INTERVIEW: ella&co on #nofilter

Next week I have the pleasure of reviewing ella&co's #nofilter, a dance work that promises a comedic journey through Instagram, avocado on toast and boomerang obsessions. Both irreverent and thought-provoking, #nofilter examines millennial life in the era of social media and pop culture. In the run up to the performance at at Blue Elephant Theatre, I interview Ella Fleetwood, creator, mover and Founder of ella&co, about her choreographic process and her own thoughts on millennial life.

Maya Pindar: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind #nofilter?

Ella Fleetwood: I was very keen to make a dance work that felt relevant and timely. Being a young person today is a rather complex affair, and I wanted to explore all of the intense pressures and bizarre nuances. I work with young people a lot, and it became clear that social media is a huge part of millennial life. Social media is affecting how young people view themselves and each other- which in turn is dramatically impacting their mental health. I wanted to make a dance work that was representative and reflective of this generation. Pop culture and millennial life is so rich in regards to inspiration- from Buzzfeed articles and SIMS to kale and Kardashians.

PC: Louise Osborne

Ensuring the work was non-judgemental and accessible was a key aim. I used comedy to achieve this, allowing young people to connect without feeling lectured. I have also developed dance and wellbeing workshops which partner with #nofilter- the workshops allow young people to explore the topics from the work, along with their own mental health.

MP: What does being a millennial mean to you?

EF: Being a millennial is quite a complex identity which I am still trying to figure out to be honest! But I think for me it means the freedom to be who I want to be. I am proud to be a part of a generation which is the most accepting, accessible and switched on yet. I think we still have a very long way to go, and it is only in partnership with other generations that things can change, but this energy and drive is an exciting and encouraging force to be a part of. 

PC: Louise Osborne

MP: Can you tell us about your choreographic process for #nofilter?

EF: The process began with lots of talking and exploring millennial life. Sharing what’s trending, and then trying it out in a live performance setting. Relevance was a key aim of the process. To ensure #nofilter was fully reflective, I launched an online survey to engage a wider variety of young people to engage with the topics. This proved invaluable material in the studio- as each person has a different connection and engagement with millennial life, dependent on factors like background, race, class and age. These factors also determine the social media algorithms which manipulate the online content we engage with. So engaging as many people as possible became an important part of the process!

PC: Louise Osborne

The choreographic process involved a lot of laughing and testing out some of the bizarre, yet normalised, content we engage with online- from ‘how to get rid of your cankles in three easy steps’ to the Kiki dance challenge.

#nofilter is structured to emulate the experience of swiping through your phone. So no section lasts longer than a few minutes, and some only a few seconds. This fast pace is a key element of the show. Editing was a huge part of the choreographic process- being ruthless and cutting lots of the sections was a hard but very necessary part of the process. 

MP: What have you enjoyed the most about creating this work?

EF: I have really enjoyed laughing every day in the studio. We had so much fun making the work as millennial life, social media and pop culture are such rich, varied and surprising sources.

PC: Lidia Crisafulli

PC:  Lidia Crisafulli

MP: How important do you think the arts, or dance more specifically, are right now?

EF: I think the arts and dance have a huge amount of importance right now. We need to remind ourselves that our work has power and influence. And therefore we have power, and with power comes responsibility. Is our work and practice daring? Diverse? Inclusive? Accessible? Representative? Relevant? I think these ideas need to be on our agenda, never before have they been so important. We should also never underestimate our potential to inspire others and make change.

MP: As an emerging choreographer, what’s the best piece of advice you can share with other like-minded dance artists?

EF: As an emerging choreographer I am super aware of the fact that I am still treading out my path and figuring it all out- so certainly don’t feel like I have many answers yet! I think the best piece of advice I could give is not to compare yourself to anyone else. We are all unique artists and our journeys should reflect that. Social media has created an addictive comparison culture, but I think it’s important as artists we reject this. Follow our own journeys and support each other along the way. Plus laugh often- sometimes dance can take itself a bit too seriously!

Catch ella&co at Blue Elephant Theatre on Wednesday 21 November and find out more about ella&co here.


Maya Pindar