Results - National Dance Awards Critics' Circle

Winners of the 2009 National Dance Awards Critics' Circle are as follows:

Outstanding female (modern) - Amy Hollingsworth (freelance)

Outstanding male (modern)- Thomasin Gulgec (Rambert Dance Company)

Dance UK Dance Industry - Marie McCluskey (Director of Swindon Dance)

Best foreign Company - Merce Cunningham

Outstanding female (classical) - Melissa Hamilton (The Royal Ballet)

Outstanding male (classical) Sergei Polunin  (The Royal Ballet)

Angelina Ballerina Children's Award - Lucy Wood (Susan Robinson School of Dance)

The Patron’s Award - Richard Bonynge (international conductor)

Council for Dance Education and Training (DET) Student - Sam Chung (Tring Park School for the      Performing Art)

Best choreography (modern) - Christopher Bruce for Hush / Rambert Dance Company

Best choreography (classical) - Wayne McGregor for Infra / The Royal Ballet

Outstanding Company - Ballet Black

Best female dancer - Leanne Benjamin (Royal Ballet)

Best male dancer - Paul Liburd (Scottish Ballet)

De Valois Award for Outstanding Achievement - Alexander Grant (former Royal Ballet Principle and Artisitic Director of the National Ballet of China)

 

For Link for nominations

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Political Mother The First Full-Length Work from Dance’s New Star Hofesh Shechter

Since exploding onto the dance scene in 2007, Hofesh Shechter has established himself as one of the UK’s most exciting creative forces, in demand worldwide. In 2010, the Brighton Festival hosted the much-anticipated world premiere of Shechter’s first full-length work Political Mother.

photo by Ben Rudick

Political Mother brims with Shechter’s characteristic gritty emotional complexity and the astonishing unisons, percussive grooves and raw physicality that fill his world. A chain of surreal danced images and a Chinese puzzle of encounters lead to a series of shocking, amusing and touching events which challenge our perceptions of what is normal.

photo by Ben Rudick

 Political Mother is performed by the ten dancers of the Hofesh Shechter Company to a cinematic score composed by Shechter himself and performed by a band of drummers and guitarists, playing live.

Hofesh Shechter Company is the company-in-residence at Brighton Dome and Hofesh himself is Associate Artist at Sadler’s Wells. Political Mother is commissioned by the Brighton Festival and Sadler’s Wells alongside Movimentos, Biennale de la danse de Lyon, Romaeuropa and Mercat de les Flors with support from Theatre Royal, Plymouth.

Tour Dates

Hofesh Shechter Political Mother

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Audition and Mini Residency Opportunity with Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company

Audition date: 11, 12 and 13 February, 2010
Location: To be held in London By invitation only

The award winning Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company has produced imaginative, innovative and critically acclaimed work for the last twenty years. This is a unique professional development opportunity for dance artists who would like to find out more about Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company.

For successful applicants, the three day February intensive with Shobana Jeyasingh and company dance artists could lead to an additional week-long "mini residency" with the company. This could potentially open up opportunities to work with the company in the following projects:

1. Autumn Tour 2010 (September to November)
2. Somerset House Big Dance Project 2010 (June and 1st week of July)

MORE INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

Autumn Tour 2010 (September to November)

The company is looking for technically strong, creative dancers with two years of professional performing experience to join the company for this touring period.

Somerset House Big Dance Project 2010 (June and 1st week of July)

In a new commission to be unveiled in the courtyard at Somerset House as part of London’s Big Dance celebrations, 15 emerging and 5 professional dancers will work with Shobana Jeyasingh and actively participate in the process of dance-making, as well as engage in projects which will open up this process to the diverse communities of West London. The company is looking for 5 professional dancers who are technically strong and creative, with two years professional performing experience for this performance/artistic learning project. Danceeducation experience is also desirable, but not essential.

TO APPLY
Please send:
1. Your CV (including country of residence, email address and daytime contact telephone number)
2. Recent photo headshot
3. Performance video (online link to youtube/dailymotion or DVD)
Email to: admin@shobanajeyasingh.co.uk (Please put ‘AUDITION’ in the subject heading of your email)
Post to: February 2010 Audition, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, Moving Arts Base, 134 Liverpool Road,
London N1 1LA, UK
More information: Sanjivan Kohli, Executive Producer - 020 7697 4444

To find out more about the work of the company, visit www.shobanajeyasingh.co.uk.
Deadline for applications: Friday 29 January, 5pm

Successful applicants will be required in London for all 3 days, 11th, 12, 13th February

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Audition for Recent Dance Graduates Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company

Audition date: April 2010 (dates TBC)

Location: London
By invitation only

The award winning Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company has produced imaginative, innovative and critically acclaimed work for the last twenty years. This is a unique performance and professional development opportunity for recently graduated dance artists (2009 or 2010 graduates) to audition to participate in a 5-week performance/artistic-learning project in London.

