Wondering Heights
As part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, and its support for creative projects rooted in the Bradford District, Lucy received an Artist-Led Project Award. These awards aim to establish Bradford as one of the most welcoming places in the UK for artists, creating opportunities for them to flourish and showcasing the vibrant talent in the region.
Throughout 2025, musicians, theatre makers, dancers and more will premiere new works, offering exciting opportunities for the public to engage and participate.
This page is home for the Wondering Heights project, a multidimensional work built around a participatory and playful dance on Bradford Moor (or wherever you are!) in June and July 2025, triangulating the heritage of Emily Brontë, Kate Bush’s pop masterpiece “Wuthering Heights” and Bradford’s community and landscape.
Information
A micro-pilgrimage.
A mass dance meditation for every body.
A map, an idea, an invitation. What happens if we all think about a place, a dance, a song, all at the same time?
Wondering Heights is a tiny project with a big, hopeful heart. Taking place across July and August as part of the Bradford City of Culture celebrations, Wondering Heights invites folk to connect with the glorious moorland around Bradford. Using the literary heritage of Emily Brontë, plus Kate Bush’s genre-busting pop classic as inspiration, you’re invited to join in wherever and however you can – from your bed, garden, workplace or up on the moors.
With a beautiful hand drawn map by Chris Goddard and some super fun demo and instructional videos, we’d love you to use these as inspiration for a walk, a dance, a lie down! Make your favourite shapes from bed, dance a bit, draw with your eyes closed, make a collage, wave a dramatic tea towel, from micro to macro, make it yours.
The goal: create small moments of Bush & Brontë style collective joy and silliness throughout July and August*.
*Note that the final date for submissions of responses is 24th August.
Find out more & get involved…
Curious about how to take part in Wondering Heights? Visit our Wondering Heights Information page for everything you need to know, including the dance video, free dance workshops in Bradford this July, how to get a map, and different ways you can join in. You can also share your photos or videos with us directly here. Or, if you’re on social media, post using the hashtag #WonderingHeights on Instagram!
Image descriptions: 1. Lucy’s feet in gold trainers & orange leg warmers next to a grey rock with bright yellow lichen sitting in long, dry grass. 2. A view across windswept grass on the moor, wind turbines along the distant ridge, bright blue sky. 3. Lucy standing in front a flat vertical rock (one of the Brontë Stones) with writing carved into it.
“…research demonstrates that simply imagining rhythmic movement triggers physiological responses similar to actual dancing, including changes in heart rate variability and respiratory patterns.”
Dr. Peter Lovatt, Dance Psychologist, University of Hertfordshire
“Gatherings have the power to temporarily transport us to a world created for a specific purpose—where we feel we belong to something larger than ourselves.”
Priya Parker, The Art of Gathering
This project is conceived by Lucy Barker and delivered with a brilliant support team.
A few useful links
- Access Framing for Wondering Heights
- Wondering Heights Information page
- Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture homepage
