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cat westwood

bio

Cat Westwood, dancer and practitioner, works with a strong impetus in collaboration and improvisation. In particular, her process explores embodiment within an environment, to create movement-language informing the specific work(s). 

Westwood has toured internationally as a performer and creator and has worked with many influential choreographers including Siobhan Davies, Charlotte Vincent, Marie-Gabrielle Roti, Oguri, Kathy Crick, Melanie Clarke, Rosemary Brant, Zoi Dimitrou, Gill Clarke and Morleigh Steinberg. 

In 2013 Westwood co-founded Eleven Farrer House whose artistic activities are centred on creating high-quality choreographic and performative experiences, emerging from a strong collaborative framework. Formed by dance artists Gaelin Little (UK), Tara Silverthorn (UK/CH), Cat Westwood (UK) and Lucille Teppa (FR), EFH projects sit primarily within the field of dance and movement, whether site-specific performances, stage work or dance on film. EFH work has been performed in England and abroad, and supported by the Norfolk County Council, the Rebecca Skelton Fund, the Ballet National de Marseille (France) and the Lisa Ullmann Scholarship Travelling Fund, LIVE Boarders, Creative Scotland Funding, Dance Base and Arts Council England.

Her works includes on going collaboration with composer Sarah Westwood. Projects includes: dance film WATER-face, which received funding from the European Social Fund and is housed in the National Library of Wales; Grey-stem, which was first performed at the Electric Lodge Theatre LA, and later screen at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre London; and currently Sarah's PhD portfolio in practised-based research at Goldsmiths University of London. 

In 2010 Westwood was awarded a scholarship to participate in Oguri and Steinberg’s Flower of the Season Festival, creating a solo performance at the Electric Lodge Theatre in Los Angeles. Since then, Cat has worked closely with the directors of Arcane Collective creating the original role for their production Cold Dream Color, which has toured to The Pavilion, Dublin to the Guggenheim Theatre New York, amongst others.

Westwood attained a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Dance Theatre at LABAN 2008 and trained as a Shiatsu Practitioner at The Shiatsu College Brighton. She is continuing to develop her knowledge in bodywork practices by embarking on a Meridian Yoga Teacher Training (Scaravelli), where she has been awarded a scholarship.

2019
 

VENICE, LOS ANGELES

Performer // Flower of the Season 2019

Façade of Time - workshop and site specific performance: start location 200 N Venice Blvd

17 February 

TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC AND DANCE, LONDON

Visiting Lecturer // Eleven Farrer House

March

NORWICH

Facilitator // dance / body-weather laboratory / yoga / energy work / Shiatsu

Spring Awakening Movement Workshop

March

ST JOHN'S CHURCH, LIMERICK 

Performer // Eleven Farrer House

Circle of Perpetual Choirs 

June 

DANCE LIMERICK IRELAND, LIMERICK

Residential and production development // Eleven Farrer House

Circle of Perpetual Choirs 

June 

 

BATH SPA UNIVERSITY, BATH

Visiting Lecturer // Eleven Farrer House

July 

BATH SPA UNIVERSITY, BATH

Residential // Eleven Farrer House

July 

MERIDIAN YOGA, NORWICH

Head of Branch // Meridian Yoga Teacher Training Course

September

2018 

SIOBHAN DAVIES DANCE, LONDON 

Performer // Eleven Farrer House

Circle of Perpetual Choirs

part of Open Choreography Performance

Nov

BALLET NATIONAL DE MARSEILLE - CENTRE CHORÉGRAPHIQUE NATIONAL, MARESILLE FRANCE

Residential // Eleven Farrer House

Circle of Perpetual Choirs

July 

TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC AND DANCE, LONDON

Visiting Lecturer // Eleven Farrer House

6 March

ELECTRIC LODGE, VENICE, CA 

Performer // Flower of the Season 2018: Oguri; Roxanne Steinberg; Morleigh Steinberg; Cat Westwood; Tony Testa; Feltlike with Paul Chavez

...like foaming water... - workshops and performances

February - March 

news
bio

selected projects

Projects

movement artist  // dancer  // choreographer  // collaborator

 "...Cat Westwood introduces the joyful simplicity of Le Brocquy's 1951 'Child with Flowers', and a welcome breath of playfulness."

