Southampton’s Mayflower Studios will become a vibrant hub of connection, inspiration and performance on Saturday 8 November as ZoieLogic Dance Theatre’s The Big Movement LIVE – a heartfelt and unflinching event centred on men’s mental health, told through dance, storytelling and immersive art – takes over the space for one night only. We talked with Zoie Golding MBE, the company’s founder and CEO.
Looking back to the moment you first saw those boys backflipping in 2000, how has your vision of who dance is for evolved over the last 25 years?
Time and time again, people have said to me (and it happens a lot), “You’ll never get them dancing”, or “They won’t be able to dance”. I always say: “Let’s see about that…”
I don’t just believe – I know – movement and dance and can reach anyone. It’s about creating an atmosphere and sense of connection through dance, in whatever form that comes. And even if you don’t participate, you can still find joy in watching others enjoying themselves.
For us, our vision has only grown across the quarter-century. Now, it is more than dance: it is about helping people live happier, healthier, more creative, more connected lives through movement. It has evolved by the company being able to reach more and more people, not just boys. All of it driven by the power of dance. I just keep on believing that and here I am: 25 years later!
Why has engaging men and boys through dance remained such a driving force for you, and what changes have you witnessed in attitudes toward male participation in dance?
Attitudes to boys and dance have gone through peaks of acceptance in the last 25 years, I think. We see a peak when more boys are dancing on TV and recently it’s gone down again – perhaps through COVID, screen use, negative role modelling and social media influence, or perhaps other reasons such as a perception of affordability.
We know one of the historical issues has been in relation to bullying for boys who dance. While this can be very real for some, our work aims to give the lads the confidence to back themselves. In some more tricky cases, when I have spotted talent within some young men, I have had to convince parents to let their sons dance, in that Billy Elliot way. Normally, though, when those same parents see their sons on stage, they are elated and proud.
People are always really positive when they see our young men dance, but we need to be able to continue showing guys that it doesn’t matter how you dance but that you do, in order to engage them – if you can see you can be!
How do projects like We Are Holyrood demonstrate the power of dance to transform not just individuals, but whole communities?
Holyrood is an inner city housing estate in Southampton which is considered one of the 10% most deprived areas in England. 34% of young people are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the city-wide (25%) and national (20.8%) averages. It is a disconnected community, overshadowed by gentrification, with zero youth provision, and this perpetuates attitudes of low aspirations and a systemic belief that arts, culture and creativity is not for them. The cost of living crisis has only exacerbated these issues, creating more division and further preventing these young people from reaching their full potential.
ZoieLogic’s We Are Holyrood programme brings people together through free and accessible activity, right at the heart of the estate, creating a platform for community cohesion and opportunities for young people to upskill. It is a programme of free, year-round cultural activities including monthly dance sessions for youth (ages 6-10, 11-16), to develop skills, and for adults to combat isolation. We host quarterly “visibility days” to engage new participants, and our resident representatives offer us advice, helping shape both our local work and organisational direction.
Concluding a year of dedicated activity, our annual We are Holyrood Hub has become a celebration of identity, skills and achievements. It provides a rare opportunity for young residents to showcase their progress to the wider community. All of our work is rooted in co-creation, including the design, programming and delivery of the Hub. In doing this, we shift the power to the young Holyrood residents in order to build ownership, and we get to the heart of what’s important to them and the challenges they face. This not only uplifts the youth but also strengthens community cohesion, creating a ripple effect of positivity and pride that resonates throughout Holyrood. This year, for example, we said to the kids: what do you want to do this year? A music video, they said! So we did it and how good is it? They wrote the song and mapped out the video themselves: Culture is Life.
Our work in Holyrood empowers the community, builds trust, fosters self-esteem and skills, and helps provide a renewed sense of community pride and connection to the estate.
The Big Movement tackles men’s mental health through dance—what unique role do you believe movement plays in breaking down stigma and building connection?
Unlike sport and the gym, dance creates a non-competitive space for men to reconnect with their bodies – and each other – and improve their wellbeing. The creativity that comes with the work we do enables men to tap into their emotional side and reduces the stigma that comes with having to be ‘manly’ all the time. It gives them a chance to emote without words, which can sometimes be very scary but, at the same time, can unlock deeper conversations around mental health and wellbeing, in a more organic way. This is often when our dancers recognise they are not alone with their struggles.
Through gameplay we encourage men to connect in ways they may not otherwise do out in the world. Group tasks build a strong sense of teamwork, trust and camaraderie which instantly improves mood. Reducing loneliness, sparking joy…There are so many benefits and our guys are such legends for giving it a go. We have big plans in this space and can’t wait to unleash them into the world!
ZoieLogic often takes dance out of traditional theatres and into public spaces—why is it important for you that “anywhere can be a dance floor”?
Our work is all about reaching people who might not have access or think dance is for them. We cannot do that by expecting people to come to a theatre which are not only in a specific geographical location but aren’t always accessible for all people. That’s why we have become masters at turning any space into a stage or dance floor. In August this year, for example, our Austentatious Ball (which acknowledged the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth in Southampton), transformed Guildhall Square in Southampton into a giant disco ball dance floor. It was wild.
I love outdoor work. Our shows and events are all informed by the space we are in and something very special happens when you turn a seemingly normal space into a performance space – it transforms that otherwise everyday location before people’s eyes and shows them what’s possible, shifting their perspective. We create memories and inspiration and joy that last longer than the moment itself.
As you celebrate 25 years of ZoieLogic, what excites you most about the company’s future and the new directions dance can take?
As we celebrate 25 years, I really feel like we are only just getting started! What excites me most is our ambition to bring people together in epic numbers to celebrate identity, solidarity and connection through dance and movement.
ZoieLogic Dance Theatre is an extremely passionate team of people who are committed to helping people live happier, healthier and more creative lives. We are leading the way with touring mass participation events across the UK and have plans in place to do more of this. The Big Movement is now a national project designed to help men of all ages build connection and confidence through dance – this is only going to grow with our future plans. At home in Southampton, a place we are so proud of, our We Are Holyrood programme continues to deliver positive impacts to people for whom creativity is a true source of connection and happiness. We can’t wait for the next 25.