‘Searing choreography…sourced from a deep place…from tribal contortions to sublime and sensual forms. ‘

‘Descent’ Rango Hussain, IAM BIRMINGHAM

BIO

Movement Direction and Choreography are central to Helen’s practice as an artist.

She is driven to explore the body as a power-house of emotional storytelling, creating highly physical and thought-provoking choreographic work.

Commissions span from theatre, to live contemporary work, indie film, and site-specific productions. She devises movement for both large-scale visionary projects, as well as more intimate storytelling.

‘DESCENT’ TRAILER | MIDLANDS ACTORS THEATRE,

“A brilliant piece of theatre”- Elise Evans, Radio WM

DIRECTED BY DAVID ALLEN.

CHOREOGRAPHY BY HELEN CALCUTT.

FEATURING SHELLEY EVA HADEN.

In the aftermath of war, four characters go on a strange and mysterious journey – descending underground. They are haunted by visions, and ghosts of the past. The things they have done, the things they have gone through, the things they have seen. Can they rebuild their lives?

Their journey ends in a strange encounter – and a dreamlike vision of the Earth reborn.

‘

A DAY IN THE LIFE (OF A WRITER) | BIDF TV

DIRECTED & CHOREOGRAPHED BY HELEN CALCUTT

A short dance-film casting a brief spotlight onto a day-in-the-life of a writer. Created during lockdown. Showcased as part of the BIDF TV Dance Festival and the One Dance UK Film Festival.

GRIEF IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS | Arts Council England

FEATURING FRANKIE HICKMAN, CLAIRE LAMBERT, SARA MACQUEEN, AND SHELLEY EVA HADEN.

MOVEMENT DIRECTION BY HELEN CALCUTT

Using award-winning novella, ‘Grief Is The Thing With Feathers’ by Max Porter, dancers explore approaches to embodying text and re-telling story through movement. This is an ongoing project taking that vital step towards dance and words blending in ways that go beyond expected norms, delving into a more truthful experience of word & body language cohesion.

The project was created in April 2021, and is funded by Arts Council England, and supported by The DanceXchange.

‘DESCENT’ | THE LAMPWORKS | MIDLANDS ACTORS THEATRE, 2021

PHOTOGRAPHY © KATE GREEN 2021

‘THE DARLASTON DOG FIGHT’ |The Arena Theatre 2018

PHOTOGRAPHY © WAYNE FOX 2019

‘I’D DO IT ALL AGAIN’ |

COMMUNITY PRODUCTION, MIDLANDS ACTORS THEATRE, 2019

PHOTOGRAPHY © KATE GREEN 2019

ADAPTATIONS | from text to movement

Using text as an underscore for movement and dance is a fundamental part of Helen’s choreographic practice. She is particularly interested in using poetry as a starting point for both improvisational work, and devising new choreography.

READ MORE

PG 7. OF ‘GRIEF IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS‘ RE-CREATED FOR MOVEMENT.

‘YOU’RE FRIGHTENED, JUST SAY HELLO’

PG 34 OF ‘GRIEF IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS‘ RE-CREATED FOR MOVMENT.

TODAY I DREW A PICTURE I AM REALLY PROUD OF’

PG 50. OF ‘GRIEF IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS‘ RE-CREATED FOR MOVEMENT .

‘I MISS MY WIFE’