Rowena Gander

As an international dance artist with a BA and an MA in dance practices, I focus on organic pole dance fusion in order to generate thought provoking, experimental dance works. Through dancing with a stigmatised object – the vertical pole, I am often stimulated by themes that include sexuality, self-discovery and empowerment. The majority of my practice makes use of creative tools such as autobiographical narrative and improvisation, but as a keen researcher / choreographer I am always searching for new ways of working through collaborative process and practice-led research.

My current research focus revolves around an autoethnographic pole dance that draws from object biography as a theoretical frame for the work. The most dominant themes to have materialised throughout this study were relative to subject / object binary, challenging the male gaze through demonstrating pole dance as a self-centred activity, and also how working with a stigmatized object can transform thinking surrounding the position of myself as a woman and as a dance maker.

Alongside performance work I love to teach and have a real passion and drive for helping people find confidence in themselves through dance and creativity. With an all-inclusive approach, my pole and non-pole workshops are designed to challenge creative thinking and physicality, whilst offering insight into the creative methods that are employed in my practice. I teach on a freelance basis, visiting various studios around the UK. I have also taught at Liverpool John Moores University and City of Liverpool College.

Other performance projects include work with Alexandra Pirici and Manuel Pelmus, Jen Hale, Adam John Roberts, Megan Rainford, Lisa Parsons, Natalie Traynor, Angie Walton and Gemma Breed.

Contact me if you would like more information regarding my professional work.