As director of dance-theatre production company 103 Falling Birds, Sam Lawrence creates work which aims to be enchanting and enigmatic, challenging perceptions of what is dance and reaching new audiences.

With a particular interest in creating performative events for more intimate and unusual spaces, 103 Falling Birds exploits the accidental and celebrates the ordinary. Work includes site specific projects, dance installation, touring and cross art-form collaboration.

Examples of performance projects:

Tropical Hibiscus Floating Paradise
A dance-theatre adventure with a tropical flavour cruising on the river Ouse aboard one of York’s famous party boats. As part of York’s Festival of the Rivers 2009.

The Bramley Two Go Shopping
A site specific dance installation creating minor havoc with physical antics in and around Bramley Shopping Centre. In collaboration with Gerry Turvey of Turvey World Dance as part of I Love West Leeds Festival 2009.

Nearly New
Combining dance, live music, theatricality and humour, Nearly New takes the audience on a journey through an unfathomable web of enchanting stories, long lost memories and lots of old junk plus the chance to win peculiar prizes. “I felt like I had dreamt the whole thing! It was beautiful and surreal.” - Audience member. Developed as part of the IOU Professional Development Scheme.
Touring 2009/2010.

Lido
A spectacular performance event in Yearsley Swimming Pool to mark the pool’s centenary, combining dance, swimming and the magnificent music of the Shepherd Group Brass Band (2008). “Imaginative, playful and humorous choreography, a bracing union of dance, swimming and brass band music.” Charles Hutchinson - The Press, November 2008. “So original and inspiring, a great site specific piece” - Audience member.

Lunch Break Island
An outdoor dance installation involving a lunch box, a miniature island and a hula dance. At a variety of riverside locations as part of York Rivers Festival 2008.

Improbable Picnic
An outdoor dance-theatre promenade exploring nostalgia for lost childhood, belief in magic and a world where things just don’t quite fit. “Truly stunning and audience friendly” - Audience member. Dance York and York Festival of the Rivers, 2007.

Shelling Peas
A dance-theatre piece performed by mother and daughter exploring the playful, tender and often volatile nature of the relationship. “A tender and deeply lived truth” - Audience member. Final year degree choreography, 2007.