Vocab Dance Company 'Word!'

Can we do anything about Youth Culture?

DESH

Akram Khan at his most purest

Dance Movement Psychotherapy

Interview with Batel Magen - Artistic Director of Neshima Dance Company

31 Oct 2010

ADAD, East London Dance and Ochee Design launch the Agile Leaders Challenge, a new training programme for creative practitioners

Applications are now open for the Agile Leaders Challenge, a training programme specially designed for professionals working in the fields of dance and visual/creative media. The challenge is a bespoke professional development programme which aims to transform the participants’ creative practice through a three-stranded approach focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration.
The programme is run by a consortium made up of three partners – the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD), East London Dance and Ochee Design with the support of the Cultural Leadership Programme. The partners are working closely with CIDA – The Creativity and Innovation Company (UK) in the design of the programme. The course has been developed as part of the Cultural Leadership Programme’s ‘Meeting the Challenge’ scheme, which responds to the need for a strategic, person-centred approach to equipping and training leaders at all levels within the cultural and creative industries.
The challenge will take place from January-May 2011 and will be made up of two residential weekend intensives, which 'sandwich' a series of creative labs, business skills workshops and action-learning sets. The participants will work in small groups on collaborative projects (Big Ideas) which will culminate in a public showcase in June 2011.

The challenge is aimed at dance and creative media professionals who want to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours, which will enable them to create thriving businesses that make a meaningful impact.

The closing date for applications for the Agile Leaders Challenge is November 17th, 2010. More information about the Agile Leaders Challenge is available on the ADAD website – www.adad.org.uk or call 0207 8417357-8.

29 Oct 2010

Lloyd Newson to chair Panel Debate - Can We Talk About This - Has Multiculturalism Eroded Free Speech?

To feed into the research and development for the new work, Lloyd Newson will chair a panel debate that will look at the effect multiculturalism has had on free speech.

Guests include:

Mark Halstead (Education & Professional Development, University of Huddersfield)
Rumy Hasan (Senior Lecturer, University of Sussex & author of Multiculturalism: Some Inconvenient Truths)
Gita Sahgal (former Head of Amnesty International's Gender Unit)
Salman Sayyid (School of Sociology & Social Policy, Leeds University)

Mon 8th Nov, 5.45pm (1hr)
Cottesloe, National Theatre, London
Click here to buy tickets

Rehearsals for Newson's new production will begin in February 2011, the premiere in the Summer and tour until mid 2012. This new work looks at issues surrounding freedom of speech, religion and offense.
"It is very, very easy not to be offended by a book. you just have to shut it." Salman Rushdie 

Laban Theatre Events November to December

Without Warning

Without Warning is devised by a company of dancers and musicians bringing together light, sound and movement, using the mind and spirit to claw reality, half-reality and meaning.
Thu 11 & Fri 12 Nov 18.45h. 20.00h. 21.15h
Laban Theatre & Lizzi Kew-Ross present
Ticket £12 / £8 concessions

photo by Nuno Santos

Peter Anderson
Darkroom
Without Warning
Photographic Exhibition

This Photographic Exhibition presents photographs of the cast of Without Warning captured in rehearsal by artist Peter Anderson. Experience this exhibition in the Laban foyer. 
Admission Free
Mon 25 Oct - Fri 12 Nov Mon – Sat 10.00h – 17.00h
Thu 11 & Fri 12 Nov 10.00h – 21.00h



Sankalpam
Corpo-realities

Performing company Sankalpam works with artists from the contemporary dance and theatre world choreographing a triple bill which exposes the performers’ desire to communicate with the viewer and others on stage. 
Tue 16 & Wed 17 Nov 19.30h
Ticket £12 / £8 concessions



Russell Maliphant

Experience the critically-acclaimed work of dancer and choreographer Russell Maliphant in a unique showcase at Laban Theatre on November 24 & 25 at 7.30pm. The programme includes a coveted live performance from Maliphant himself, and two other works that span his career as one of the leading choreographers of his generation – the recent AfterLight (Part One) performed by award-winning dancer Daniel Proietto, and a film screening of Maliphant’s early duet, Critical Mass.
Wed 24 & Thu 25 Nov 19.30h
Ticket £15 / £12 concessions


BA (Hons) Dance Theatre Year Three
Commissioned Works Part 2

In preparation for their imminent careers as professional dance artists, final year students have experienced intensive periods of creative exploration and rehersal with leading choreographers.

