Movement and Environmental Advocate, Educator, Somatic Movement Practitioner BMC® monica is a movement director, teacher and theatre maker working in the UK and internationally
In my work in the performing arts, I create connections with people through collaborative and interdisciplinary projects that respond to social and environmental issues. Drawing from my background in ecology, dance, choreography, somatic movement practices, and devising techniques, I seek to explore ways of engaging with the audience. By incorporating elements of Third theatre, Pedagogy of Hope and Somatic approaches, I aim to generate performance that are both thought-provoking and physically engaging.
Through performance I aim to bring to light the connection between a contingent and intimate individual experience with the universal and timeless dramaturgy of us humans and more than human.
Collaborations, Co-Direction and Performance
ICE 2025 Movement Director – Eco-performance for young audience.
Olga – July 2023. The ItinerAnts Eco-drama performances. Poznan (Poland)
SPIKE! – a dinosaur caper 2022.
Starcatchers production.
Field. Something for the future now. 2021 Couscous Seeds production. Edinburgh International Festival
Three lines . Improvisation performance with Jer Reid (musician) and Jenny Soep (visual artist). The Arches, Glasgow
Dissections - HamletZar project, 176 / Zabludowicz Collection, London. Funded by British Arts Council and developed with ODIN teatret in Danmark, Dance Base in Edinburgh, Barbican in London.
Memberships
International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA), 2018-present.
The Body-Mind Centering® Association (BMCA) international organization dedicated to the practice, education, and development of Body-Mind Centering®, a somatic movement education and therapy approach developed by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen.
The Work Room (TWR) artist-led organisation promoting choreography research, 2010-present.
2006-2014 Founder, company dancer and community dance developer of LaNua - www.lanua.org
2010-2015 Member of Théâtre de la Camelote
Latest Community and Professional Teaching
Somatic Movement Education. curses and Workshops at The Salisbury Centre. 2017 onward.
Dance Teacher at Edinburgh College,
Dance Base - Nation Centre of Dance Edinburgh, School of Physical theatre, Five College Productions.
With an extensive experience in arts-environment-wellbeing related work as well as directing and performing performances. Based in Edinburgh, monica continually deepens her knowledge of the body, movement, ecology, and performing arts. She is interested in research, experimentation, and the fusion of cultures and traditions through theatre practice.
Direction and Choreography
Echoes of Land Project, Outdoor Creative Education and Performance, 2025 - onward.
Love letters to the sea 2021-2022. Environmental multidisciplinary site-specific performance. Collaboration with musician David Yates. Supported by Dance Base, SHRUB Zero waste and Vrij Paleis Amsterdam.
FUTURE VALUE 2021. Site specific promenading performance through public spaces in Portobello. PortyArt Walk Festival.
"Arandora" 2019. Dance/Live Music performance. Italian School of Literatures, Languages, & Cultures University of Edinburgh.
L ī l ā (the cosmic play) 2017-2019. Dance/Live Music/Storytelling performance. Creative Scotland - International Research & Development, Dance Base National Centre For Dance, Edinburgh.
The Buried Port 2016. Music and Dance Performance. Ungaretti Project –Supported by the Italian Cultural Institute and the Scottish Poetry Library , Edinburgh City Council and Florence City Council