Artist Spotlight: Greta Gauhe
Each week, we’re shining a light on the incredible artists we collaborate with at The Middle Floor. We work on a diverse range of projects with our artists – and now, it’s time for you to get to know more about the artists behind the work.
Who are you, and how would you describe your work?
I am a choreographer, dancer, producer, and researcher working across dance, somatics, visual art, and digital performance. My practice is multidisciplinary and socially engaged, often unfolding in unconventional or site-specific contexts. I am particularly drawn to exploring political, social, and ecological themes through a lens of empathy and embodied connection. Whether working in a museum, gallery, or public space, I aim to create participatory experiences that invite audiences into shared moments of reflection, dialogue, and care. For the past ten years, I have been the Artistic Director of Follow Through Collective, a platform dedicated to collaborative performance making. I am currently pursuing a PhD at the Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE) at Coventry University, funded by the Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership (M4C).
How would you describe your approach to creating or preparing for a new project or idea?
Each project begins with listening, listening to place, to people, to the body. I approach making as a collaborative, responsive process that unfolds in dialogue with the site, the community involved, and the themes I’m researching. Somatic exploration and improvisation are central tools in my process, allowing the work to emerge from a place of embodied inquiry rather than imposing a fixed choreographic structure too early. I also frequently work across disciplines, which keeps the creative process fluid and open to unexpected forms.
What has been one of the most rewarding projects you’ve worked on, and why?
Two standout experiences for me have been creating site-specific works that extend beyond traditional performance spaces and audiences. One such project was Unser Raum, developed for the NordArt exhibition in Germany. This piece gave me the opportunity to work in a visual art context, engaging visitors who didn’t necessarily come to see dance. What stood out was how movement became a shared language, audiences offered generous responses, often seeing themselves reflected in the work. The performance created small micro-communities within the gallery, challenging institutional formality and inviting both bodies and spaces to move, relate, and connect differently.
The other is, of course, 1 Click Away, a family-friendly work that we are currently touring across the UK for a second time. This piece explores the environmental crisis and the impact of overconsumption and waste, told in a playful yet thought-provoking way. It has been incredibly rewarding to make work for younger audiences and to bring this performance into schools, libraries, and community spaces where it can spark early conversations about care for our planet.
How do you balance creative work with the more practical aspects of being a working artist?
It’s an ongoing balancing act, but one I’ve come to embrace. I treat the logistical and production sides of my work—funding applications, partnerships, touring, as extensions of the creative process. Running the Follow Through Collective has taught me the importance of clear communication, sustainability, and taking care of the people I work with. I also try to build in time for reflection and rest so that my creativity doesn’t become overshadowed by output. The balance comes from seeing all parts of the work as interconnected rather than competing.
Are there any upcoming projects you're currently working on or where we can next see you?
Yes, I’m fortunate to be developing several exciting projects at the moment. One is a collaborative installation/performance with people who experience chronic pain, exploring the dual nature of touch, as both potentially uncomfortable and healing.
Another project is aimed at younger audiences (ages 3–5). It’s a playful, sensory-rich work exploring tactile materials and themes of difference, diversity, and self-acceptance. It encourages children to celebrate their own uniqueness and the beauty of varied shapes, textures, and ways of being. I see this as part of a wider commitment to making dance that is inclusive, accessible, and meaningful at every age.
Next up we will perform 1 Click Away at Woolwich Works on the 30th of August 2025 (London) and at the Pegasus Theatre (Oxford) on the 25th of October.
You can find out more and keep up-to-date with Greta on Instagram: @gretagauhe