Mythic draws inspiration from 19th century spiritualist photographs of mediums conjuring the departed, and from Butoh founder Tatsumi Hijikata’s assertion that to dance is to ‘shake hands with the dead’.

Rotie’s new solo displays her distinctive movement aesthetic, which is sculptural, minimal and painterly, drawing upon her training in Butoh and also her background as a Fine Artist.

Mythic features a haunting film, which in its abstractions conjures images of possession and haunting. Nick Parkin’s electro-acoustic and instrumental score creates an immersive and hypnotic atmosphere, framing each of the 6 sections of the solo.

Mythic is Rotie’s most powerful work to date, proof that artists get stronger with maturity and a refreshing antidote to the cult of youth or the ‘new’.

Mythic sees Rotie morph between life and death, transforming via sculptured and surreal movement into ancient woman, soul bird, embryo and possessed puppet or medium. Mythic is a very emotive work, and at its premiere at Laban even provoked mature men to cry (!). The solo was created as a homage to Rotie’s late welsh grandmother, who was a practicing medium.

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/9281