On Being a Black Artist – Annet Richards-Binns

Annet is a dance and carnival artist, a yoga, and a FitSteps teacher amongst many other things! She is also an Artlift Artist Facilitator, who is currently co-producing our research project exploring the impact of dance on adults living with chronic pain.

Here Annet shares some thoughts with Cath Wilkins Executive Director of Artlift, on how being a black artist has shaped her 25+ years in the sector and how it continues to inform her Creative Health practice:

C: ‘Tell me how you got into a career in the arts – what have been the main steps along the way?’

A: ‘When I came to London in the mid-90s, I was so passionate at the time; quite free to do what I wanted to. I got involved with the Black Theatre Forum in London which included dance, drama and music, so that provided my first experience in the arts in England. I worked with Carl Campbell Dance Company, Irie Dance Theatre and ACE Music & Dance, amongst others, and was so inspired by the roots of Black British Dance.

In Gloucester, there wasn’t much in that genre, so I created a dance project for young people aged 8 – 14; taking people through the journey of black dance, relating it to music as well. I also brought different black dance artists into Gloucester, and it just spiralled from there. I started doing mainly primary school workshops (mainly around Caribbean and African dance). I then created a project that was about celebrating diversity and raising awareness around different cultures – Cool Runnings children’s project. We did art, cooking, etc, and started making decorative things, which led to carnival workshops.

Global Play has also informed my work, exploring games that children play in Jamaica, Russia, Korea, Japan – all over the world!’

C: ‘What’s the main focus of your work now?’

A: ‘Besides my work with Artlift in Creative Health, one of my main areas of interest is in making yoga accessible to a wider diversity of people –  no matter what their age, size, or ability. The tools of yoga are so amazing for wellbeing. That includes classes for children and adults, in schools and community settings in Stroud, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tibberton. It’s so beneficial mentally and physically; it can really support us all to live better lives.

I’m also doing FitSteps, which is based on Strictly Come Dancing, but you don’t need a partner to participate. It’s a great way to get overall body fitness and it makes you feel good!’

C: ‘How do you feel your experience, awareness and skills as a black artist shape your approach to Creative Health work (if at all)?’

A: ‘I guess I bring something to it that’s me! I love the cultural artforms my work is grounded in so the enjoyment I feel in sharing that with others brings with it a real positive energy. ‘Fun’, ‘vibrant’, ‘joyful’, and ‘positive energy’ are words people associate with a lot of the work I do.

I’m lucky in that the way the Artlift team works is to co-produce, enabling me to input into shaping of sessions – in content, activities, resources, and approaches. I’m able to bring to it different styles.

For example, when I was working with an Artift group in Gloucester, we created tropical birds, learning about their history too. I brought Caribbean music and movement to it as it’s lively and can impact positively on mood.

In Creative Health, I also use games as a way of bringing people together and helping them to feel at ease at the beginning of sessions. I find ways of combining my different skills – in play, yoga, meditation, dance, breathing exercises, and so on.

Due to my background, I have a deep, embedded sense of community; I know the importance of being together, doing things together and connecting people.  This isn’t uniquely a Jamaican thing but, as it’s so deep-rooted in me, it aligns with what’s needed for impactful Creative Health practice.

Artlift has helped in bringing me together with other artists, to work across disciplines and cultures, and to share practice.’

C: ‘Are there particular genres of dance and/or music rooted in the African diaspora that have been particularly impactful on the wellbeing of participants who you’ve worked with?’

A: ‘I used to work with the Black Elders and Golden Years at the luncheon club in Gloucester. The people who attend are primarily of Caribbean heritage. I brought to it old time music from the 50s & 60s – Rock steady, Ska, Soca, etc – which really enthused them and brought back memories. It’s not something you’d necessarily hear on the radio here, so it was a pleasure to see how it was received by the people I worked with for over 15 years.

I’ve used Caribbean carnival music and dance, which inspired participants. Whilst some, due to their chronic pain, couldn’t really move much, the music still had a positive effect on them. They felt like they were having a good time, like at a party. For people who don’t go out much because of their illness, it was of great benefit to bring that uplifting, joyful energy into the sessions.

I’ve been inspired by and adopted one of the characters from the Jamaican street parade Junkanoo in which characters interact with people on the streets, usually around Christmas time. I performed it in Gloucestershire and at WOMAD as it brings an element of surprise and brings back memories. I’d love to take it into schools and keep this element of Jamaican history alive.

I like to keep old time dances and folk music alive; whilst things change and evolve, it’s great to both give some of the history to new generations, as well as to keep nice memories alive for people who know the art form and culture.’

C: ‘In the Artlift project exploring the impact of dance on adults living with chronic pain, the people you’re working with have asked you to draw on African, Caribbean and/or Asian music and dance. Why do you think this is?’

A: ‘I think, because of my Caribbean heritage, the group could see the opportunity to bring it in and engage in it with an artist who teaches using those styles.

One person did say that they felt like they were ‘somewhere else’ – the black and Asian genres helped take them out of their usual situation. The group recognised that style of dance/music took them away from the chronic pain and all the things around that which they have to face on a daily basis. It takes them on a journey they felt was vibrant, uplifting and joyful. They were inspired to move differently.’