Celebrating Somerset’s creative & cultural practitioners: Ernie Shorten

Ernie Shorten is one of our Creative Commissions for 2025. Ernie is an 18-year-old dancer / choreographer based in Porlock (Somerset) who has danced with the company Stacked Wonky from a very young age.

“I got involved early on, as the company typically works with a mix of ages in the production of site-specific work (performance in a non-staged location). I have carried a lot of what they do into my current view of dance/creation giving me an unusual style which combines movement, voice and detailed relationship with the world around me, as well as direct relationship with the audience”. Ernie tells me he has a lot of interest in dancing for camera which is where his choreographic spark came from; he often creates videos of movement in the urban areas that surround where he is growing up.

An interesting aspect of his Creative Commission is his collaboration with Gerard, who is 55 years older than him. The show he is devising and performing in a promenade setting in West Somerset is titled ’55 years’.

I asked Ernie to tell me how this collaboration with Gerard came to form.

“I met Gerard when I was much younger as we were in multiple performances together for Stacked Wonky. One of those performances was actually a duet between us when I was aged 9! With him being an older performer and myself being younger, I have always thought we brought an interesting dynamic to the table when working together. This previous experience is part of the reason I called upon him for this piece.”

Ernie talked to me about the movement bond they have with each other. How Gerard will help solidify the creative images Ernie has, supporting him through the rehearsal process. He looks up to him as a mentor. “Gerard has a lot of presence. I have always valued it and definitely want to use it in this piece of work.”

“In my day-to-day life, I don’t interact with the elderly, let alone in an intimate way. I want to find out what physical contact is between the old and the young - what we can give to each other and what weight we can lift from each other’s back.” 

Ernie sees a lot of rural isolation in the older generation where he lives, and some are especially cut off from the creative arts. His goal is to provide a site-specific piece of work, quite literally on their doorsteps, that is relevant to them.

“Almost my whole experience of dance has been in an outdoor / non-stage environment, so it is simply where I feel the most comfortable to perform. It provides me freedom to imagine bodies in the space, it provides me with a natural soundscape, and it can give poignancy to what I wish to deliver in my work.”

Finally, we spoke about making new work in Somerset and where Ernie sees this project and others going. “I hope ’55 years’ gives me an understanding of my choreographic process and is the start of many more pieces I may go on to make.” This is his first step into the world of professional dance.

Ernie feels it's quite difficult making work in Somerset, particularly where he lives (Porlock), as he finds it hard to find others in a similar situation to collaborate with, learn from and develop. He also plans to develop further as a dancer, saying “I’ve worked with some amazing people from a very young age, such as choreographer Oona Doherty and dancer Faith Prendergast, and I’d like to do more of this, either shadowing their process or finding a mentor.”

In a complex arts sector, talking to Ernie and seeing his ambition and drive to create gives me hope and confidence that the next generation of artists will find a way to make work. Our Creative Commission is helping Ernie develop this new show alongside our artist support; we hope to announce more details on the performances of this project later this year.

Written by Anthony Kosky

(Arts Engagement and Outreach Officer.)