If I Were A Merperson

An immersive under-the-ocean installation integrated with live dance and Chinese pole performance centred on the UN’s 30x30 initiative to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030.

In collaboration with installation artist Alice Helps (www.alicehelpsdesign.org)

Currently funding-dependent, the first phase will be an R+D, culminating in focus-group sessions at the Science Gallery London, before development into a large-scale experience.

The creation of a subaquatic environment will engulf participants and disrupt
their terrestrial sense of embodiment; achieved through materials and lighting with kinetic,
semiopaque and luminescent qualities found underwater, drawing on natural materials
including seaweed and plant fibres, and working experimentally with water as a live element.

The multi-disciplinary movement artists will draw on various movement styles including
contemporary, hip-hop, commercial, capoeira and Chinese pole. Chinese poles (5-6m high scaffolding poles covered in rubber which circus artists climb and perform acrobatic movement) allow the performance to play with various oceanic depths and expand the immersive element of the experience.

The installation will be made of raw, sustainable materials and also act as an interactive and informative exhibition for people to explore and learn. Additionally there will be an opportunity for the public to play the role of environmental consultant, sitting with a GIS specialist to identify a good protected area, designing a map to be emailed to them.

Ways to take action will be provided in order to make a tangible impact including:

Sign an open letter to the local MP
Learn about consumer habits that support ocean conservation via QR code
Sign up to volunteer at a conservation organisation

The aim is to provide various options, so that people can select an impactful action based on what suits them.

Here you can see examples of mine and Alice's previous work, to get a sense of how the collaboration may manifest.

Updates to come!

Ecological Beings

Hannah Bertram: Co-Director, Co-Producer, Choreographer, Dancer

A 30-minute dance film by Element Arts Company.
The film explores the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world.
Here are some clips exploring different ecosystems and landscapes - water, mycelium, glaciers, forests.

Storehouse

Alice Helps: Installation Artist

90,000 sq ft set design over two levels, using sustainable raw natural materials, for immersive show at Deptford Storehouse for Sage & Jester, London, 2025

Translation

Hannah Bertram: Director, Producer, Movement Artist

A dance and Chinese pole theatre show, envisioning a better future for queer people.

Lost Origin

Alice Helps: Installation Artist

A collaboration with the Almeida Theatre and Factory 42 for Audience of the Future (UKRI).

A multi-space set with interactive projections and mixed reality technologies. Co-designed with Julie Landau.

Connect

Hannah Bertram: Director, Producer, Choreographer, Movement Artist

An Element Arts dance and spoken word film.
We worked with school children for them to create spoken word on climate change and climate action. Strong themes of help, care and allyship emerged; these themes were used by Element Arts to create movement for the dance films.