The Study of Tears | A Dance in Three Scenes

Documentation of live performance at Dance Exchange, Birmingham, 17th August 2010.

Choreography: Vanessa Cook and Ruth Williams 

Dancers: Ruth Williams, Vanessa Cook, Thomas Dolan, Bethany Millns, Frances Weir, Persephonie Dixon, Sarah Dixon, Samantha Walsh, Susan Norwood


Camera & Editing: Riccardo Iacono

Video Format: DV colour stereo

Duration: 6:08 minutes 

Year: 2010

The Study of Tears | Laughter and Sadness

Choreography: Susan Norwood 

Dancers: Ruth Williams, Vanessa Cook, Thomas Dolan, Bethany Millns, Frances Weir, Persephonie Dixon, Sarah Dixon, Samantha Walsh, Susan Norwood

Camera & Editing: Riccardo Iacono
Video Format: DV colour stereo

Duration: 5:21 minutes 

Year: 2010

The Study of Tears | Sadness Duet

Choreographer: Susan Norwood

Dancers: Vanessa Cook and Ruth Williams

Camera & Editing: Riccardo Iacono
Format: colour stereo video

Duration: 2:51 minutes 

Year: 2010

The Study of Tears | Ruth Williams Choreography on Vanessa Cook

As part of her professional development, Ruth Williams choreographed her first work on a non-disabled professional dancer, Vanessa Cook. Her piece explored the contrasting characteristics of basal tears and reflex tears and was performed at Dance Exchange, Birmingham, on 17th August, 2010.

Choreographer: Ruth Williams
Dancers: Ruth Williams and Vanessa Cook


Camera & Editing: Riccardo Iacono
Format: colour stereo video
Duration: 2:45 minutes 
Year: 2010

Ruth Williams Choreography

Ruth Williams choreographed her first work on a non-disabled professional dancer, Vanessa Cook as part of her professional development. The piece was performed at Dance Exchange on 17th September, 2010.

Ruth has, since I have known and worked with her, an extraordinary grasp of the complexities of creating choreography. This was an opportunity for her to stand back and practice the directing of her ideas on someone else.

Ruth's choreography explored the constant quality of basal tears, whilst then contrasting this movement quality with the sharp movements inspired by reflex tears, as though responding to an irritant before producing tears.

Ruth and Vanessa then discussed their working process after the performance.

Photographs of Vanessa Cook by Judie Waldmann