This special session is part of the exhibition programme Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain and is led by featured multidisciplinary artist Shivone Dominguez-Blaščíková. The movement-based workshop offers a playful and reflective space for reconnecting with the body, breath, and voice. Drawing on somatic practices, vocal relaxation, and theatre-based techniques, the session invites participants to tune into their physical and emotional presence, using rhythm, movement, and improvisation as tools for authentic expression.
Shivone is of Slovak-Cuban heritage, grew up in Mallorca, and is now based in London. A graduate of Musical Theatre from the University of West London, she is a member of Slovak Theatre London and the founder of Maria Who?, her own creative platform for developing original performance work. Her devised theatre show Miss Brexit, exploring identity and migration in post-Brexit Britain, was recently highly praised at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Like the creators behind the Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain exhibition, Shivone’s work investigates what it means to find your own voice and place as an artist and human being in a multicultural world and a global city.
Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain is running from 17 to 22 September at the Nunnery Gallery. The exhibition celebrates the stories, culture, and creativity of Slovak and Czech communities living in the UK. Through photography, it explores themes of migration, identity, and resilience, bringing together powerful portraits and personal journeys. This workshop includes a guided visit to the exhibition and a short curatorial introduction as part of the session.
Workshop Structure
- Welcome and introduction to the Portraits of Slovak and Czech Britain exhibition
- Short curatorial talk highlighting the stories and themes behind the portraits
- Guided grounding and breathwork
- Movement jam session with live music and sensory exploration
- Voice-based improvisation and emotional release
- Final group reflection and closing circle
Workshop Aims
- Create a supportive and energising environment for movement exploration and self-expression
- Connect personal stories with collective experience through the body and voice
- Foster awareness of inner and outer presence through somatic tools
- Offer a moment of connection, grounding, and celebration of the body as storyteller
Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes and bring an open mind. No previous experience is necessary, just curiosity and a willingness to move.
The workshop is by donation; pay what you can. :)
