Heb Ffiniau is a project that was dreamt up by movement artist Sarah Mumford in 2021, the website was created as an online studio, a creative space for everyone involved to share work and ideas. At a time when we were unable to meet in person it was amazing having a space where we could connect virtually, it also meant we were able to collaborate, share and connect with people across Wales and beyond.
You can read more about the original Heb Ffiniau project and see some of the stunning creative responses in the project archive page.
Heb Ffiniau now offers a space to share Sarah’s work, current and future projects, but also to share the work of the people who collaborate and put so much creative energy and expertise into these projects.
‘For me art is not a lone endeavour it’s about getting people in a space, sharing, listening, connecting and creating, and that’s where the magic happens’
Sarah Mumford
A bit about Sarah
Thank you for dropping by! So how to fit 20 something years of work into a couple of paragraphs? Here goes!
I began my dance training at SELTEC London (now Lewisham College), and had the privilege of being taught by some amazing tutors. This was in many ways an incredible experience at the young age of 17, but also tough. After completing the dance foundation course, I returned to Wales.
I had a bit of a gap in which I did many things including a bit of dance teaching, working, circus, I joined a band. But the most amazing and lifechanging event was the birth of my beautiful amazing daughter, who I can honestly say is the glue that holds me together. We moved to Yorkshire where I completed a BA hons in Dance at Bretton Hall College. After I graduated in 2000 we returned (temporarily – I am still here!) to Wales, and I began on my path as a freelance dance artist.
Here's a brief flavour of what I’ve been up to since then!
My work has been incredibly diverse, from professional dance and theatre to cross-arts projects, physical theatre and lots of circus work in the early days. I have extensive experience in community and education, working with diverse groups, specialising in work with vulnerable young people and adults, and inclusive practice in dance and theatre. My work involves wearing many different hats, workshop leader, facilitator, performer, choreographer, creative director, movement director, costume maker, stage manager, administrator, the list goes on! You absolutely have to be versatile when you work in the arts.
Over the years movement directing for professional theatre productions has become a big part of what I do, and one of my favourite hats!
I have worked with a lot of companies, organisations and individuals over the years (you will be pleased to hear I’m not going to list them all!) most recently the fabulous Dirty Protest theatre, also Graeae Theatre Company, National Dance Company Wales, Cwmni Theatr Bara Caws, North Dance Collective and I work regularly with Blas, Pontio and Hijinx Theatre Company.
I continue to develop my own creative practice, with a growing interest in somatic movement techniques, although this does stem back to Feldenkrais classes with Scott Clarke when I began my training at Lewisham College.
After doing a lot of devising and developing my own work early on, I am really excited to be in a place where I can focus on this again, I followed a path in dance because of my love of movement but also because of an inherent need to create.
