About
Tamar & Jo are a Hull based dance duo that blend contemporary dance with elements of physical theatre, improvised movement and their own unconventional take on commercial dance styles. Their work is inspired by popular and nightlife culture, their experience as women, and a wide range of artists and musicians; explored with humour, light-heartedness and a surreal twist provided by costume collaboration. As well as creating and performing as a duo, Tamar & Jo work with members of the community, emerging and professional dancers to create performance that is vibrant, bold, evocative and exciting.
They came together in 2017 when they were commissioned by Hull 2017 City of Culture to create a piece for the Ferens Art Gallery Turner Prize event. The piece took inspiration from the artwork of Turner Prize winner Lubaina Himid, and bolstered their shared interest in exploring social themes as well as taking inspiration from the visual arts. This, as well as a wealth of individual experience, led to the relatable and eloquent work they now create.
They have so far been supported by Arts Council England, Absolutely Cultured, Yorkshire Dance, Head’s Up festival, Hull Truck Theatre, Hull City Arts, Hull Dance, Back To Ours, and Hull City Healthcare Partnership.
Tamar studied Dance at Liverpool John Moores University, graduating in 2014 with a first class BA (hons) degree.
Career highlights include: winner of the Hull Dance Prize audience vote with LO:CUS Dance Company in 2015 and 2016, using the 2016 winnings for a mentorship with Lea Anderson; working on large-scale, public performances with Hull 2017 City of Culture: Protein Dance Company’s (In)Visible Dancing and Yorkshire Dance’s Into the Light with Gary Clarke; undertaking CPD projects with choreographers Lea Anderson, Ceyda Tanc, Jo Fong and Yael Flexer.
Her teaching/facilitation practice includes delivering projects between 2015-19 with Hull Dance Youth Company, East Riding Youth Dance, and Dance United Yorkshire, Hoot Creative Arts Huddersfield, Northern Ballet and CHOL Theatre.
TAMAR
Photo by Anna Bean
JO
Jo studied HND (Higher National Diploma) Physical Theatre and Dance at The University of Salford 2001-2003, and BA (hons) Dance at Liverpool John Moores University, graduating in 2006.
Career highlights include: being commissioned by New Work Yorkshire to make solo performance piece, Full Time Indecisive, with mentorship from Grace Surman (2008); producing Hull-based annual dance performance event Danza! (2011-2015); delivering dance and mental health projects around Merseyside for MDI and Movema Dance Company (2012-2014); co-choreographing the music video for The Swimmer by Phil France of Cinematic Orchestra (2013); working with Austrian choreographer Willi Dorner on MDI project We are the Streets (2014); winning the Turn Prize 2014 for solo piece Going Places (later mentored by Lucy Suggate); and undertaking CPD projects with Gary Clarke, Wendy Houston, Jasmin Vardimon, Lea Anderson, Jo Fong and Yael Flexer.
In 2018 she became Artistic Advisor to Hull Dance alongside Lea Anderson and Liv Lorent.