Associate Artist Jo-anne Cox: The journey of the ‘Dragon’

Our Associate Artist 2022, Jo-anne Cox, is a neurodivergent musician who plays a purple sparkling Bridge Violins “Dragon” cello. Stemming from improvisation and exploration, together they create original music, mixing up texture, loops and the dynamic voice of the cello.  Jo-anne enjoys cross artform and musical collaborations, and devising work with a focus on audience interaction, access and inclusion. Here, she talks about developing her sensory practice during her time as Oily Cart’s Associate Artist.

As Oily Cart Associate Artist 2022, I led a project at JFK School in Stratford with young people who experience the most barriers to access, aged 8-13. Guided by Artistic Director Ellie Griffiths, I set out to explore the wild and calm outpourings of my “dragon cello”.

In past work, the dragon cello and I made statements about the value of people for who they are and the destructive forces of right-wing capitalism. I think it is important to include young people who experience the most barriers in politicised disability arts. 

 At JFK School, I began with soft sounds and built it up from there. Fears I had that the sounds would be overpowering were allayed as I observed young people leaning towards the cello with interest. Instead of introducing the wild, I soon found myself following the lead of a young person responding with an excited force of swirling vocalisation and movement.

Jo-anne is relaxed and sitting with her purple sparkling cello, wearing a white top, purple sparkly material around my waist and a full white skirt overlapping a netted vintage skirt. Jo-anne's brown shoulder length hair is pulled back and she is wearing a see-through face mask. She is bouncing her bow and looking towards something happening in the room (not pictured)
Image description: I am relaxed and sitting with my purple sparkling cello,  wearing a white top, with purple sparkly material around my waist and a full white skirt overlapping a netted vintage skirt. My brown shoulder-length hair is pulled back and I am wearing a see-through face mask. I am bouncing my bow and looking towards something happening in the room (not pictured). Photographer: Clare Conroy.

During the residency I worked with collaborators: Gary Day from Garden of Music and puppeteer Rachel Warr. Gary introduced switches, soundbeam and iPads demonstrating with a natural non-verbal rapport. Creative Enabler Lowri Jenkins supported two of the young people with a microphone and echo effect. Breathing sounds and low vocalisations intermingled with tech sounds and cello and a spontaneous piece of contemporary music emerged in a room darkened for ambience.

Video description: On an iPad screen against a white background is a picture of a friendly green dragon. A block bar of colour across the screen is moved by the touch of a finger. As the bar travels up and down over the dragon it triggers electronic sound going up and down.

Working in the sensory room with puppeteer Rachel, a hushed sense of wonder followed the dimming of lights. A translucent dragon puppet took flight and the young people tracked the creature as it travelled from person to person, bathing them in colour. The cello looped airy textures and followed the journey of the dragon. Soon the young people had their own shadow dragons to explore in this absorbing experience.  

Sound description: Over an airy atmospheric loop, the cello plaintively follows the flight of the dragon puppet, up and down a little before soaring up and sliding between high notes. The voices of some young people vocalising are heard as they engage with the dragon puppets.
This is a close up shot, the room is dark, a young person's hands are resting on a tray table, and hovering just above the tray table is a translucent green blue and yellow dragon puppet. A supporter holds the puppet with one hand and shines a light on its wings, illuminating the dragon and bathing the young person's hands and the tray table in colour.
Image description: This is a close-up shot. The room is dark, a young person’s hands are resting on a tray table, and hovering just above the tray table is a translucent green, blue and yellow dragon puppet. A supporting adult holds the puppet with one hand and shines a light on its wings, illuminating the dragon and bathing the young person’s hands and the tray table in colour. Photographer: Clare Conroy

Working at the school with the same young people over the weeks enabled participation to develop over time. Responses included tracking light, listening, vocalising, movement, reaching out for shiny material and puppets, smiling, laughing and deeper breathing.

It was wonderful to receive this feedback from one of the teachers at JFK:

“I am so so grateful for the opportunity you gave us to work with Jo-anne and the team. It was such a wonderful experience for all the students and staff.  I am always trying to look for enriching activities for our learners with complex needs and this was truly spectacular” 

I am keen to further develop the piece into an immersive sound and light-based work, set in the world of the dragon. I would continue with the residency style approach, having time to get to know the audience and what works for them. 

As a musician who has faced barriers, I feel it is important to share that high quality access was crucial to my well-being and success. I had one person from the Oily Cart team dedicated to my access throughout, and I had a Creative Enabler who supported me and my artistic practice. 

Website cello.joannesonia.live
Twitter @Josonia7
Instagram @joannecoxcello
Facebook @JoanneCoxElectricCello
Youtube @josonia1

Oily Cart’s Associate Artist programme champions and supports disabled artists to develop their sensory theatre practice and develop leadership skills to create a more representative sensory theatre making sector.