THE PROJECT: SOMERSET HOUSE BIG DANCE PROJECT 2010 (JUNE AND 1ST WEEK OF JULY)

In a new commission to be unveiled in the courtyard at Somerset House as part of London’s Big Dance celebrations, 15 emerging and 5 professional dancers will work with Shobana Jeyasingh and actively participate in the process of dance-making, as well as engage in projects which will open up this process to the diverse communities of West London. The emerging dancers will be mentored by Shobana and the professional dancers throughout the project.

APPLICANTS
The company is looking for 15 recent dance graduates (emerging dancers) who are technically strong and creative. Dance education experience is also desirable, but not essential.

TO APPLY
To express interest in auditioning to be part of this project, please send us the following information:

Essential
1. Your CV (including country of residence, email address and daytime contact telephone number)
2. 100 words (Max) explaining why you think we should choose you to be part of this project
3. Recent photo headshot

Desirable
4. Performance video (online link to youtube/dailymotion or DVD) – if available.

Deadline for expression of interest: Friday 26 February, 5pm

For successful applicants, further details about the April auditions will be sent to you in March.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Email to: admin@shobanajeyasingh.co.uk
(Please put ‘Somerset House Audition - graduate’ in the subject heading of your email)

Post to: Somerset House Audition, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, Moving Arts Base, 134 Liverpool Road, London N1 1LA, UK

More information: Lizz Fort, Education Manager - 020 7697 4444

To find out more about the work of the company, visit www.shobanajeyasingh.co.uk

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ADIASPORA COLLECTIVE Uchenna Dance and Vocab Dance Company Presents FRUSTED

FRUSTED
A breathtaking eclectic dance theatre piece,
created through the exploration of human conditions as seen from a female perspective

Showing at Resolution! on Friday 19th February at The Place Theatre
Tickets: £5-£15 (a £15 ticket allows you to see a second show at The Place for free!)
Venue address: 17 Duke's Road, London, WC1H 9PY
Time: 8pm

Direct link to page: The Place

Box office: 020 7121 1100

Uchenna Dance

Vocab Dance Company

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Performances at Laban

Laban is one of the world’s most well accomplished centres for the training of professional contemporary dance artists.. 'a creative and cosmopolitan community of performers, choreographers, teachers and researchers from around the globe."

Tom Dale Company photo by Stephen Berkeley-White

 

Dance in the Laban Theatre this spring mixes the urban with the poetic thanks to performances by leading companies including Stan Won’t Dance, the Tom Dale Company, Marie-Gabrielle Rotie productions and the Darkin Ensemble.

See Laban Contemporary Dance for full listings

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Calling All Dance-Film Makers!

TV Dinners is an annual festival at Chisenhale Dance Space and it explores Dance Film in all its many incarnations. This year it runs from the 23rd to the 27th of March. We are looking for work from Dance-Film makers who are keen to find a place to showcase their work. We are offering a small fee of £75 to selected artists for the right to show their film to 100 strong audience. This work will appear in the New Dance Film event on the evening of the 23rd and will be followed by a locally sourced meal and a chance to talk and ponder the work shown.

THE RULES:
Films can be up to 20 minutes in length and need to be in a digital format. Please EITHER email a link to mail@chisenhaledancespace.co.uk or send a DVD to Chisenhale Dance Space, 64-84 Chisenhale Road, London E3 5QZ.  The material sent MUST be the work you plan to showcase.

The DEADLINE is 5th February 2010.

Films will be chosen by a panel selection on the 11th of February and artists will be notified the following week.

Chisenhale Dance Space – TV Dinners £1500 Commission

Chisenhale Dance Space is holding its annual dance-film festival, TV DINNERS, on the 24th-27th of March. TV Dinners is a series of evenings exploring dance-film in its many different incarnations; each night’s events are followed by some local food and a chance to ponder the work!

We are seeking an artist to create a piece of dance/movement work with 25 people from our local neighbourhood. These people will be of all ages and abilities. The project has to centre on the theme of ‘Film’ but this can be as literal, tenuous or ridiculous as you like!
 
Chisenhale will provide a £1500 commission, rehearsal space and an Assistant… all you need to come up with is an AMAZING idea for this group to work with you!
 
Email: mail@chisenhaledancespace.co.uk for more information.
Application Deadline: 29th of January.

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Audition - Neshima Dance Company

Bristol based, Neshima Dance Company are looking for 2 experienced contemporary dancers to take part in a work-in progress dance piece to be performed as part of Dance Bytes 2009 and Cloud Dance Festival in 2010.

