RWA commissions ‘Night Moves’ by award-winning artist Melanie Manchot
The RWA is thrilled to announce the premiere of award-winning contemporary artist, Melanie Manchot’s 'Night Moves’ in our summer exhibition, Dance Out.
Supported through the RWA’s Commissioning Circle and funding from Art Fund, the film was shot in locations across the city in Autumn 2025. It features a cast of local dancers, including senior dance group Gerry’s Attic, ballet dancer Rosy Pigott, Molly No Mates - a queer, drag king Molly dancing team from Bristol, arts activist and former City Mayor, Cleo Lake, dancers Iris Hernandez and Abelardo Salabet as well as Bristol skateboarders at Campus skateparks.
Manchot and her team worked in close collaboration with the dancers who devised routines specifically for the project. Each dancer performs on an ‘individual stage’ - utilising carparks, bridges and empty buildings – drawing on their specific movements to challenge expectations and draw attention to the built environment within the city.
‘Night Moves’ reflects Melanie’s iconic style, blending beautiful cinematography with choreography and powerful sound design. While Melanie’s previous series ‘Dance (All Night)’, explored movement in London, Leeds and Paris this new commission takes a fresh angle, uncovering the pervasive power of online digital media and exploring, in her words, ‘how dance is shaped by the camera and by desires for recognition, to be seen’.
Kathryn Johnson, Head of Exhibitions at the RWA, comments:
“Bristol is UNESCO City of Film and, as the city’s first and oldest art gallery, the RWA is proud to champion the creation of new media and film work here. It’s a joy to work with Melanie and the incredible local dancers she has gathered together. We’re excited to welcome visitors to ‘Dance Out’ at the RWA from 9 May – where the film will premiere as an immersive installation. It will then join the RWA Collection to be enjoyed by audiences for many years to come.’
‘Night Moves’ debuts as part of our 2026 Summer Exhibition Dance Out. Curated by painter David Remfry and art historian James Russell Dance Out will celebrate dance as a human activity, both solitary and social, and features David Remfry’s paintings of nightlife in London and New York, paintings from Denzil Forrester, Paul Dash and short films from Tracey Emin and Gillian Wearing.
About Night Moves
The commission and acquisition of ‘Night Moves’ has been made possible with Art Fund support alongside the generous support of individual donors through the RWA’s Commissioning Circle.
