Artistic Associate June Campbell-Davies

Could you tell us a bit about yourself, your journey in dance in Wales and beyond?

I was born and raised in North London and went to Brookfield Primary school in Highgate. My first experience of dance was an after school ballet club with Cornish ballet teacher Margaux Charrington at the age of nine years old. I just loved the discipline, performance and dressing up.  

Headmaster Mr Jones of the Junior school was Welsh and so they had a school choir. Performing Arts was encouraged and every Easter the school would host a daffodil competition where students were given bulbs to grow and they would be judged and prizes awarded. Its only when I moved to Cardiff in the early 80’s that realised the significance.

At Parliament Hill Secondary school I had two excellent PE Teachers Mrs Brown & Maggie Semple who opened up my world, so I experienced different forms of free expression. I had additional classes in Graham technique at The Place, which was much more structured. I remember it feeling strange that the whole lessson seemed to be based around exercises and there was not much freedom to express.

Nearer to home I attended another dance class where they taught blend of modern & jazz dance at Achland Burley school, the sessions were run by Theresa Noble & Celia Greenwood who were trained dance & drama practishoners. Together they formed Weekend Arts college organising classes for young people who faced barriers in the Arts – eventually they collaborated with Ed. Berman Inte- Action

I teamed up with Pioneer Ed Berman who worked in social interprise creating large community regeneration  projects that improved the lives of young people and the community.

This work lead to being invited to a dance pilot scheme in the area for underprivileged children called Weekend Arts College Pioneered by American anthropologist Ed Bergman, where young people could experience training within the performing arts and attend workshops lead by industry professionals.

Its was from there that I was able to apply to the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance and it completely transformed my life.

My journey through dance just seemed to progress from this point onwards. During the final years at Laban my year DT3 were selected to dance for the Pope, John Paul II in Cardiff at Ninian Park, Little did I know  that I would be moving to Cardiff the following year.

In the summer of that year, The National Youth Dance Festival was being held in Swansea and 'Moving Being' mixed media theatre company would be working a project Dylan Thomas’s 'Prospect of the Sea.' Youth groups selected from the Youth Dance Festival were invited to participate in the show. Unfortunately our Youth group ‘ Fusion’ couldn’t be involved in the end production as we had performance gig which clashed. 

When I moved to Wales in 1983 'Moving Being' was the first company that I worked for in the production of  “City Trilogy”.
My partner was already working for the company as a dancer/actor and at that time there was a very small pool of professional artists in Wales, and the dance community was just starting to florish, so I ended up staying and over the years worked with other local projects as a freelancer and teacher although I had no formal teacher training.  

I worked on several dance projects with 'Dance Wales' an umbrella Organisation Lead by Artistic Director Caroline Lamb, which developed into 'Welsh Independent Dance' and she now runs 'Striking Attitudes', who was instrumental in keeping many freelance dancers employed during periods of inactivity, so many performers honed there skills as choreographers, teachers actors & company directors. I was a founder member of 'Cwmni Dawns Gywlan' along with Dylan Davies, Lucy Fawcette our Artistic Director, she invited Germit Hukkum & then later Nigel Charnock to join the Company  and also local Dancer Janet Fieldsend.

Most of us worked with 'Moving Being' again on several big projects involving the community on several levels. The Mabinogi was a massive project set in Cardiff Castle and Caernafon Castle. I was involved in later projects with 'Moving Being'.

When Diversions developed I was invited to choreograph a piece for the company called ‘Junctions’ which toured schools around Wales, I was then able to get my equity card which opened up a whole new world working and performing for Theatre and TV and getting paid proper rates.  

What has been a career highlight, or highlights so far?

Ive always worked as a freelance dancer, Teacher and at times Choreographer

I have to say there have been many highlights when I look back at what I’ve been able to achieve, one door closes another opens.

Moving Being's production of ‘ In these Great Times’ & 'Tiger Tiger'

The theatre & auditorum was transformed into a large Viennese Café with audience at close proximity and for Tiger Tiger working with Butetown community and Moving Beings chorus community of performers, The set was a massive mine shaft, which transformed into Docklands, streetlife & homes with music created by Chris Benstead.

