07.01.2026

3 min read

Inquiring Bodies: “Liveness”
With Guest Artist Jo Fong

Inquiring Bodies is an event by dance artists, for dance artists, which creates a mutually supportive environment for exploration and open dialogue. We aim to create a safe and supportive space where both participant artists and Guest Artists can offer, share and investigate together.  

For 2026, Inquiring Bodies from Cheshire Dance is being led by Jo Fong. 

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
“I like this phrase “We are consenting to explore the unknown”. My work has led me to questions like what is community? What does diversity look like? Can the body tell us something about consent? What are the positives around uncertainty or the unsolved? I’m in a constant state of learning and unlearning and yet there is a part of my practice which acknowledges my experience, my language, the work of relating and an inherent body intelligence that is experimenting in trusting its choices. I’m enjoying the layered, the unknown and the effortless.

In terms of choreographic languages, I draw on a wealth of influences, from somatic and improvisation techniques, self-generating prompts and tools or games that explore relationships with our bodies, spaces between people, play and working with objects. For me, it’s about the possibility for liveness, presence. My work is about creating the conditions so that liveness can occur.”

ABOUT JO FONG
Jo Fong is an award-winning director, choreographer and performer working in Dance, Theatre, Film and Live Art. She lives in Wales and her creative work reflects the need in these times for people to come together. Her artistic practice is an evolving, collaborative approach which puts ideas around belonging or forming community in the forefront.

Some recent highlights include collaborations with artist Sonia Hughes; Nettles: How To Disagree? presented at OFFTA, Montreal 2025, Neither Here Nor There was presented as part of Wales in Edinburgh. Sonia and Jo led on a number of film, digital and walking projects called What Will People Need?, The Sun’s Come Out, Come Rain or Shine, and To Tell You The Truth for Dublin Theatre Festival. How Shall We Begin Again? was presented at Wales Millenium Centre 2023 and Siobhan Davies Studios London 2022, Ways of Being Together at Chapter Arts Centre 2019 and Shoreditch Town Hall 2020. A Brief History of Difference was created with DAR of Das Clarks. Sons and Mums was created with Everybody Dance in Malvern, a beautiful collaboration with 6 men who have autism and their mums.

Jo is currently contributing to research with a number of projects; IcoDaCo European Collectives project, The Choreography of Consent and The Agency of Matter – No Despair together with artist Deborah Light. She recently initiated a project called Making a Clearing inviting Wales’ freelance Global Majority dance artists to come together this winter. In January 2026, Jo will be heading to New York’s Under The Radar festival with The Rest Of Our Lives which was created in 2019 with clown and circus artist, George Orange. Jo and George’s 100th performance will be in Pontypridd this February. Find out more about Jo on her website: jofong.com

WHO IS IT FOR?
Inquiring Bodies is for experienced dancers/movers who are keen to explore and enquire together as a group. Places are limited to ensure we can hold space for authentic enquiry and exploration.

For any questions or queries, please contact: jane.mclean@cheshiredance.org.

INFO & BOOKING:
Date: Saturday 28 February 2026
Times: 10am-5pm (arrive from 9:30am, in time for a 10am start)
Venue: University of Chester Kingsway Creative Campus, Kingsway, CH2 2LB

Cost:
FREE for Freelance Artists/those not in employment/students
£25 for employed or in receipt of regular wage
Number of places available: 30 (places are limited to ensure we can hold space for authentic enquiry and exploration.)

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE