Watermans proudly presents And Breathe…, a short film by award-winning dance film director, Sima Gonsai, online at Watermans.org.uk/gallery/and-breathe/ as a free stream in celebration of Earth Day, which takes place on 22 April. 

Sima Gonsai's film was co-commissioned by Watermans & Akademi, the renowned South Asian dance company, as part of their Climate Change Screen Dance Commission to create a new dance film based on issues around climate change and using South Asian Dance as a medium. And Breathe…was premiered as part of the Watermans' Season for Change Programme in late 2021.  

And Breathe… is a climate change dance film inspired by the newly introduced "Clean Air Zone' in Birmingham and the negative reactions it generated as people challenged having to make changes to their habits and lifestyles. The movement direction for this film is by Karen Wood, and is choreographed and performed by the award-winning Kesha Raithatha. Kesha combines contemporary and Kathak movement to embody the conflicts of over-consumption versus preservation….and, ultimately, if we meet that challenge how there is hope for the future.

The film and dance choreography explore the effect of carbon emissions and their apocalyptic impact on humanity and the earth. For the sake of future generations, And Breathe…challenges us to go back to basics, to pass on and use intergenerational skills that help to prevent climate change through lower consumption and replacement practices to put back what we take out. 

It's a film about hope… but that hope rests with us.

Jan Lennox, Director, Watermans said, "This film is a beautiful and challenging interpretation of the forces at play on our environment. It's a film about hope… but that hope rests with all of us. We hope this film elegantly demonstrates how we, as an arts organisation, can add to the debate and get a strong message out there that everyone can access".