MOVING SONG with Roxane Smith + Helen Chadwick

MOVING SONG with Roxane Smith + Helen Chadwick

11th April to 12th April 2026 near Stroud, UK

A joyous weekend of singing and moving at the same time with Helen and Roxane.

Helen has composed many songs that involve gentle movement or stepping patterns and/or body percussion.
She will also lead some warm ups involving body and voice suitable for choirs.

Roxane will be teaching songs from the Congolese/Belgian group ZAP MAMA 
who created songs through improvisartion using complex rhythmic patterns. 
Roxane, who has group member Mahdia Dawn's permission to teach these songs, writes:

The rhythmic content of the songs is so intrinsic that we always all start with the'embodiment of the rhythm in the form of stepping.
The songs have small relatively 'easy to learn' phrases, that interlock and weave into something mesmerising and complex. 
There are lush harmonies as well as funky basslines, with interplay between notes on the beat and notes on the offbeat. 
The songs are really fun to learn and satisfying to sing.

Who Is It For?
The workshop is for choir leaders, singers, movers and performers.
Participants: 27

Timings

• Saturday 11 April: 10:30 am - 5:00 pm

• Sunday 12th April 10:00 am - 4:00pm

On the Saturday evening there will be an optional evening together - more details to follow.

Roxane Smith  http://harmonyjunky.co.uk/

Helen Chadwick  www.helenchadwick.com

How We Met
Roxane and Helen met a long time ago and have been in regular touch over Sing for Water as well as a shared passion for rhythm and singing and laughing.

More about Roxane:
"I love sharing songs that have 2 main characteristics - lush rich 
harmonies AND a funky rhythm section.
This may involve singing and stepping or singing and clapping and, once 
we've got going, singing and stepping and clapping.
Stepping and clapping are not compulsory of course, but I am interested 
in finding a way of embodying the rhythm. The main purpose of stepping 
is to allow the rhythm to enter and move your body. This is something 
that is not encouraged in more classical forms of singing or western 
cultures, so in many ways we need to reclaim the relationship between 
body/rhythm and song.
Roxane has been organising workshops by Mahdia Daulne of Zap Mama for 
many years and is now able to share some of the music and context of the 
songs.

What To Bring:

• Loose, comfortable clothing

• Soft footwear or come barefoot

• Water bottle and lunch (and a mug if you want your own)