Mycelial Sketches visits the underground world of the Earth’s mushroom networks; celebrating the beauty of decomposition and paying homage to their life sustaining work.

This seven-week dance education project in Italy was a culmination of efforts exploring Shen Wei Dance Arts movement concepts and qualities and led to the development of Mycelial Sketches – a work-in-progress. For three weeks in Milan’s Paolo Grassi School, company member and artistic associate Sara Procopio, taught Shen Wei’s Natural Body Development Technique class as well as various improvisational exercises. While the company was performing in Milan in February, students had the opportunity to participate in master classes with Shen Wei, watch company class, attend dress rehearsals and performances, as well as participate in conversations with the company. The final three weeks of the project, led by rehearsal director Kate Jewett, were a continuation of in-depth study of Shen Wei’s dance technique vocabulary alongside the opportunity to be part of a creative process, resulting in Mycelial Sketches.

Mycelial Sketches will be presented also at Teatro della Scuola d’Arte Drammatica Paolo Grassi in Milan on 17th, 18th and 19th May.

project with supervising Shen Wei
technique class and improvisation: Sara Procopio, Kate Jewett
choreography and performance creation: Kate Jewett
design training: Marinella Guatterini

Mycelial Sketches
choreography: Kate Jewett
assistant choreographer: Sara Procopio
music: Michael Wall, Jesse Stevens
violinist: Candace Laricci
costumes: Poncif
with: Sara Procopio, Kate Jewett
and Georgina Amat Salmeron, Lorena Amico, Silvia Bennett, Chiara Cinquini, Melissa Cosseta, Sharon Estacio, Riccardo Fusiello, Alessandra Gaeta, Elda Gallo, Francesca Maria Akaiwa Gea, Maria Francesca Guerra, Chiara Innocenti, Giuseppe Insalaco, Stefania Lazzeri, Camilla Monga, Lucrezia Palandri, Alessandra Rizzuto, Claudia Rossi, Giulia Santini