This piece will involve strong contemporary dance and physical theatre skills. Dancers involved will have the opportunity to become part of a new and vibrant contemporary dance company in Bristol.

Rehearsals will be based in Bristol and Cardiff. Rehearsal dates are:

10/09, 11/09, 17/09, 18/09, 24/09, 25/09, 26/09, 1/10, 2/10 and performance on 3/10 or 4/10. Dancers need to be free for all rehearsal dates.

Dancers will not be paid at this stage, however further development of piece is very likely and will be paid work. Travel costs will be covered.

Audition will be held on Sat 5/09 from 12-2 at Dance Voice studio in Bedminster Bristol. Audition will include short class and rep.

For more information or to book a place for audition please contact Batel Magen on 07854806371 or email batia1111@hotmail.com

Places are limited!!!

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Northern School of Contemporary Dance Taster Days

Northern School of Contemporary Dance will be holding two spring term taster days this term:

Wenesday 20 January

Wednesday 10 March

These days are a great chance to get an idea of what life at the college could feel like and also a good opportunity to ask questions to gain further information about the place. You'll also be learning what to expect at an audition and be able to watch and participate in a technique class.

Year 3 students Dean Sefton and Peter Hardicre rehearsing at NSCD for the Student Showcase 2009

Photo by Brian Slater

Northern School of Contemporary Dance

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Dundunkini Presents a Day of Workshops in West African Dance and Drumming

Dundunkini presents a day of workshops in West African dance and drumming, with Michael Neequaye, Sly and Nii Boye Owo.

Michael is a stylish and dynamic dancer who nurtured his talent in his homeland, Ghana. He has worked with several companies and artists internationally, and his collaborations in the UK include Nzinga dance, Kultural Fusion, Wise Moves Dance Company, Brekete and of course Frititi.

Sly and Nii Boye Owo are master drummers of Ghana. They have worked worldwide and are currently based in the UK, where they give regular workshops to local community groups and in schools. Nii is also part of the kakatsitsi ensemble.

The Day:
Saturday 30th January 2010
Islington Arts Factory
2 Parkhurst Road
N7 0SF

1-2pm :The drummers will give an hour-long class for musicians, looking at the Fume Fume rythmn and accompaniments.

2-5pm: Musicians are then welcome to join the drummers at 2pm, as Michael get the dancers moving with song, and choreography taken from Fume Fume, Kumpo and Manjani dances.

It is gonna be great!!!!

Drumming - £10 level- suitable for all, except complete beginners.
Dance - £20. level -open

Please contact Tanya at dundunkini@gmail.com or on 07949 761 589 for more info.

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Dance Video: Kamuyot by Ohad Naharin (Batsheva Dance Company)

Kamuyot by Ohad Naharin (created in 2003) for the Batsheva Ensemble is a piece for children aged 6 to 90.

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Audition - Phoenix Dance Theatre

Phoenix Dance Theatre will be holding auditions in Leeds and London for contracts to start April 2010.

Looking for high quality male and female dancers with a minimum of 3 years vocational training in contemporary and classical technique (Graham) and 3 years professional experience.

Photography: youbeautifulphotography

Auditions will be by invitation only and will be held in London (27th Feb) and Leeds (5th March)

Please send c.v. with a covering letter and photograph to:

Debbie Jennings

Phoenix Dance Theatre

3 St Peter's Buildings

St Peter's Square

Leeds LS9 8AH

or email: debbiej@phoenixdancetheatre.co.uk

References must be clearly stated on the c.v.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 10th February 5pm and successful applicants will be notified by 12th February.

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Rambert Dance - Anticlimax

Extremely high expectations were set for the UK's leading contemporary dance company Rambert Dance.

What a let down.

Tread Softly by Henri Oguike was highly energetic with attractive female costuming. A touch of Hofesh Shechter's style within Oguike's choreography and lighting design.

Tread Softly © Chris Nash

Comedy of Change by Mark Baldwin opened with a group of cocoons that looked like they'd been made as part of a GCSE art project.  Despite the engaging themes, the performance dragged and the costumes were ugly.

A number of the dancers displayed a conveyor belt effort, there to do the job at hand.  Rather off putting when you're reminded of a dancer's hardship of doing the same performance over and over again. Having said this, with repetition one may safely expect the dancers to at least keep balance, which for this performance many did not.

Carnival of the Animals by Siobhan Davies was a quirky performance that made the evening a little more worthwhile.

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Retina Dance 'Antipode'

Retina Dance have added their new Spring tour dates.

Visit Retina Dance Company for event calendar and information.

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