05 May SDUK Blog – Andrea Pelaez
I was honoured to receive an invitation to join the SDUK board in June 2022. Over the past few months, I’ve been learning about the SDUK board’s responsibilities, organisation, and the diverse group of members in the UK, in order to understand how best to support our members. As the only Latin American, Choreographer, Intimacy Coordinator, and Movement Director on the board, I feel a great responsibility to represent various minorities in our industry. I’m grateful to SDUK for inviting me to the board table conversation. If you feel that I can voice your challenges and questions in your workspace or professional journey, please let me know.
To give you a bit more information about myself, I’m an award-winning film movement specialist born in Colombia, a British citizen, and a mother of two British Colombian kids. I’ve worked in the performing arts industry nationally and internationally for over 18 years, bringing a unique style of movement to creations. I recently received the grant “Developing Your Creative Practice” from Arts Council England to invest in my career and research about movement in film. As a mixed-raced woman, I feel it’s essential to connect movement with diverse disciplines and backgrounds.
I come from a hardworking family from Brazil and Colombia. My father was a sailor in the Navy, and my mother became the leader of the strongest workers’ union in Colombia and was democratically elected for 12 years. My sister is a labor lawyer, so I grew up with conversations about workers’ rights at the table, and by now, I almost understand the language of labor rights laws.
My latest short film, MEMORY, has been awarded BEST SHORT FILM in the New York City Film festival and successfully received around the world! I’d like to share it with you here. It’s about a senior dancer whose memory/mental health takes her on a moving and wonderful journey through Bogota city.
Please view it here: https://vimeo.com/429443836
I have been a movement consultant for Lee Evans in the West End and Colin Salmon for the US TV series “Single Ladies” with Queen Latifah. I’ve been fortunate to be a movement director/choreographer for directors such as Justin Audibert, Simon Evans, and Abigail Pickard Price. I’ve worked with companies such as the National Youth Theatre, National Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, and South Bank, among others.
As an intimacy coordinator, I’ve worked on plays such as “Funny and Fagot” at the Guildford School of Acting, “Gutter Junky” at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival, “Private Thoughts In Public Places” at Oval House, and “Romeo and Juliet” at the Mercury Theatre, to mention a few.
As a dancer, I’ve worked with the choreographer I admire, Francesca Jaynes, in films such as “The Muppets Most Wanted” by Disney and “Avengers Age of Ultron” by Marvel.
I’ve received other awards and grants that have supported my professional journey, including the Arts Grant Waltham Forest Borough “London Borough of Culture,” Creative Laboratory (Dance, Fashion & Technology) by East London Dance and UAL, UNESCO award for Salida Productions, Romeo and Juliet with Astillero Tango Orchestra, Creative Entrepreneur award from the City of London and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and a Choreography diploma from the Colombian Ministry of Culture and National University.
In 2019, I felt the need to create a group for Latin Americans working in the performing arts industry in the UK, and thus LAIPA UK was born. Nowadays, it has become a highly influential group in the industry (@LAIPA_UK) that collectively advocates for the visibility of our work.
But enough about me. I am interested in hearing about your experiences, thoughts, and ideas. You can reach me on twitter and instagram: @andreapelaezuk