Thu 2 & Fri 3 Dec 19.30h
Ticket £6 / £3 concessions


A Tribute to Dr Lesley Anne Sayers

Celebrate some of Dr Lesley-Anne Sayers’ key moments in 20th century dance and be the first to see the world premiere of a new solo by Melanie Clarke in honor of Lesley–Anne Sayers contribution to dance
Mon 6 Dec 19.30h
Ticket £12 / £8 concessions

020 8469 9500

27 Oct 2010

Dance Video: Emanuel Gat - 'Satisfying Musical Moments' (New Creations 2)


Sydney Dance Company presents the World Premiere of Emanuel Gat's 'Satisfying Musical Moments'.

C-12 Dance Theatre - New Dates added to Tour

"The Chair" C-12 Dance Theatre's first National Tour 2010/2011

C-12 Dance presents a thrilling double bill; an electrifying, gripping dance theatre performance which captures love, loss and injustice.

The Chair took the Edinburgh Festival Fringe by storm, receiving five star reviews and sell out audiences, and Enough was developed from a piece C-12 performed for Dance Umbrella.


Enjoy this diverse, exciting and explosive arrangement of contemporary dance theatre. C-12 Dance Theatre are an emerging London based dance theatre company who are rapidly gaining status on the dance circuit. Established in 2005, the company fuse dance and theatre creating a unique blend of physical dance performance with a theatrical narrative.
"The acting throughout is first class; these dancers have a thing or two to teach classical companies about facial expression." Financial Times
"This was an incredibly intense performance that kept the audience mesmerised" ***** Three Weeks
"Emotions searing through their bodies and flying out through the looks on their faces is absolutely beautiful to watch"***** Fringe Review
Tour Dates

November 4th 2010 The North Wall, Oxford,
www.thenorthwall.com

November 9th and 10th 2010 Stahl Theatre, Oundle,
www.oundleschool.org.uk

November 11th 2010 Rich Mix, London
boxoffice@richmix.org.uk

November 18th 2010 Norwich Playhouse, Norwich,
www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk

February 10th 2011 Salisbury Art Centre, Salisbury,
www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk

February 15th 2011 Drill Hall, Lincoln,
www.lincolndrillhall.com/

February 17th 2011 Riverfront, Newport (Wales),
www.the.riverfront@newport.gov.uk

March 1st 2011 Bedales Olivier Theatre, Hampshire,
www.bedales.org.uk/the-olivier-theatre.html

April 28th 2011 Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
www.theatresevern.co.uk

26 Oct 2010

Dance Video: Rooster by Barak Marshall


Trailer for 'Rooster' by Barak Marshall

Dance Video: KINJAZ "Cyborg Ninja Scroll" PART 1 @ Enkore 2010


Kinjaz: A Dance Anime.
Directed by: Mike Song and Anthony Lee

21 Oct 2010

Scottish Dance Theatre brings acclaimed work back to the Scottish Stage

Scottish Dance Theatre, Scotland’s leading contemporary dance company return to the stage this autumn with a tour across Scotland showcasing the best this ground breaking company has to offer.

Having just returned from a tour of The Netherlands, the Autumn tour kicks off in Musselburgh on 27th October with an SDT Interactive performance. SDT will then perform The Life and Times of Girl A by Ben Duke (Lost Dog), NQR by SDT’s Dance Agent for Change Caroline Bowditch, Artistic Director Fellow Marc Brew and Artistic Director Janet Smith, Drift by James Wilton and other SDT Interactive performances across Scotland.
Audiences in Edinburgh and Strontian can expect something a little different with The Life and Times of Girl A and Drift coupled with a selection of shorter pieces choreographed by members of SDT staff, past and present.

 photo by Andrew Ross

In The Life and Times of Girl A, A woman is trying to tell us something important about what is happening now, what she needs is some actors and a financier, what she’s got in a stage and some dancers.   NQR is a unique opportunity to think differently about difference; an irreverent enquiry into what makes us all different.

Drift is an exciting and explosive duet which delights audiences with its highly charged physicality and the daring surprises the dancers throw at each other.

Having performed these works to great reviews in the Spring, SDT Dancer Solene Weinachter was selected as one of Dance Europe’s Outstanding Dancers of The Year. The Life and Times of Girl A was also nominated for a Total Theatre Award at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe so there is not a better time to see the power and diversity of Scottish Dance Theatre.

SDT’s education programme continues with a series of SDT Interactive performances in Musselburgh, Banchory, Dundee and Glasgow.  SDT Interactive performances are lecture demonstrations with excerpts of the companies’ current repertoire.  They provide an accessible and vibrant introduction to the company and to contemporary dance.

Scottish Dance Theatre is celebrating its 25th birthday in 2011 and will be presenting a variety of special events to mark this landmark year.
   
Here's what we had to say about SDT  - The Life and Times of Girl A, NQR

20 Oct 2010

Joss Arnott Dance at Resolution! 2011

 Threshold
Saturday, 08 January 2011
20:00 - 22:00
The Place, Robin Howard Dance Theatre,
17 Duke's Road
London


As part of Resolution! 2011 Joss Arnott Dance will be showcasing their latest work threshold. The work is in the process of being reworked and will aim to excite and inspire its audiences even more so than before.

