Digital dance film ALEX, available online 3–31 March from Swindon Dance, draws on personal experiences and research with a youth group, hospital and school as well as support from psychotherapists.
When the Alexes finds themselves at their first counselling session, they begin to explore the mental and physical ‘weight’ of their thoughts, the impact of their inner voice and their sense of self-confidence.
Shining a light on the mental health of young people, digital dance film ALEX created by dance artists Caldonia Walton and Kathy Richardson, adapted from the original stage production Weight/Wait, has become an interactive online film during which audiences will be prompted to respond and give advice to the characters via a comment box. The work has been supported by mentoring and advice from psychotherapists Terry Hyde and Tatiana Cantaud.
The work is offered in schools with a worksheet and lesson plan that aids young people to talk and discuss mental wellbeing and how to support themselves and others.