Project Archive
2025
Flames of the Forest
Exploring wildfires and climate change through movement, urgency and youth-driven creativity
Premiered 2025
Artists
Concept, Direction, Camera & Editing - Jen Wren
Choreography & Creative Facilitation by Collaborating DAZL Dance Leaders: Kaci Emmonds, Stephanie Dobson and the performers taking direction on site.
Composition - James Jelliman
Costumes - Jen Wren
Originating Cast: DAZL Youth Dance Company
On Site Support: Sarah Matthews and Madison Collins
Flames of the Forest is the second dance-film collaboration between Slanjayvah Danza and Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL), and is the DAZL Youth performance company's take on a Slanjayvah Danza Fast Creative Task Challenge. Led by Artistic Director Jen Wren, the film continues in DAZL’s wider Climate Crisis programme and explores one of the most destructive and urgent consequences of climate change: the rise of wildfires and their devastating impact on habitats, ecosystems and communities.
Filmed on location in Leeds woodlands, the young performers used movement, improvisation and outdoor woodland settings to process and express the ideas of destruction, resilience and environmental urgency, whilst Wren’s Fast Creative Task approach fostered quick decision-making and on-location experimentation — offering dancers not only artistic challenge but also a sense of agency and ownership over the themes explored.
Flames of the Forest was commissioned and Produced by Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL) with supported by Wades Charity and Leeds Cultural Programme. The cast and producers also extend an extra-special thanks to the families, youth workers, and community partners supporting DAZL’s climate-action work.
Screenings and Merits
Presented as part of DAZL’s Climate Crisis programme, Flames of the Forest empowers young dancers to respond creatively to global environmental issues. The film has been showcased through DAZL’s digital platforms, featured within their Climate Crisis strand, and shared as part of their youth and community arts programming.