Announced Today: Akram Khan part of Danny Boyle’s team for “Isles of Wonder” Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

It was announced today that internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer Akram Khan part of the team collaborating on the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, devised and directed by Oscar winning British Director Danny Boyle.

Khan, who’s work Vertical Road won “Best Modern Choreography” at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards this week, is recovering well from a tendon injury sustained earlier this month. His performance at the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony will be his first public performance in 2012.

Akram Khan said “It is a thrill and an honour to be collaborating with Danny Boyle on the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The eyes of the world will be on London, in what will be one of the most watched performance events of all time. To be able to contribute is one of the most rewarding and exciting moments of my career. My work has always been about courageous and ambitious experiences, that take audiences on a unique journey that crosses cultural boundaries and I look forward to bringing all these qualities to my Opening Ceremony performance.

“I am recovering well from my recent injury and am looking forward to getting back to preparing for this incredible event.”

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Yorkshire Dance in new partnership with Provident Financial bringing boys’ dance and technology to Rotherham

Leeds-based Yorkshire Dance, the dance agency for the Yorkshire region, is delighted to announce a new three-year partnership with the Yorkshire company, Bradford-based Provident Financial Plc. The partnership will allow Yorkshire Dance to work with partners in Rotherham on a new project to develop boys’ dance in parts of the community with fewest opportunities for young people.

Yorkshire Dance will be working with the arts development team at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to develop high quality opportunities for boys and young men to engage with dance.

The work will encompass dance and technology sessions in a series of taster sessions and weekend and holiday projects. Young men will have a chance to develop their self confidence, fitness, and leadership skills alongside their musicality and performance skills, whilst qualifying for The Arts Award and other relevant steps that will see them engage with education and employment. 

Gail Ferrin, Youth and Community Dance Director of Yorkshire Dance, says, “Our aim is to encourage a large number of Rotherham’s young men to experience the challenge, exhilaration, discipline and fun of making and sharing dance. Dance can have a profound effect on young people, bringing out self expression, confidence, physical skills and raising self-esteem. I look forward to seeing how the young men in Rotherham embrace dance and technology and create some stunning dance works”  

Wieke Eringa, CEO and Artistic Director of Yorkshire Dance, says  “We are looking forward to working alongside the Provident Financial team. It is great to have our work endorsed by such a significant national partner, and it’s a fantastic boost to Yorkshire Dance’s role as dance development agency for the region.” 

 Brent Shackleton, Community Affairs Manager for Provident Financial, said: “Through our Good Neighbour community programme we look to assist local community organisations in areas where we have customers. Each community partner is selected carefully to ensure that every project is delivered to a high standard and provides real benefits for the community. 

We have supported the arts for many years, and so we are delighted to be able to assist in the development of a project that will support young men who may not usually have the opportunity to take part in creative art forms. This project will offer exciting arts opportunities, giving participants the chance to work with professional artists and boost their skills and self confidence.”

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Scope Dance Theatre introduces Hip-hop Dance Sessions with sMash

Hip-hop Dance Sessions with sMash:

Some basic knowledge about the true essence of the body posture and movement in the Hip-hop style. Foundations of the Hip-hop dance / Partydance. The social dance of the Hip-hop culture steps will be taught in detail. This is not a typical choreography class. This is a class to teach the students the old school steps of Hip-hop and to give them the right understanding of this social dance. It is suitable for beginners, for any style of dancers or non-dancers, but also with people of some knowledge in Hip-hop dance. Foundations of Toprock (Bboying) will also be merged in the technique exercises.

Level: Beginners

Teacher: Nefeli Tsiouti (Bgirl sMash) 

Nefeli's Professional Credits:

- Director/Choreographer of Scope Dance Theatre
- Associate Lecturer of Choreography, Middlesex University
- Lecturer of Dance in Colleges (ballet, jazz, hip-hop)
- Masters in Dance Choreography
- Dancer in Element Dance Company
- Bgirl in Soul Superior, bgirl crew
- Resolution! 2012 The Place (choreographer/dancer)
- 'Palette' in Cyprus 2012
- Open Art Surgery 2010, 2011- Jonzi D
- UK Brazilian Grammy Awards 2011
- MOVE IT 2011
- 3rd International Street Festival Athens 2011
- Schwelle 7, Berlin 2010

Battles:

- Top 8 Bgirls 'Kill The Beat International' Athens 2010
- Semi-finals All styles 'UK Hip-hop Championships Midlands' 2011
- Semi-finals 'B.Supreme Bonnie n Clyde' 2011
- Qualified 'Attention to Detail Expojam - Birmingham' 2011

The class can be drop-in, as there will not be choreography taught from one week to the next one.

Drop-in: £5 per session
Term: £35 for eight weeks

Islington Arts Factory

2 Parkhurst Road, Holloway, N7 0SF London

Mondays 19:30-21:00

(6th February 2012 - 26th March 2012)

Closest Tube Stations: Holloway Road , Caledonian Road, Arsenal, Camden Town

Closest Overground: Camden Road, Caledonian Road & Barnsbury Rail

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