Marla (she/her) is a Welsh freelance dance artist and climate justice advocate. Since graduating from Northern School of Contemporary Dance, she went onto an apprenticeship with National Dance Company Wales and has since worked with choreographers including Rhiannon Faith Company, Rendez Vous Dance, Eleesha Drennan, Gwyn Emberton, Impelo, Elisabeth Schilling and Jack Philp. Marla is deepening choreographic explorations through her work with the Glanio collective which she co-founded, who are a group of artists focused on engaging community in climate awareness and action, inviting a challenge of perspective on how we perceive our ecological connection and influence through our actions. Glanio is currently exploring a model of slow touring rooted in ecological wellbeing, working with local artists and the community through outdoor performances and workshops. Marla also received a choreographic commission as part of the Supporting Acts Programme developed by Richard Chappell Dance in 2022, collaborating with a musician in the process and performance of the work. Marla works for SAIL, an arts organisation based in Leeds who are supporting the creative and cultural sector to feel empowered to take climate action. This work involves delivering workshops around climate awareness and ways to take action in meaningful, justice centred and sustainable capacities. As well as this, she has worked as environment officer for VOXED Dance Company, and shared knowledge and advice with arts organisations on ways they can embed meaningful climate action within the way they work. She is also an ambassador of the Resilience Circle Project which aims empower young people who are experiencing climate anxiety and burnout to build resilience, emotional awareness and foster communities for collective care and wellbeing. Marla is excited to be working with Jack Philp again on this upcoming project with a lush team of artists, and can’t wait to see how the creative process deepens and evolves through the interactions and shaping of the work.
