Is theatre stealing dance’s moves? Exploring the growing demand for movement directors in theatre, film and TV.
From left to right: Stella Kanu, Shelley Maxwell, Polly Bennett, Yukiko Masui
Last October, as part of the 2024 Dance Umbrella Festival, we brought together a distinguished panel of experts – Polly Bennett (Saltburn, Elvis, The Crown), Yukiko Masui (SAY, Romeo and Juliet, The Effect) and Shelley Maxwell (Get Up Stand Up, Shifters, Macbeth), for a discussion at Shakespeare’s Globe about the growing demand for the role of movement director. We are delighted to now be able to share the full recording.
Chaired by Shakespeare’s Globe CEO Stella Kanu, the panellists delve into conversations around how movement direction differs from the role of choreographer, demystifying the process. They discuss how roles for movement directors have developed on film, television and commercial projects, and what the future of choreography and movement direction might look like.
“Part of being an actor, I think, is a responsibility to the truth of what you’re doing. And it’s not just the text that’s on the page, it’s what not on the page. It’s understanding what is unsaid. And so part of being a movement director is to help to pull what’s not there, the invisible.”
Watch the full panel discussion
Captions available (English cc)
Video chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:16 The increase in demand for movement directors
11:18 Movement direction practice
33:33 What the panellists hope is the takeway from the discussion
38:40 The importance of crediting movement directors
50:45 Future hopes for movement directors
57:31 Audience question: Is movement direction a viable career?
01:05:11 Audience question: How do you replenish and re-inspire yourself as a movement director?
01:09:21 Audience question: What can dance learn from movement directors working in theatre, film and TV?
01:15:22 Audience question: How are movement directors advocating for their profession to the industry and wider public?
Is Theatre Stealing Dance’s Moves? was filmed on location at Nancy Knowles Lecture Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, on 22 October as part of Dance Umbrella Festival 2024.
Commissioned and created by Dance Umbrella
Filmed by Henry Curtis
Edited by George Maund and Isabella Hubbard