Welsh National Opera’s – 'Tornrak' was my first time working with an opera company as a soloist performer. Being a wolf Tornrak wearing real fur, and operating a Owl puppet.

Music Theatre Wales production of ‘The Soldiers Tale’ was a real challenge, Acting & Dancing sharing the roles of Soldier, Princess & Devil with two other performers Karen Jones & Lee Warburton, choreography by Miranda Knight.

Double Edge Theatre Production of ‘Raggamuffin’ London & UK tour

This was my first experience as an actress playing 4 characters in a 3 hour production in London & mini tour around England. [at the time 3 months pregnant]  (A Politcal piece about the Tottenham riots during the Thatcher years. I played the character of court Judge, Old women, Dance Hall girl and a runway slave.

Philip Mckenzie’s production of ‘We want God Now’ Touring Holland

This particular production based on 1930 depression era juxtaposed with the techno rave music scene in the early 90’s. This show was physically exhausting and exhilarating at the same time, you really felt you were going to die, pushing one self physically to the edge of burnout.

Music Collaboration with Sain & Afro Celt Sound System touring Womad Spain, Cesearus and Reading. This Collaborative music project started in a music studio in Caernarfon, North Wales with Rhys Mywn, which then lead to work with lead Musician Simon Emmerson,  Designer Jamie Clark for the Sex Pistols in Bath at Peter Gabriels Studio’s – the pilot project lead to me being involved as a performer rather than a singer with other performers and musicians and I was able to go on tour with my husband Dylan Davies  and Ffion who was 5yrs old at the time, she loved the nomadic lifestyle which made my life easier.

Omidaze Shakespeare Theatre Richard III all female cast

I was working as movement Director this was a Part theatre / Installation. For me follow the journey of Richard III and exploring movement & choreography.

National Theatre Wales production of Lifted by Beauty: Adventures in Dreaming

A site specific piece created for the outdoors and performed in Rhyl North Wales.

Striking Attitudes – Artistic Director Caroline Lamb, company of senior dancers I enjoy working with Caroline Lamb over the years as her work influenced by Opera, High Art & Pina Baush over the years I have learn so much by working with her on several of her productions.

Jo Fong’s ‘Where Do We Go From Here” was an unusual project in collaboration with Wales Millennuim Centre we had taken over the main stage and worked in its vast emptiness and filled it with our Truths, an experience  that I will never forget, being on stage with 50 performers, music, conversation improvisation & guided structure to keep us working saftely together for 8hr & two days.

Swica & BACA
Last but not least is working on Carnival in past with Swica and BACA two very different Organisations. Carnival incorporates  everything within the Arts. Its where one gets to work with Creatives, Designers, Musicians, Dancers & Communities, To put on a road show spectacle.  Its where one can explore on a giant moving canvas, idea’s, dreams, learn transferable skills. It can be chaotic, explosive but it’s the glue that holds communities together from different social backgrounds,  giving people a purpose, creating together, it requires full on commitment, you can’t go into it half hearted.  Its like preparing for a marathon.

Free to express yourself – throwing off the shackles - cleaning the slate.

All these Productions have been transformative, large scale productions involving professionals, community and live music.

You are an artistic associate with National Dance Company Wales?

I was surprised to be offered an Artistic Associate placement for two years, mainly because I've been in Cardiff for many years working freelance, and most applications generally seemed to be geared towards emerging young artists, so I didn’t think I would be considered.

I've always enjoyed choreographing, but being a parent I had to find work that fitted in with school terms & summer holidays. As a dancer who still wanted to perform I created solo’s that could be presented at small events or got involved in short projects that were 2-4 weeks long. My work with Rubicon Dance and Cardiff Met University involved teaching dance students, Contemporary & Jazz dance with an end of term choreographed piece, that served as a way to maintain my choreographic skills as well as keeping my self physical fit.

The pandemic, the inhumane treatment of George Floyd in USA and the pulling down of statues in England propelled all of us into looking at social change. There seemed an earnest need for reflection and change in all areas of life.

