Who is Mary Roswell?
Mary creates dance and music that draws inspiration from many genres so defies easy categorisation, but is put in the genre of art-pop. Mary Roswell has been compared to choreographers such as Pina Bausch, Ohad Naharin and Isadora Duncan and artists such as Aurora, Kate Bush and Björk. Mary aims to create work communicating with the subconscious, drawing upon inspirations from the avant-garde movement, Dada and Surrealism. Somatic movement, Skinner-release technique, voguing and waacking, HipHop, house and popping.
See Mary's old dance work here.
Mary Roswell is based in Oslo, Norway, where she's initially from after studying in Leeds, United Kingdom for the past five years as a dance and music student. Roswell is an independent artist with a passion for performance. She creates art that's healing the planet.
The first 7 years of Mary's life she experienced sexual abuse trauma. Mary's work draws on psychology concepts, particularly Sigmund Freud's concept of the subconscious mind, as well as Bessel Van Der Kolk's book "The Body Keeps The Score" (2014), which relates to the psychological impact of trauma stored in the body, and the idea that your body has things to say, and that dance has a way to recovery beyond trauma.
Mary Roswell is an artist who creates dance performances and music with the intention of emotional catharsis. She blends art-pop with expressionism and surrealism to create a unique and transformative movements and soundscapes. Her artistry takes you on a whimsical journey through emotional landscapes. Mary aims to create work that communicates with the subconscious and explores trauma. Her music can be described as ethereal, nostalgic, dynamic and cathartic. Skin from Skunk Anansie describes her as a "natural born star with a talent for performance and singing". Mary's work freely draws inspiration from many genres,
Mary tunes in to her emotion to create and heal what was once broken, transmuting pain into power.
You've got to feel your emotions to heal them.
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Notable Achievements
Northern School of Contemporary Dance
Mary Roswell did the CertHE course at Northern School of Contemporary Dance. She also partook her Master's degreeDance and Creative Enterprise at NSCD.
2019-2020 & 2023-2024
European Champions in Cheerdance Hip-Hop
2017
Mary Roswell competed alongside Jump Crew from Norway. They got qualified after winning the Norwegian Championship the same year. Video of the choreography can be found here
The same team also won the Norwegian championship in the junior division in 2014.
Hip-Hop International
2017
Jump Crew participated in the world's biggest championship for Hip-Hop dance in Arizona. They also got to experience workshops with world known choreographers such as Jojo Gomez and Parris Goebel.
Gigs in Leeds
2022-2023
Mary has performed at multiple venues in Leeds such as Belgrave's, Oporto's and Grove's inn. Every performance has progressed to Roswell's rapid growth in stage presence.
Playing for Skunk Anansie
2022
Mary alongside her university band Dayan performed her original song "Never Go Back" for Skin and Erika from Skunk Anansie. Skin is the chancellor of Leeds Arts University and came for a workshop during Skunk Anansie's tour. Skin called Mary a natural-born star with a talent for performance and singing. This is a comment that will stick with Mary forever.
Leeds Arts University
2020-2023
Mary did her Bachelor's in Popular Music Performance at Leeds Arts University. This is where she started writing and producing music.
Norwegian Academy of Dance
Mary did the first year of a bachelor at this school. The class spent a month at Makerere University in Uganda, working with the music and dance students, learning traditional music and folk dances from the surrounding areas and setting up a performance including singing, dance and percussive drumming.
2018-2019
Amnesty International
2018
Mary spent the summer of 2018 working for Amnesty International, spreading Amnesty's vital work regarding human rights.
Empower
Growth
