ART OF MOVEMENT, DESIGNED BY ALICE​

 

Alice founded DESIGNED BY ALICE during her decade as a professional ballerina. She craved clothing that would act as an extension of her art form: outwardly expressing inner artistry while beautifully accentuating movement. Combining skills in product design with her lived experience of dance, Alice began to craft unique ballet skirts, bodysuits and accessories for herself, and quickly others. Now based in London, her studio creates wearable art for dancers, wild swimmers, or anyone dressing to express themselves. 

Collections are inspired by the natural world, from clouds to coral reefs, using illustrations hand-painted by Alice that capture the beauty of the passing seasons. Her production process is just the opposite, giving conscious customers lifelong pieces that transcend fast fashion. Every detail is ethically considered, starting with recycled materials through to carbon-neutral shipping.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PROJECTS

When not in the studio, Alice mixes dance with science, tech, photography, film and design to explore the human form. She brings thoughtful research, innovative vision and skilful presentation to international, collaborative projects that push the limits of what dance can be.

Most recently Alice has been Artist in Residence at Harvard University’s ArtLab, experimenting with a human and robot pas de deux, as well as working with sweat crystals to create sustainable bio-fabric for dance. Her photography has been published in Vogue Italia and she has directed films for the Southbank Centre, created communication campaigns for Freed of London, and designed for Jellycat toys.

SELECTED WORK

COSTUME // PUPPETRY

GHOST TOWN // THEATRE

GHOST TOWN is an exhilarating piece about the end.


Life’s repeating patterns become untethered as the end approaches, but can we escape by breaking out of the loop? Or should we follow the road to its natural conclusion? 
 
Taking the audience on a journey from a broken-down car in the middle of the desert to an unexpected climax, Ghost Town combines circus, dance, media art and live foley, with world renown collaborators.

ART+ MOVEMENT DIRECTION // COSTUME // PHOTOGRAPHY

THE FABULIST // ANA SILVERA

Ana is wearing a bespoke dress/ painting that I illustrated in response to listening to ‘The fabulist’… the ever shifting tones and narratives of her evocative music seemed to defy any fixed state … instead I layered drawings over drawings, stories over stories and then wrapped Ana up in all the colour of her music. (In the form of a dress made from the painting ) ..

RESEARCH // CHOREOGRAPHY // ART​

ARE WE HUMAN OR ARE WE DANCER?

Harvard ArtLab 2020 - Artists residency With Dr. Merritt Moore; The creation of a duet between a human dancer and industrial robot, exploring the possibility that elements will be choreographed by A.I. This is an on-going collaborative project for Alice and Merritt, which began in London, Oslo and now Boston. 

CO-DIRECTION // COSTUME // CHOREOGRAPHY // PHOTOGRAPHY

DANCE FILM - SKELETON SONG

Live screening - Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, London, July 2018. Digital premiere - CLASH MagazineCreated in collaboration with singer/songwriter Ana Silvera and director/dancer Kate Church. Produced by Stephanie Moon​Skeleton Song is song #2 from ‘Oracles’, a work by critically acclaimed singer and composer Ana Silvera (UK), which draws upon folkloric tales and images to express her personal experience of losing a close family member.

PHOTOGRAPHY // ART + MOVEMENT DIRECTION // COSTUME

LIMINAL BEINGS 

Published by Vogue Italia, Dec 16‘

Liminal Beings – Rebirth’ was the result of fruitful collaboration between Dancer & Writer Juliet Burnett and Dancer & Visual Artist Alice Williamson.  Juliet and Alice both trained as classical Ballet dancers and were at respective transitioning points in their careers from ‘classical ballet dancers’ to something new; they were at the threshold of change. Liminal beings is an explorative collaboration of on nature of liminality and its further reflection on our understanding of boundaries, of being; Of being reborn.

PHOTOGRAPHY // ART-DIRECTION // COSTUME

ARABELLA

'Arabella' is a narrative photo series featuring Arabella (arachnid - spider, bella - beautiful). It features dancer Emma Lister and was photographed in an abandoned plastic factory near Manningtree on a warm November's day in 2017. Arabella was one of many. set in motion by daily tasks. “work with pride and take pride in your work!” suggested a sign on the wall. Around her, a hive of tiny tasks rung and clattered down labyrinthine hallways, carried by swift footfalls and flashes of paper. But arabella’s thoughts drifted with the slightest breeze; things unnoticed by others whispered poems to her...

COSTUME

THEATRE SHOW 'INSOMIACS FABLE' 

Commissioned by MAKE//SHIFT Company​Finland + London 2017-18A non-verbal narrative performed by circus artist Sakari Männistö and dancer Emma Lister. Insomniac’s Fable is an intimate contemporary circus piece about the realities – or unrealities – of love.

PHOTOGRAPHY // COSTUME // ART DIRECTION // DIGITAL CAMPAIGN 

EXQUISITELY CRAFTED

Ballerinas, like pointe shoes, are made not born. They are years of refinement, and generations of absorbed heritage.
#exquisitelycrafted
' Exquisitely Crafted' art campaign commissioned by Freed of London for 'World Ballet Day 2016'. It featured royal ballet Principal dancer Yasmine Naghdi.