Haud Close

From Orkney to Tasmania, Haud Close celebrates the creativity of people living with Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis or dementia, and their households.

Inspired by our award-winning dance film Haud Close Tae Me, and in response to the separation of lockdown 2020-21, participants from across the globe joined SB Health’s ambitious online project, Haud Close, to explore themes of connection, reflection and visibility.

Here we celebrate two new dance films Haud Close and Haud Close Together, a poetry collection and gallery of visual art created as part of Haud Close.

Haud Close

Haud Close was a Scottish Ballet Health, multi-artform project inspired by Scottish Ballet’s film Haud Close Tae Me. 

Haud Close Tae Me was directed by Eve McConnachie, choreographed by Christopher Hampson and inspired by the poem Pas De Deux by Scots Makar Jackie Kay. 

Using the film’s resonating themes of connection, reflection and visibility, Haud Close brought together choreographer Jack Webb, visual artist Brian Hartley, storyteller and dramaturg Philippa Clark and filmmaker Beth Chalmers, to work remotely with dancers across the SB Health network, to create a new dance film featuring poetry and visual art.

With thanks to Jackie Kay.

Haud Close Together

In response to the separation felt by many of us during the pandemic, a global call-out invited people living with Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis or dementia to submit a video response to a dance or poetry task. Video submissions arrived from all around the world.

Closer to home, residents of Erskine Home, Bishopton worked alongside choreographer Jack Webb and storyteller Philippa Clark.

A clip from every film received has been edited together with footage of the care home residents. Haud Close Together is a short dance film featuring story, poetry and art.

Take My Hands

A gallery of pictures and sculptures created by Haud Close participants. Each participant collaborated with artists over 5 weekly sessions and received a pack of art materials.

These materials were used to respond to creative invitations and provocations offered by visual artist Brian Hartley. 

Themes include visibility, connection, revealing, concealing, touch.

Another Reflection of Me

Weaving lines from Scots Makar Jackie Kay’s poem Pas De Deux with the spoken words of participants, storyteller Philippa Clark reflects the life stories shared during Haud Close in this collection of poems.

Dance & Poetry Task resources

Haud Close invited people from around the world to respond to a dance or a poetry task. We are keeping these tasks available to you – use them to inspire your own creativity!