Plaster Shoots: a night of shapeshifting dance at Reference Point

Shapeshifting, a new publication by Evan Purdy and Molly Maltman delves into the transformative power of dance, explored through their journeys across various cities and spaces, from underground raves in London to squat fundraisers in Athens. The publication combines Molly’s poetic writing with Evan’s introspective photography. We sent our own photographer to capture the dance-filled launch party at Reference Point on 15th March. Below, Evan and Molly share some words about the night.

The night began with a vinyl set from DJs Tiffany, Kirsi and Dani. It was their first set as a three after practicing in their living room. The dance floor quickly began to fill as people grooved to the sound of vinyls sourced from Oxfam. Jackets were thrown off and drinks were spilled as guests surrendered  their bodies to the moment.

An hour or so of dancing later, the crowd settled for a live performance. An ambient dub landscape created by Evan reverberated across the room which became the backdrop to which dancers Samara Langham and Roisin Salmon would move. The two started in a meditative, slow state before unfolding into more energised movements. Extracts from the book were read by Molly and distorted into a synth-like sound that echoed the feeling of being deep inside a dance. As Evan recalled: “My memory of tonight settled in the slow movements of my body, the experience will always be with me. I’m grateful to have been able to share it with those who surrounded me.”

Molly added, “In sharing the dance floor with others, it feels like encountering something greater than myself. Witnessing a crowd filled with individuals slowly become one united in dance is a vision so powerful.”

A film of a rave we had been to a couple of weeks earlier was projected behind the performance. The images of crowds dancing intensely behind the movements of Roisin and Samara reflect the rave space itself. From the outside, these underground spaces might seem like places of hedonism and escapism, but inside, they provide a space for meditation.

Jack and Daniel from Excursions continued with a vinyl set spanning dub, trip hop and electronic music played through sound systems from the 1970s. As the event drew to a close, the crowds slowly dispersed until there were only two people left on the dance floor. A slow exodus to East London rounded off the night, where crowds gathered at the artist co-operative where Molly and Evan live. Guests carried on dancing into the night.