Here's what we had to say about Joss Arnott Dance earlier this year - threshold
 
Choreography and Direction - Joss Arnott
Music - Laura Harrison and Ronen Kozokaro
Dancers - Laurel Dalley Smith, Jessica Hall, Grace Hann, Stephanie Hodgson, Samantha Lewis, Lisa Rowley, Rosanna Wallis and Peri Warren.


Tickets will go on sale Monday 6th December 2010

Via The Place Box Office: 0207 121 1100
(Mon - Sat 12-7pm, 6pm on non-performance days)



19 Oct 2010

Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company: Bruise Blood + Faultline

Bruise Blood (2009) brings together beatboxer Shlomo and composer Glyn Perrin to remix Steve Reich's classic Come Out. Faultline (2007) features Patricia Rosario and was inspired by Gautam Malkhani's novel Londonstani, the portrayal of attitudes and tensions of British Asian Youth.


The dance did not convey attitude or tension and was outshined by beatboxer Shlomo.  During the post-show chat, the dancers said how much they enjoyed having a beatbox artist in the studio, but on stage there was no relationship going on.

Liked the promotional videos more than the actual performances.

Hofesh Shechter Company Audition Advert

Hofesh Shechter is seeking male dancers to join the company for international touing and projects on a full-time basis from April 2011.

See link for full details:

http://www.hofesh.co.uk/Auditionadvert.pdf

17 Oct 2010

Free Kathak Workshop - Balbir Singh Dance Company

Friday 29th October 2010 10am- 4pm
Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield, HD1 2SP

To tie in with the performance of Decreasing Infinity - a male dance duet (with accompanying documentary film on the making, and a post show Q & A with the artists)





Thursday 21 Oct 8pm at Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, Halifax.

Balbir Singh Dance Company in partnership with Lawrence Batley Theatre through Kirklees Young People’s Services (KYPS), Kirklees Council, is offering an exciting opportunity for dancers at college or university to attend a full day dance workshop. The workshop will offer participants ways of exploring the synergy between Indian Kathak and Contemporary dance styles. The workshop will include learning Kathak technique, hand gesture, storytelling, the use of voice in rhythm and exploring creative choreographic approaches that Balbir uses in his work.

To reserve a workshop place or for further information contact:

E-mail education.bsdc@gmail.com

Or phone 01484 421568

To book tickets for the performance contact Box Office on 01422 349422

Or visit www.squarechapel.co.uk

14 Oct 2010

Hofesh Shechter Company: Political Mother

Hofesh expresses great conflict using his traditional movement yet with a more aggressive, grotesque and hard hitting style. He uses imagery to elicit emotion. There is a lot of rock guitar, drumming and shouting.

Additional music by Bach, Cliff Martinez, Sergio Mendes, Joni Mitchell and Giuseppe Verdi.

 photo: Simona Boccedi

During the post-show talk Political Mother was referred to as an assault on the audience. Hofesh Shechter light heartedly agreed and expressed how he enjoys imposing emotion on the audience. He spoke openly of his attraction to darkness not for its association with negativity, but for generating thought. He associated the term game playing with politics and commented on the political element of folk dance. Despite the loudness of the rock guitars and distorted shouting Hofesh described how he did not intend for the audience's primary focus to be on this, but to be on the dance. The purpose of extreme loud noise in the background is to emphasise the fragility aspect of the dancers.

He also mentioned a few of his influences, the most memorable in relation to this production being Pina Bausch and Stanley Kubrick.

As an emotional catalyst, Political Mother triggers endless discussion about politics, the horrors associated with war and dictatorship, hypocrisy and the human psyche.

For us, it was a ghost train of harsh reality with few moments of colour and respite. It felt disturbing. The empathetic nature of Political Mother forced us to experience uncomfortable emotions and question ourselves. It was a bleak reminder of the darker side of life, with light references to hope and civilisation.

Hofesh's actual political views remain a mystery, however he indulged in references to his personal journey and direction as an artist through his composition of this piece. This left us feeling unsure as to whether Hofesh didn't give enough of himself or a little too much. As observers, we were not sure whether to feel violated as Hofesh experimented with his audience's vulnerabilities or inspired by this.

12 Oct 2010

HARNISCH-LACEY DANCE THEATRE Audition Notice

HARNISCH-LACEY DANCE THEATRE is looking for professional male and female dancers to take part in a new production SPIN.

Contract for rehearsal and tour from 3rd JANUARY to 23rd MARCH 2011 at £375 plus £50 relocation fee per week.

