Summer Performance spotlight: Morgann Runacre-Temple on Swingle Stepping

We are delighted to welcome Morgann Runacre-Temple back to the School for the staging of her rhythmic and playful contemporary work, Swingle Stepping, six years on from when she first choreographed the piece for our students. 

This year, her piece will be re-mounted for the third time and performed by our Year 11 students as part of our Summer Performance season at Opera Holland Park from 2-5 July. 

Morgann is a freelance choreographer and movement director from London working in dance, theatre, film and opera. She has created works for renowned ballet companies across the UK and Europe, and also directs and choreographs dance films.  

We caught up with Morgann to discuss her choreographic process for Swingle Stepping and what excites her about seeing the piece taken on by a new group of dancers.

What is the inspiration behind Swingle Stepping?  

The main source of inspiration is the playfulness in music – a combination of Swingle Singers and The Blues Brothers, and the dancers – who contributed their creativity in creating the work in 2019 and again in 2020. In the middle of the piece, sits The Swingle Singer’s ‘Ode to Joy’ by Bach. I love the combination of old and new, playfulness and thoughtfulness, and I wanted to create a sense of community – it was to be one of their last experiences all dancing as a group and I wanted them to feel like one. 

How would you describe the piece in three words? 

Playful, tender, rhythmic.  

What was your choreographic process like for this piece? 

Swingle Stepping was originally created in 2019 for the Year 11 cohort and then re-mounted with another group of dancers in 2020 post-covid. In both instances I worked very collaboratively in the studios with the dancers, and their individual ways of moving inspired the piece. Some sections are really to do with the particular dancer’s individuality, whilst other sections are about the group moving as one, being sensitive and tuned into one another. We worked in both these modes, and closely with the music. 

Can you tell us about the costuming and music choices for the piece?  

The costumes are very simple, but bright. We decided that yellow reflected the feeling of ‘joy’ in the piece that we wanted to find, whilst still being visually clean so that you can see the detail and gesture.  

The music is a mixture of worlds. I love The Swingle Singers – they create acapella versions of classical pieces or in this case; an acapella version of The Blues Brothers. The humanity and simplicity in unaccompanied voice gives a freshness that meets dance well.   

What do you enjoy most about working with young dancers?  

The energy, verve and excitement to be part of a creative process. They develop so much during the period that I work with them as they are at such a crucial point in their training, and that is very inspiring to see. I always learn a lot from working with young dancers, and am always struck by their professionalism, focus and passion.  

What do you hope the students gain from learning and performing this work?  

I hope they feel the joy of dancing together as a group, as a community – to feel connected to one another and able to share a moment in time together, creating memories from that experience. 

Swingle Stepping was first performed at our Summer Performances in 2021. What excites you about returning to the School and for your piece to be performed again by a new cohort of students?  

It is always very exciting to see a new group of young dancers tackle material created by a former group and making the work unique to them. This will be the third group of dancers in the material, and I can see in the choreography the traces of dancers who have previously danced the work; each new cast adds richness and another layer of personality. 

What can audiences expect from your piece and what do you hope they take away from the performance?  

Fun, tenderness and a sense of connectivity between the group.

Watch Swingle Stepping live at Opera Holland Park from 2-5 July, book your tickets today. 

Photography credits

Headshot: Roman Novitzky; Main images: ©Tristram Kenton – Swingle Stepping performed by Royal Ballet School students at the 2021 Summer Performance at the Royal Opera House