Sky Arts: Ignition - Application Deadline 19th September

IdeasTap, the online arts and funding organisation, has teamed up with Sky Arts to launch a new bursary for young artists.

The Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund will offer five young artists £30,000 each to fund their work for a full year. The fund is open to artists aged 18-30 living in the UK and Ireland, and is designed to bridge the gap between formal education and becoming a working artist.

The Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund is open to individual artists working in visual art, theatre, performance art, film, music, dance or literature.

The scheme will also provide each artist with a mentor from Sky, who will help develop their skills and knowledge in the arts and commercial sector. The artists will also have the opportunity to showcase their work on Sky Arts – be it on TV, online or on demand.

The deadline for applicants is 19th September 2011. Two winners will be selected during this round of funding. The next round will open in early 2012 from which three further winners will be chosen.

For more information, and to apply for the Sky Arts Ignition: Futures Fund please visit: http://www.ideastap.com/skyartsfuturesfund

It’s free to become an IdeasTap member and just takes a few minutes - sign up here: http://www.ideastap.com/Register

Read More

Akram Khan gets personal

Oscar-winning visual designer Tim Yip (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), lighting designer Michael Hulls and Olivier award-winning composer Jocelyn Pook have all teamed up with Akram Khan to create what is set to be one of his most personal works yet.

 “I am searching for a story that addresses both the tragedy and comedy of life in Bangladesh.” Akram Khan

Khan examines the contradictions of his own British-Asian identity and attempts to reconnect with his Bangladeshi roots in this new full length contemporary solo DESH (homeland).

Click Here to watch video of Khan in Bangladesh.

World premiere DESH by Akram Khan Company will be at The Curve, Leicester, September 15th.

Read More

Dance Video: Just Dance

Contemporary dance filmed on stage.

Read More

Hofesh Shechter Company Dancers Create Own Choreography

Hofesh Shechter is quite open about the fact that he likes to have full control when it comes to his work. His dancers don't really have a say. His choreography is all his own. Now his dancers have been given the chance to shine and will be performing their own pieces in June both at Brighton Dome and The Place. It'll be interesting to see whether their own choreography simply emulates Hofesh's signature style, or if any of them stamp their own identity on the world of contemporary dance.      

NOBLE THINKING                                                    
BY SITA OSTHEIMER                                              
Performers: Hannah Shepherd / Vit Bartak

Sita Ostheimer’s Noble Thinking is a duet for Hofesh Shechter Company dancer 

Hannah Shepherd and Vit Bartak (Rui Horta and noord nederlandse dans) set to 

an original score by Tony Birch. Set somewhere between the need to be needed 

and the dark indulgent corners of a private mind, two characters awkwardly 

navigate their way toward being intimate. Sita joined Hofesh Shechter Company 

in 2008 previously dancing with Galili Dance and Krizstina de Chatel
.              
YESTERDAY'S BIRD                                                
BY JASON JACOBS                                                   
Performers: Jason Jacobs / Andrew Maddick 

Jason Jacobs’ Yesterday’s Bird is a duet for himself and musician Andrew 

Maddick who plays his original score for violin live on stage. The music stirs 

something in Jacobs’ character that it becomes increasingly impossible for him to 

ignore. Jason has been a member of Hofesh Shechter Company since 2009. 

Andrew Maddick plays in the Hofesh Shechter Company band in In your rooms

(viola) and Political Mother (bass guitar) and has performed with Smokey 

Robinson, George Benson, Kathryn Jenkins and Paolo Nutini amongst others. 

NO FACE
BY CHIEN-MING CHANG
Performer: Chien-Ming Chang

Chien-Ming Chang’s solo No Face takes its audience on a journey of discovery 

looking at the thousands of faces people wear to face the world and asking ‘do 

you know what your real face is?’. Chien-Ming first danced with Hofesh Shechter 

Company in 2008 and re-joined the company in 2009 after working with 

Bern:Ballett under the direction of Cathy Marston and Cloud Gate 2 in his home 

country of Taiwan. 

HOLDING DEAD
BY PHILIP HULFORD
Performers: Philip Hulford / James Finnemore

Philip Hulford’s deeply personal Holding Dead is a duet for himself and fellow company dancer James Finnemore. Philip has danced with Hofesh Shechter Company since his graduation from London Contemporary Dance School in 2006. 

FIFTEEN MINUTES OF INFINITY (A POSTCARD OF THE ABSOLUTE)
BY MAEVA BERTHELOT
Performers: Maeva Berthelot / Fred Cave / Thomas Hauser (Jack & Bill Collective)

Maëva Berthelot’s solo Fifteen Minutes of Infinity (A Postcard of the Absolute) is 

a collaboration with the visual artists Jack & Bill Collective, aka Fred Cave & 

Thomas Hauser who will be joining her on stage. Set to music by Joe Cave, he 

piece explores how the body and its vibrations are affected by sound, light, smell, 

people and places. Maëva joined Hofesh Shechter Company in 2010. 