Dancers need to have strong contemporary technique, and exceptional skills in Parkour and breakdancing. They will be familiar with the improvisation and devising process and have a physical/risk-taking approach in their performance delivery. Dancers need to be able to work with emotional integrity, physical intelligence and enjoy being part of an ensemble. Teaching experience is essential.

AUDITIONS are by invitation only and will be held in two locations:
Sunday 21st November 2010 at 3pm
at The Place, 17 Duke's Road, London, WC1H 9PY
and
Sunday 28th November 2010 at 2pm
at The Gate Arts Centre, Keppoch St, Cardiff, CF24 3JW

Please send CV and photo to sandra@harnischlacey.com
by Friday  5th November 2010

Only successful applicants will be invited to audition and notified by email.

Harnisch-Lacey Dance Theatre,
7 Pen Y Wain Rd,
Roath Park,
Cardiff,
CF24 4GB


www.harnischlacey.com

11 Oct 2010

Balbir Singh Dance Company - Call for Interest

Balbir Singh Dance Company has been commissioned by imove as part of the Cultural Olympiad to develop an exciting and unique project over the next three years involving synchronised swimmers and dancers.

Synchronise is part of imove, which celebrates and challenges the relationship between people and their moving bodies through a series of exciting and innovative arts projects across Yorkshire. Inspired by London 2012, imove is funded by Legacy Trust UK, Yorkshire Forward and Arts Council England.

BSDC is holding a Research and Development period in Yorkshire to start the project. The work will be led by Balbir Singh in collaboration with a former Olympic level synchronised swimmer. 

The R & D will explore what is involved in the choreography and training for synchronised swimmers, and what happens to Classical Indian and Contemporary trained dancers working in water, and what can be drawn from the pool based exploration in the studio. The work will blend sport and culture.

Synchronised will combine Balbir's interests of synthesising Kathak and Contemporary dance forms with synchronised swimming.

When     November 9 - 12 & 16 – 19 (8 days in total)

    (Dancers must be available for the whole period)

Where     Leeds

Fee     £560 for the 8-day period of time. Dancers from outside of the region will have travel to the region and accommodation provided

How to Apply

Applications are welcome from all styles of dance. No previous Kathak experience is necessary and Kathak experienced artists are welcome to apply.

Having a good swimming ability is essential as time will be equally split between swimming pool and dance studio.

To apply send CV, head shot and DVD footage/link of you performing to:

Balbir Singh Dance Company,
Lawrence Batley Theatre, 8 Queens St, Huddersfield, HD1 2SP.
Closing date for applications: 5:00pm Friday 15th October 2010

10 Oct 2010

Barak Marshall - Monger

Barak Marshall has a mean power to communicate through dance and physical theatre.

 photo: Gadi Dagon

His choreography is everything we wanted it to be- compelling, engaging, punchy and innovative.

The sixty minutes of this performance felt more like five, and left us wanting more.


9 Oct 2010

Dance Video: S**tkingz - Spread


S**tkingz - Spread

Shoji, Oguri, Noppo, and Kazuki

8 Oct 2010

Balbir Singh Dance Company - Decreasing Infinity

Balbir Singh Dance Company create captivating and dynamic dance through a synthesis of Kathak - Classical Northern Indian and contemporary dance accompanied by live music.


New work Decreasing Infinity created by choreographer Balbir Singh, shows how two different forms of dance influence each other, starting in their purest form seen through abstract mirrors they are attracted to eachother and slowly influenced until they collide at which point neither style of dance exists but something new...

Thursday 21st October, 8pm
Square Chapel 10 Square Road, Halifax, HX1 1QG
Tickets £8/£5 concession
Box Office 01442 349422

Tuesday 30th November, 7:45pm
Hull Truck Theatre
50 Ferensway, Hull, HU2 8LB
Tickets £8/£4 concession
Box Office 01482 323638

7 Oct 2010

Dance Video: Mind Shift by Genki Sudo

 
Mind Shift by Genki Sudo

6 Oct 2010

Dance Video: BZ Community Class - Julian DeGuzman


BZ Community Class - Julian DeGuzman

Dance Video: Lyle Beniga 'HERO' & 'MIC CHECK' Choreography


 Lyle Beniga 'HERO' & 'MIC CHECK' Choreography

3 Oct 2010

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Every word of promotional material you've read about this company is as true as ever. Every beautiful photograph you've seen of dynamic dancers and vibrant colours are the exact depictions of what these dancers take to the stage.


Watching Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform gives you a real feel for the history and integrity of their company. Seeing them live creates a thorough appreciation for how well they communicate emotion to their audience. With each dancer being so well established with their own unique presence on the stage, it was hard at times to manage the want of being able to give every single one your full attention.

A gorgeous dance company with amazing artistry and ability to use dance as a language and to relay joy.