Irish Independent 

CV

training // qualifications // work

CV

2016 - 2018     Meridian Yoga Teacher Training Qualification [IYN], Meridian Yoga St Leonards on Sea  

2016               MRSS Shiatsu Practitioner Diploma [Ofqual], The Shiatsu College Brighton

 

2016               First Aid Course

2008               BA(Hons) Dance Theatre, Laban

                      2:1

2006                BTEC National Diploma Dance, St Austell College Cornwall

                       Triple Distinction

For a more detailed artistic CV, please view the website via a desktop (not mobile site)

EASTBOURNE ARTS HOUSE, SUSSEX

Performer in workshop space // Eleven Farrer House

Circle of Perpetual Choirs

Nov

2017

INNER SPACE, NORWICH

Workshop co-leader // Eleven Farrer House

Somatics, Beats & Treats

Oct

BONNIE BIRD THEATRE, TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC AND DANCE, LONDON

Choreographer // Eleven Farrer House

Performance of commissioned works BA3 

5th June - 7th July 

TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC AND DANCE, LONDON

Choreographer // Eleven Farrer House

Commissioned works BA3

5th June - 7th July 

GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, LONDON 

Filming //Eleven Farrer House with Jason Brooks [filmmaker] 

Species of Spaces

3rd - 5th April 

GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, LONDON 

Filming //Eleven Farrer House [EFH] with Jason Brooks [filmmaker] 

Species of Spaces

8th -10th July

AGONY ART, CHISENHALE DANCE SPACE, LONDON 

Sharing // EFH 

Species of Spaces

June

DANCE LIMERICK, LIMERICK IRELAND

Residential, including workshop + performance// EFH  

Species of Spaces

25th May - 5th June

QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL, SOUTHBANK CENTRE LONDON

Film screening // Sarah Westwood

Grey Stem

8th May

STUDIO ON THE GREEN, SELKIRK SCOTLAND

Residential, including workshop + sharing // Eleven Farrer House

Birds

22nd - 27th Nov 

THE CUT, HAIESWORTH, SUFFOLK

Perfomance // Eleven Farrer House

Species of Spaces

20th Nov

CAFÉ CHOREGRAPHIQUE, THE POINT, EASTLEIGH

Platform // Eleven Farrer House

Species of Spaces

15th Oct

ARNOLFINI - CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS, BRISTOL

Residential // Eleven Farrer House

Birds

5th - 8th Oct

BALLET NATIONAL DE MARSEILLE - CENTRE CHORÉGRAPHIQUE NATIONAL, MARESILLE FRANCE

Residential // Eleven Farrer House

Species of Spaces

29th Aug - 2nd Sep

TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC AND DANCE, LONDON 

Dance Lecturer at LABAN, BA3

30th March

CHISENHALE DANCE SPACE, LONDON

Performance //Eleven Farrer House

Species of Spaces

24th Feb

EASTBOURNE ART HOUSE, LONDON

Residential // Eleven Farrer House

13th - 17th Feb 

PEN PYNFARCH, WALES

Residential // Eleven Farrer House

Species of Spaces

30th Jan - 5th Feb

2016

2015

BALLET NATIONAL DE MARSEILLE - CENTRE CHORÉGRAPHIQUE NATIONAL, MARESILLE FRANCE

Residential // Eleven Farrer House

Species of Spaces

14th - 25th July

2014

FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY, CORNWALL

Dance Film // collaboration with Francesca Owen [artist]

A Response to Woodland for Owen's Art & Environment MA 

July

ALVIN AILEY THEATRE, NEW YORK CITY USA

Performances at APAP, Jodi Kaplan Dance Showcase and Culture Ireland   Cold Dream Color // Arcane Collective

7th - 9th Jan

TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC AND DANCE, LONDON

Assistant teacher // with Marie-Gabrielle Rotie

Wake Butterfly, it’s late, we’ve miles to go together for Commissioned works BA3

Sep 2011 - Feb 2012

BODYVOX DANCE THEATRE, PORTLAND OREGAN USA

Performances // Arcane Collective

Cold Dream Color 

5th - 7th Dec

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF WALES, ABERYSTWYTH WALES

Film // Sarah Westwood 

WATER-face

30th Sep

HAPPISBURG LIGHTHOUSE, NORFOLK

Performance // EFH

Disappearance at Sea, Alighting Shores

16th June

THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM, NEW YORK CITY USA

Performances at 'works and process' // Arcane Collective

Cold Dream Color   

11th - 12th May

ARCANE LOFT, NEW YORK CITY USA

Performances at The Association of Performing Arts Presenters [APAP], Jodi Kaplan Dance Showcase and Culture Ireland // Arcane Collective

Cold Dream Color   

12th - 13th Jan

2013

2012

SEONE, LONDON BRIDGE LONDON

Performance // Seraph Id

Light Hands at Luminopolis 

Nov

SECRET GARDEN PARTY FESTIVAL, HUNTINGDON

Performance // Gaelin Little [dancer]

Curiously Little 

July

TATE BRITAIN, LONDON

Artist 'runner' // Martin Creed

Duveen Project and included in digital screen advertisement 

Feb - July 

GREENWICH DANCE AGENCY, LONDON

Assistant Teacher // Gallions Mount Primary School and Kidbrooke Secondary School

Sep - Oct

BAMBOLA ROSSA FOLKUS FESTIVAL, LONDON

Performance // Matt Rigby-Smith [musician]

Bambola Rossa

Aug

SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE, LONDON

Performance // Blue Bag

untitled [site specific improvised sound and movement piece]

