News Release
The Art of Roller Skating | Debby Besford
The Art of Roller Skating is an exhibition by artist and documentary photographer Debby
Besford, celebrating the artistic roller skating heritage of Great Yarmouth, which is hosted by
originalprojects at PRIMEYARC. Debby grew up in Great Yarmouth, where she trained as an
artistic roller-skater as a teenager, and also went on to become a national skating judge,
travelling all over the country to skating competitions.
For the past 5 years Debby has been documenting the journeys of seven young local
female artistic roller-skaters as they train and develop their skills, a project which was
naturally inspired by her own love for the sport. Debby’s objective is to showcase this often
forgotten sport with an original eye. Thanks to the popularity of shows like Dancing on Ice,
artistic roller skating is often overshadowed by ice skating. The sport has many facets to it,
from artistic figure and free skating to disco and street skating.
Debby wanted to demonstrate a visual contrast by removing the skaters from the ‘show’ of
the rink and instead using the background of a domestic, intimate situation, reminiscent of
her own experience as a teen skater, where her proud parents took photos of her poised in
her skates with trophies clasped in hand. These documented moments marked a truly
important chapter in her teenage life and one that she felt could be an interesting
approach to celebrate the girls in the project.
The images have a slightly surreal quality, showing the girls in their performance clothes out
of context, with the dissonance between the domestic setting, highlighting the balance
between growing up as a teenager and the dedication and commitment required to
become a professional sportsperson.
charity number 1181297
info@originalprojects.space
www.originalprojects.space
registered office: 1 Saint John’s Terrace, Great Yarmouth NR30 2NF
originalprojects;
Debby has also documented the objects that accompany the life of an artistic roller skater
such as roller skates, costumes and trophies and galas, and has produced a series of slow
motion videos showing the detail and intricacy of the movements, the skill, athleticism and
emotion it takes to jump in mid-air. These movements are repeated to move towards the
perfect jump.
Members of the roller-skating community are invited to contribute their own photographs or
memorabilia which will form part of the exhibition, and Debby and originalprojects; would
also like to capture any stories anyone may have which may form part of a podcast.
Anyone who has anything they’d like to share please contact info@originalprojects.space
The exhibition is supported by a Project Grant from Arts Council England and produced in
collaboration with originalprojects; and will be on display at PRIMEYARC (in the former
Debenhams in Market Gates Shopping Centre)
Open times:
5th March – 1st May
Wednesdays – Saturdays 12-5
Sundays 12-4.
Notes for editors
For further information or press quotes please contact:
Kaavous Clayton (Co-Director, originalprojects;)
kaavous@hotmail.com
07814562906
or
Julia Devonshire (Co-Director, originalprojects;)
julia.devonshire@gmail.com
07930874613
www.debbybesfordphotography.co.uk
www.originalprojects.space
charity number 1181297
www.originalprojects.space
20190920_ARTISTIC ROLLER SKATER_SAV
originalprojects;