About

NORTH X NORTH is the creative engine for ongoing concepts surrounding psychotherapeutic theory within art, performance, installation and community settings. It’s a cohort formed of creatives exploring movement, sound, cultural exchange, thought and design, forged from a core of community engagement. Formed in 2023 by Sophie and choreographer John Ross, it is the starting point of collaborations and partnerships with artists, musicians, designers, performers, psychologists, organisations and more. Exploring the euphoric effect of heightened emotional experiences, and why it’s essential to human interaction and connection. 

North X North develops installations, events, performances and creative labs, through enrichment programs leading individuals into their own creative expression. Mentoring and cultivating their ideas to form new works, together with creative artists. The single motivations is, what is ‘The Drop’? The emotional curve experienced in circumstances like musical drops, exhaustion and adrenaline release for example. Can we expand it and make it last? And, how does this experience transcend ages, politics, hertiage, cultures, physical imitations, lived experience and memory? 

 
 

Image by Ella Breanna, MOTION

 

Image by Ella Breanna, MOTION. William English, Lesya Tyminska

 
 

Image by Ella Breanna, MOTION. William English, Lesya Tyminska

 
 

THE WORK

 

DROP 0.1 | BUILDING BLOCKS


 
CLICK TO EXPERIENCE THE INSTALLATIONS
 

The Drop 0.1 | Building Blocks - 6 headphone experiences

September 2023

In collaboration with Dundee Rep Theatre & Scottish Dance Theatre.

Concept, text, music and design: Sophie Duncan, John Ross.

Additonal text and ideas by participants of Dundee Rep Theatre arts community.

Research Question: What happens if you don’t give ‘The Drop’.

Format: Insallation with 6, 2 minute audio experiences in headphones with a small prompt. Darkened room, with ‘rumble’.

RESULT: People felt that a sence of wanting. Wishing they may have done the prompt asked in the headphones. Some found the experiences frustraiting.

 
 

DROP 0.2 | SPOKEN VISION

 
MAKING OF DOCUMENTARY

In this research, we asked how is the Drop experienced if vision is taken away.

Funded by FABRIC DANCE, Nottingham.

Choreography: Sophie Duncan, John Ross

Set, Sound & Lighting Design: Daniel Sides Pearson

Psychotherapist: Lisa Hammond

Violin: Gibrana Cervantes

Funded by FABRIC DANCE, Nottingham. 

Choreography: Sophie Duncan, John Ross

Set, Sound & Lighting Design: Daniel Sides Pearson

Psychotherapist: Lisa Hammond 

Violin: Gibrana Cervantes

Created and performed by dancers William English, Lesya Tyminska, participants from FABRIC Dance Network. Creative music labs and discussions groups with young, visually impaired and blind arts participants from ARC Nottingham formed the basis of research, lead by Lisa Hammond, Sophie Duncan, Daniel Sides Pearson and Gibrana Cervantes.

COLLABORATORS

SOPHIE DUNCAN - choreography, text, direction | JOHN ROSS - choreography, text, direction | DANIEL SIDES PEARSON - sound design, light design, set | LISA HAMMOND - psychotherapist, text | GiBRANA CERVANTES - composition, violin | LESYA TYMINSKA - dancer| WILLIAM ENGLISH - dancer | ELLA BREANNA - videographer, photography

FABRIC DANCE NOTTINGHAM - funder + residency The Drop 0.2 SPOKEN VISION | SCOTTISH DANCE THEATRE / DUNDEE REP THEATRE - funder + residency The Drop 0.1 BUILDING BLOCKS