancing the Parenting project, working with women and babies who are being cared for by the Perinatal Mental Health Team in South Wales. She is also a member of the drag king folk dance group Molly No-Mates. She is currently investigating how she can help a community find its dance.

To learn more, visit www.bronwenwilsonrashad.com.