July

GREENWICH DANCE AGENCY, LONDON

Assistant Teacher // Eltham Primary School 

June

GREENWICH DANCE AGENCY, LONDON

Assistant Teacher // Eltham Primary School 

June

TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE, LONDON

Stage Crew/ trainee lighting technician // Bonnie Bird Theatre

May

RESOLUTIONS, THE ROBIN HOWARD THEATRE, THE PLACE, LONDON

Performance// Choreographed by Marie-Gabrielle Roti

Ago pro obscrum and Darkness Cycle no.2 

Feb

TEACHING DANCE, BTEC DANCE NATIONAL DIPOLMA, CORNWALL

Teacher // Poltaire Secondary School and Double Trees School for Learning Difficulties

March

CORNWALL YOUTH DANCE COMPANY, CORNWALL

Performer // touring

Youngest dancer to be accepted to CYDC

1998 - 2005 

THE PAVILION, DUBLIN IRELAND

Performances //Arcane Collective

World premier Cold Dream Color 

12th - 13th Nov

BIRKBECK UNIVERSITY, LONDON

Poetry recital + performance// David Charles

untitled [haiku]

June

BIRKBECK UNIVERSITY, LONDON

Poetry recital + performance// David Charles

untitled [haiku]

June

LONDON BUDDHIST CENTRE, LONDON

Teacher

touching on Body weather and Butoh techniques

June

PARLOUR GALLERY, THE FOUND ART SOCIETY, LONDON

Performance 

Shoe. Tea. Where’s my keys

May

RAT STAR SOCIAL CENTRE, CAMBERWELL LONDON

Teacher

touching on Body weather and Butoh techniques

May - June

THE ELECTRIC LODGE, VENICE LOS ANGELES

Performance // Arcane Collective

Cold Dream Color

April

THE ELECTRIC LODGE, VENICE LOS ANGELES

Residency // Body Weather Laboratory 

Grey Stem presented at Flower or the Season Festival

Jan - Feb

TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC AND DANCE, LONDON

Assistant teacher // with Marie-Gabrielle Rotie

Commissioned works BA3

Sep 2011 - Oct 2011

HAYWARD GALLERY, LONDON

Performances // 'Move: Choreographing You'

Trio A, Yvonne Rainer

Oct 2010 - Jan 2011

2011

2010

2009

2005

2008

1998

EASTBOURNE ARTS HOUSE, SUSSEX

Workshop co-leader // Eleven Farrer House

Somatics, Beats & Treats

Dec

CHISENHALE DANCE SPACE, LONDON

Performer in sharing // Eleven Farrer House

Circle of Perpetual Choirs

Dec

WOLSTONBURY HILL, SUSSEX

Initiator and performer // Eleven Farrer House

Chalk. Body. Barrow. – Site-specific performances and workshops

as part of Hurst Festival

Sep

press

press

Arcane Collective:

Cold dream colour: 

'Roxanne Steinberg adds a graceful symmetry, while the child-like Cat Westwood introduces the joyful simplicity of Le Brocquy's 1951 'Child with Flowers', and a welcome breath of playfulness'  Monday November 15, 2010

http://arcanecollective.com/reviews/irish-independent-cold-dream-colour/

 

http://arcanecollective.com/reviews/irish-times-magazine-cold-dream-colour/

 

http://arcanecollective.com/reviews/the-irish-times-cold-dream-colour/

Eleven Farrer House:

REVIEW and SKETCH by Carolyn Roy

So female. And beautiful. So quietly, precisely, wafting and wefting. Filing through space. Drawing lines in space. A brocade or a tapestry. One almost breathes the breath, drops with the fall into movement as the dancers weave their pathways, count their steps and a pattern evolves. Cut. Breaking the thread. Pick up the weave. Another weave, another fabric emerges. Cut. Distinct test pieces, each skilfully designed. We watch them materialising before us, a catalogue of myriad possible variations. It ends with a single thread drawn on a journey through nostalgia, in stillness, a margin woven in memory, the edges of now.

links and contact

LINKS

Training

 

Yoga: http://www.meridianyoga.co.uk


Shiatsu: http://shiatsucollege.co.uk

 

Laban: http://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk

 

Collaborators 

Arcane Collective: http://arcanecollective.com/about/

Eleven Farrer House: http://www.elevenfarrerhouse.com

 

Marie-Gabrielle Rotie: http://www.rotieproductions.com

Martin Creed: http://www.martincreed.com

Oguri: http://lightningshadow.com/Home.html

Sarah Westwood: http://www.sarah-westwood.com

The Electric Lodge :http://livearts.electriclodge.org

 

Shiatsu practice

Shiatsu:http://www.catwestwoodshiatsu.com

contact

For further artistic information, including interest in future projects, please contact Cat Westwood:

Thank you for your message, Cat will be in contact soon.

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