Maggie Rose

Natalie is a contemporary dancer, choreographer and teacher. Her artistic values are rooted in creating and contributing to collaborative, narrative-driven dance work. She is also passionate about using dance as a tool for positive social change.

I am an artist living on the edge of The New Forest. I use folklore, folksong, old customs, games and rituals to explore contemporary issues particularly social and economic disparity. Country living can be a strange mix of bounty and hopelessness but when people have access to their own strong and sinuous roots, their own history and stories they have anchorage and hope. I seek the stories that connect us and as an artist I’m thinking of different ways of pinning them up on the metaphorical village hall notice board for all to see. Alongside my own practice I run drawing workshops as The Village Hall Draw and community workshops around the New Forest working with Culture in Common and Hampshire Cultural Heritage amongst others.

Mindful art became my refuge after life changing brain surgery.  Now I’m passionate about sharing these techniques with others, utilising my 24 years teaching background to help adults and children experience the same benefits in a relaxed and accessible way.  All my techniques are abstract, so the focus is on the benefits of the process rather than the outcomes eg zendoodles, mandalas, watercolours.  My clients love the calm environment of the workshops and the well being benefits they feel before and after.  I currently deliver workshops, retreats and motivational talks to private clients, NHS employees, WI groups and schools.