Nostalgia and togetherness in Weston-Super-Mare

As a child, Dan Watson – maker, performer, educator – lost a holiday camp dancing competition. His show VENUS is an opportunity to right that wrong in a public recreation of one regretful night at Pontin’s in 1987.

“It’s a ridiculous idea, which I am very into. I’m never far away from a bad joke, me”. Bristol 24/7 talked to Dan to find out more about his heartwarming bad joke.

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“I’ve been a somewhat accidental dancer my whole career – something which probably started with the events told in VENUS” Dan tells us. “I originally took tap classes as a kid, don’t know why, and then sort of forgot about dance until I stumbled across contemporary dance (which means different things, depending on who you’re talking to and which TV programme you’re watching!). I was basically good at falling over well and then it stuck. So I ended up training and I’ve been working as a contemporary dancer and physical performer ever since. One day people will realise it’s all an accident”.

“VENUS is a show all about dancing, specifically dancing to music you like. I call it a dance show but it might look different to what some people expect from that. So it starts very normally, with talking, then it goes off in a few surprising directions, a bit of disco dance, a bit of angry dancing and a few moments where I try to dance how I remember dancing as a kid. It’s also the way I explore the emotions of the show. I’m not very good and saying how I feel, which is probably why I made this show!”

“The show starts with a request which makes it different every performance. The room and the audience have a lot of influence. I hope the audience take away the idea that a seemingly little moment in their life can actually have a huge impact on the rest of their life and that sometimes we can change the stories of our life, we have some control over how it is told”.

VENUS is part of Culture Weston’s inaugural Arts & Health Weekender in Weston-Super-Mare, April 3-5. I asked Dan how he saw VENUS fitting in with that theme. “I know one of the themes of the weekender is togetherness and a lot of what I make is about being together” says Dan. “I think it’s the core of everything; feeling accepted, feeling lonely, understanding strangers, being afraid, working together to create change or something new. Togetherness is so important to our mental and physical well-being. But I know I find it REALLY difficult because I get super nervous. Which I know sounds crazy for a performer. But being alone is worse. Loneliness is a health problem and I think live performance is a perfect place to look at that idea”.

1980’s photo credit: family of Dan Watson

“Ultimately I hope the audience have a good time, maybe surprise themselves, get to be a bit nostalgic and maybe consider what moments they’d like to do again, just for the fun of it. Fun is important as well. VENUS is a fun show” Dan adds, “but if you don’t like Bananarama, you might not like this show!”

VENUS is part of Culture Weston’s inaugural Arts & Health Weekender in Weston-Super-Mare April 3-5 cultureweston.org.uk/arts-health-weekender. 

VENUS will be performed at The Blakehay Theatre on April 3 at 7.30pm.  For more information visit theatreorchard.org.uk/event/dance-dynamic-presents-dan-watson-venus

This performance has been postponed owing to the coronavirus epidemic.

Main photo by Holly Revell & Rich Rusk

Read more: Where Dance Can Go Next