With Love…
“What the world needs now is love, sweet love …”
Concept
COVID 19 has held the world in lockdown. The National Archives was one of the casualties of industry closure and upcoming plans for this year's exhibitions had to be put on hold. The Keeper's Gallery at the Archives was due to house 'With Love: Letters of Love, Loss and Longing." It explored five hundred years of written expressions of love primarily through the convention of the love letter.
Although the exhibition has been closed, Combination Dance Company took up the challenge to work with the National Archives to bring to life some letters of Love through a choreographed dance that was created with the confines of social distancing.
Execution
As this film was made entirely during lockdown, it presented both difficulties and creative opportunities. It is amazing to see what is possible, even in the middle of a pandemic, and how archive material from hundreds of years ago can still be relevant to current times and our emotions.
Each of the dancers were, for the most part, in their own spaces and located throughout the country. A usually simple action within the choreography such as a note being passed from one dancer to another became a specific technical challenge of timing and framing.
“It was fascinating to study so many varied and insightful love letters from the last 500 years. From kings and queens, to moving letters about race riots or love divided during war, each one reminding us that love unites us all.”
From the full piece, specific versions were made for social media and direct people back to the relevant articles.
Vicky Iglikowski-Broad wrote a complete breakdown of all the notes featured in this video -
her excellent article can be read here.
Impact
This became part of the online presentation that explored the themes of Love, loss and longing which included a podcast by the National Archives. The idea of writing a physical letter to a loved one throughout this period of humanity being separated has been successful and will be expanded upon throughout the rest of this project.
“There is no doubt that the current pandemic has presented many challenges and difficulties, but we have also realised what is truly important to us, what we value and what can make us feel good in difficult times. What better way to try to overcome lockdown blues than by reaching out to someone with a letter, or to get moving and have a dance yourself? We would love to see people’s own dances inspired by those in the video or the archive material we have shared.
At the end of the exhibition, we encouraged people to write a letter and we had a wonderful response. We would love you to do the same now.”
Artistic credits
Anne-Marie Smalldon: Artistic Director, Combination Dance
Dance Artists: Thomas McCann, Alex Garland & Eric Shiring
Film Crew: Luke Toddfrey, Viki Garland, Ben Garland, Sam Rajput & Ross Goodman
Video Production: TODDCS.COM
Principal Records Specialist - Diverse Histories: Vicky Iglikowski-Broad
This film is inspired by records held at The National Archives and their most recent exhibition ‘With Love’. Below are the archival references for all the items referenced, in the order they appear in the film.
Letter from Cyril to ‘My darling Morris’, 1936. Catalogue ref: DPP 2/224.
Letter from Mijntje Meyderts to her husband Willem Luckassen, November 1672. Catalogue ref: HCA 30/1061.
‘I kiss thy sweet mouth a thousand’ – Letter from Endymion Porter to his wife, Olive, 17 July 1623. Catalogue ref: SP 14/148, f 155.
‘…many will have to give their lives yet before this war will end. But my one prayer is that they will never take you’ – Letter from Hetty to William Crawford, 29 January 1917. Catalogue ref: WO 400/289/2867.
Instrument of Abdication of Edward VIII, 1936. Catalogue ref: PC 11/1.
‘I am begging…give me and family passage to Jamaica… I am willing to leave the country at once with my wife and child (not without).’ Letter from James Gillespie to David Lloyd George, the British Prime Minister, 24 October 1919. Catalogue ref: CO 318/350/400.