So with all this going on and moving in and out of covid restrictions, I thought why not just go for it and apply?
All I really want to do is choreograph, completing applications seemed to be such a momentous task and NDCWales was asking for expressions of interest in developing creative work as a choreographer, with mentorship, space to rehearse and your time would be paid for regardless of where you were in your stage of development. The more I thought about it the more I dithered until Keith Murrell of BACA said just go for it put the application in. That was the night before The deadline.

Could you talk about that experience, and any particular highlights?

It's been an amazing experience, to be able work in a dance studio with all its facilities, a clean quiet space to work in, to dream your dreams, receive mentorship, suddenly you feel like a different animal, not struggling to feel respected and Artistic Associate its given my time and space to explore some of my ideas along with mentorship, which has been really benifical.

The Laboratori is really great alongside regular morning dance classes where you can maintain your technique and also work in a decent environment to create work and feel valued and respected – it has been a wonderful experience, in my case I used  time for self reflection and developing my ideas and then watching open class seeing how the creators devised sequences, and for me to see how the dancers responed to different stimuli.

It was also great to talk to other dancers and choreographers seeing there process, shared difficulties and triumphs.

Sharing your work to at the end of the course was really important and nerve wracking, getting use to public speaking  and explaining your process it was a great way to help me re-focus how I present my work and develop a more professional attitude when you have support, how to ask for support, the importance of self care and also how to present yourself.

It was also great to talk to other dancers and choreographers/Visual Artists seeing their end results and hearing about their process, difficulties and break through. Laboratori is a great project and the fact that it’s paid with mentorship support makes one feel valued and supported through out their creative journey with NDCWales and beyond.

You are creating a brand new work as part of 4X10 this summer with NDCWales.

Could you tell us a bit about what you have in mind? How do you feel about creating this work with the company?

I'm Creating a brand new work with the Company as part of 4x10 I’m excited and nervous at the same time, how the dancers  will respond to my work and also audiences reaction.

Im working with four dancers, two company members and two invited guest dancers – so it will be an exciting challenge to see what comes out of the creative process together and how in a short space of time how my idea and theme transpires. In the past I've often worked as a soloist, creating work that suits my body and now that I’m not dancing as much and finding different ways of devising work, I will be totally dependent on the dancers, their interpretations and their bodies and how they work together.
I like working loosely with narratives as a guide, so there is room for flexibility and change and also for audiences to be moved by what they see and understand.

What advice would you have for an artist starting out in Wales?

Depending where you are located in Wales, connect with existing dance organisations near you, do company class with them offer to teach or find places where you could may teach dance as another way to introduce and create a presence in your local community. It's often difficult to get started once you’ve finished training, unless you’ve kept in contact with other colleagues or institution.

Go and see performances and also keep creating work for yourself even if its solo.

Make connections with Arts Council find out who your dance officer is and invite them to any shows you are involved in or sharing. If you have other skills and you have time on your hand continue  cultivating those, even if you have to work around find an ordinary job. Exisiting as a freelance artist is hard work and sometimes you can feel isolated, but the main thing is trying to juggle several things, maintain training, creativity ,supporting each other through mentoring ,discussions and upskilling.

We never stop learning new skills.

What is next for you and what else are you working on?

Currently I work with a few community projects that need my skills as dance facilitator, choreographer or mentoring.

At present I work with Oasis One World Choir alongside a singer songwriter Laura Bradshaw and film & project manager  Tracy pallet. Together we run sessions  with Refugee and Assilum seekers through the Arts – Our choir was selected to Sing at the Kings Coronation at Windsor in May and also BBC made a short Documentary sing for the King.

Also I work with Butetown Carnival [BACA] with Artistic Director Keith Murrell in collaboration with Wales Millennium Centre Engagement Programme on several Community projects during the summer months and last year team up with Articulture outdoor Engagement programme touring venue’s around Wales with

'Dwndwyr Y dwr', which was well received. Plans for later in the year to create work for another mini tour funded by Race Cymru

For Jazz Arts Re-wired ‘ Up Close and Personal’ at the Place in London

Present and hosted by Dollie Henry and Paul Jenkins I performed with my daughter Ffion Campbell-Davies in her work for the event.

Where could people find out more about you, or follow your work

At present I’m only visible on Facebook and Instagram, this is an area that I'm having to look at upskilling.