ABOUT (under renewal)

THEN|

After graduating from The Place (London Contemporary Dance School) in 2007, I continued my stay in the capital using London as my base, performing both nationally and internationally with Ijad Dance Company, EDge, Jose Vidal, Ffin Dance and Cscape, amongst others. Throughout my time in London I grow and established my skills as a practitioner, facilitating Out Reach programs, company classes and teaching across the city in a number of well established institutes.

NOW|

Since returning to Cornwall I have become a well-accomplished practitioner and choreographer throughout the South West with my engagement in education, community and professional practice. Regularly teaching for the Theatre Royal, Plymouth Conservator on the BA & MA stimulus and for open professional classes.

My classes take root with the strong focused intention on fluidity supported by strength, partnered with the harnessing of the multiple changes of sensations and their energies, driven from the movement itself.

I enjoy listening to and feeding the given moment in both technique and creativity. Highlighting integrated detailed, partnered with complex and grounded phrasing, resulting in classes that are both engaging and challenging. With the aim to create environments in which people feel supported, encouraged and invested in, without loosing the sense of urgency to reach their full potential.

I'm proudly the founder of A.B.D (All Boys Dance) spearheading male youth dance and creativity in the county since 2014. Partnered to this Im the Co-Artistic Director of Hall For Cornwall Youth Dance Company. With both positions my desire is not only to inspire and develop each company member but to create for them the same positive experience and memories that I have from my time as a youth training, creating and performing in the South West.

FUTURE|

I continue to gain support from Arts Council England, Hall for Cornwall, FEAST and the Peninsula Dance Partnership to further develop my own professional work and with my company G R I T.

Throughout each opportunity I have gained valued experience with working in collaboration with musicians, filmmakers, designers and dramaturg’s. Relationships that have built strong foundations to build upon as my ambition grows for what I truly believe to be possible for my work.

This short footage captures some moments of GRIT’s Research & Development projects supported by Arts Council England, Hall For Cornwall and IJAD.

WHEN ANGELS BLINK delved into the complex woven web of male isolation. It was important that all creativity came from a real source, in turn this unearthed truthfulness and human connection to the work that I wished to achieved. I drew from research such as, P.O.W poetry from WII, mental health documentation from early 20th century, discussions with practising Psychologist's, and the company's own exposure to isolation. Collaborations with the dancers, composer, set designer and lighting designer greatly contributed to what I had envisioned the work to be at this early stage of the works development.

B L I N K an intensive creative process for a live streaming performance opportunity with Open Online Theatre (#oot A.C.E. funded) in London, hosted by Rich Mix Theatre. Supported by Hall for Cornwall. For this short process I worked with dancer Kane John Mills to further my research into the physical and psychological states of male isolation. B L I N K revisited my first R&D from April 2017 (When Angels Blink), uncovering new research and generating new responses. The full work in progress can be view at: openonlinetheatre.org/rob-mennear/

RUST. I was successful in securing Creation Space funding from HFC along with support from Kneehigh Theatre, enabled me to collaborate with dancer Katie Lusby & lighting technician John Hibdige in new research towards movement, industrial lighting & installation concepts of female lost identity. This experience really began the journey for me to further explore and understand my strong connection to the 'visual' importance to my work.

All Boys Dance

All Boys Dance is an ever growing youth dance company based in the South West, focusing on performance and skill development. Drawing together dance companies, youth groups and keen beginners from across two Counties . Through A.B.D. I work with local and invited professionals, to create new and exciting contemporary choreography that is performed at indoor and outdoor venues. https://www.allboysdance.com

In 2018 A.B.D gain support from Hall For Cornwall that has added expansion to the company and recent conversation with Pavilion Dance South West look to see A.B.D./HFC take on further roles in encouraging more male dance within the South West.

ABOUT (under renewal)

GRIT

GRIT R&D Showreel

All Boys Dance

Lost In Words

Horizon