Tender Steps

*Tender Steps is an artistic response to the grief and healing surrounding baby loss. Shot in a single, uninterrupted take, the film captures the raw emotions of a lived experience, set against the backdrop of Oker Tree in South Darley, Derbyshire. *

The film was conceived as a medium to bring awareness to the often-overlooked experience of baby loss, timed to coincide with Baby Loss Awareness Week (2024). By utilising dance, a universal form of expression that transcends language barriers, the film seeks to address a deeply sensitive and emotionally charged subject in a way that resonates with diverse audiences. Dance, with its ability to convey complex emotions through movement, offers a unique avenue for storytelling, allowing for a visceral and empathetic engagement with themes that are frequently left unspoken or marginalised in public discourse.

Through carefully crafted choreography, the film explores the range of emotions that accompany the grief, loss, and healing process associated with baby loss. It aims to create a space where these emotions can be witnessed, shared, and discussed, building a sense of connection and understanding among those who have experienced such a loss, as well as those who have not. By bringing this subject into the public eye through an artistic lens, the film not only supports those affected by baby loss but also challenges societal taboos around grief, encouraging open dialogue and broader cultural recognition of the emotional and psychological impact of baby loss.

In aligning with Baby Loss Awareness Week, the film also serves as a tool for advocacy, aiming to raise awareness about the resources and support systems available for those grieving, while pushing for greater empathy and societal sensitivity towards this experience. Ultimately, the project aspires to humanise the grief of baby loss through the language of movement, giving voice to those whose pain may have remained silent, and catalysing a more compassionate and inclusive conversation around this delicate topic.

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Credits for Tender Steps

Director: Alice Marshall

Choreography: Alice Marshall and Dance Artists

Producer: Michael Peter Johnson

Director of Photography & Editor: Adam Jones

Original Score: Matt Vale

Lullaby Written and Composed by: Kieran Buckeridge and Ella Vale

Vocals: Ella Vale

Costumes: Styled by Adaire to Dance Artists

Cast

Esme Blood

Victoria Jones

Cody Jukes

Daniel Longhurst

Alice Marshall

Charley Mitchell

Freya Davis (Intern)

Production Team

Camera Operators: Adam Jones

Camera Assistant: Tom Dennis

Photographer: Richard Richards

Partners and Sponsors

Funded by : Arts Council England National Lottery

Déda

University of Derby

The Work Health Hub

Special Thanks

Dance Mama

St Mary’s Church

Ilkon Gallery

Lakeside Gallery, Nottingham