Open Stations is an evolving interdisciplinary project that explores the interplay between dance, video art, and the sacred architecture of some of the UK’s most iconic religious sites. Beginning in 2017, the project emerged through a collaboration between video artist Mark Dean, choreographer Lizzi Kew Ross, and writer Lucy Newman Cleeve. Each version of Open Stations offers a unique experience, blending immersive performances with site-specific installations.

The project began with Stations of the Cross at St Stephen Walbrook in London, where fourteen videos by Mark Dean were projected onto the Henry Moore altar during an all-night Easter vigil. As dawn broke, dancers joined, bringing movement into the sacred space. Two weeks later, Stations of the Resurrection unfolded under the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. The dancers performed Being Here, surrounded by Mark Dean’s, a 12-channel video and sound installation Here Comes the Sony. In both settings, audiences were encouraged to move freely through the space, experiencing the work from multiple perspectives. A catalogue accompanied these events, offering Lucy Newman Cleeve’s reflections on the architectural, theological, and creative aspects of the work.

In 2022, Stations of the Crossing brought the project to Durham Cathedral. This iteration, created for World Heritage Day, transformed the cathedral’s central crossing into a stage for a promenade performance. The choreography, devised with an ensemble of dancers, resonated with the history and atmosphere of the cathedral, creating a dialogue between the performance and its setting, with videos by Mark Dean projected on the altar frontal.

The project’s exploration of artistic collaboration continued with the exhibition Process. Rehearsal. Performance in 2023. Hosted at the Laban Theatre Bar and later at Caerbladon Gallery and Malmesbury Abbey, the exhibition documented the creative journey behind Open Stations. It featured Ne me touché Pas de trois, created collaboratively during lockdown; Mark Dean’s Dance City of God, capturing rehearsals at Dance City in Newcastle. These videos reflect the improvisation, dialogue, and energy that shape the work, providing insights into the process of creating art that engages both space and audience.

Open Stations invites viewers to experience the intersection of movement, sound, and space, challenging traditional boundaries and encouraging new ways of engaging with art and spirituality. Each version builds on the themes of presence, reflection, and the resonance of the sacred, creating an immersive journey through time, space, and creativity.

Stations of the Resurrection
St Paul's Cathedral, April 2017
Video: Mark Dean
Choreography: Lizzi Kew Ross, with dance artists Henry Montes, Morrighan McGillvevray, Alice Sara, Sonia Rafferty, Dave Waring
Costume: Suzie Holmes

Stations of the Crossing
Durham Cathedral, April 2022
Created for Easter Monday 2022, this promenade performance was part of World Heritage Day, featuring five dancers moving in and around Durham Cathedral’s central crossing, with a video and sound installation by Mark Dean. A documentary video captures the resulting 40-minute dance performance from the altar’s vantage point, offering a unique perspective on this immersive event.

Trailer