BRIGHTON DOME                               THE PLACE
CORN EXCHANGE                              ROBIN HOWARD DANCE THEATRE
Tuesday 7 June, 8pm                         Saturday 18 June, 8pm
£7.50                                                           £6-£17
T: 01273 709709                                    T: 020 7121 1100
www.brightondome.org                         www.theplace.org.uk

An extra performance has been arranged for the 18th June at 4pm due to popularity. See The Place website for details.

Read More

Vincent Dance Theatre seeks a full-time General Manager

Vincent Dance Theatre is one of the UK’s leading dance theatre companies, producing and touring work nationally and internationally. Vincent Dance Theatre is looking to appoint an experienced, efficient and highly motivated GENERAL MANAGER to join our team. The purpose of this post is to ensure the sound management and financial stability of VDT.

Vincent Dance Theatre is based in Sheffield. To deliver the company’s business plan from 2012, it is anticipated the General Manager will work in Yorkshire and the South East working closely with the Artistic Director, who will be based in Brighton.

Starting salary £28,000.

Download an application pack from www.vincentdt.com/opportunities.html or email admin@vincentdt.com and we will send you details.

If you would like an informal chat with the Artistic Director prior to applying for this post, please telephone VDT on 0114 221 0369.

Deadline for Applications: 3pm Tuesday 31 May 2011

Interviews: Thursday 9 June 2011 in Sheffield (contribution to expenses will be paid)

Anticipated Start Date: September 2011

Read More

Waacking Course with Princess Lockeroo produced by Uchenna Dance

International Waacking Champion Princess Lockeroo brings you a new kind of waacking class that focuses on the freestyle aspect of the dance and the development of the individual dancer.

Waacking will teach the tools and technique of interpreting the music, anticipating sounds, and being the living embodiment of music. It will strengthen your rhythm, power precision and presence. Waackatics teaches dancers how to illustrate character, and portray emotions & personalities through their movement. Discover how to connect with an audience and be more than just a great dancer… A GREAT PERFORMER!

Course Details

Waacking Course with Princess Lockeroo of the Imperial House Of Waacking

Produced by: Uchenna Dance

Dates: Saturday 28th May to Wednesday 1st June

Times: 1-4pm (Sat-Sun), 7-10pm (Mon-Weds)

Price: £100 for the full week (15 hours) OR £25 per session (3 hours).

Venue: Studio 1 (Seven Sisters)

To book/more information: email vicki@uchennadance.com or visit www.uchennadance.cm  

Read More

Retina Dance Company is looking for volunteers to join their board of directors

Retina Dance Company is looking for volunteers with specific skills to join their board of directors. 

 

Retina Dance Company were founded in September 1995 by Filip Van Huffel, they have created nineteen company works and have toured throughout the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland and Venezuela. Retina is well known for their outstanding education work with young people and the community.

We would like to invite expressions of interest from anyone with HR, Financial, legal or PR experience who would like to join us at this exciting time of development and growth. We are at the early stages of setting up a board of directors and this will be an opportunity to help guide the company through this period of change. The meetings will be held quarterly in the Nottingham office and expenses will be covered. 

For more information or to express an interest please contact Suzy Gunn on 0115 9476202 ext 224 or via email at suzy@retinadance.com. To learn more about the companies history and current activity please visit www.retinadance.com

Retina Dance Company is funded by the Arts Council England and supported by Nottingham City Council and ccBe.

Read More

Holly Noble : No funds but still turns a profit

Just how can she do it? It's supposed to be impossible, but Holly Noble has done a remarkable job of taking her dance platform, free from state funds, and turning a profit thus creating a template which other dance organisations may have to follow. With her latest project Ingenium on the way, we caught up with Holly to understand what makes her event such a success.

A couple of contemporary dance platforms already in existence in London give companies the opportunity to showcase their work. What's special about Ingenium and what inspired you to create it?

Originally I decided to put the platform together as a one off performance to showcase work by contemporary choreographers who weren’t entirely new companies but weren’t really well established either, but due to the great feedback and response from the first performances last August I decided to put together another two nights of dance in the November. Again, these were well received and because of that I decided to look at producing the platform on a regular basis. What's special about the platform is that we never have more than six companies performing and we do not ask them to pay or contribute any money in order to perform or be part of the platform. The companies also get to perform over three consecutive nights instead of just the one evening. We also split the profits from the platform equally between the companies after the outgoings have been covered and so far for every platform we have done, the companies have all come away with some profit.

Lack of government aid is what most dance companies and organisations appear to be concerned about right now. You don't have any government funding to rely on so how do you go about independently financing Ingenium?

We keep spending to a minimum with the platform by not hiring any staff and all pitching in together. We have basic costs that need to be covered, which comes out of the ticket profits, and then after that whatever is left goes directly to the companies. We have never had any funding for the platform and have always finished in profit and will hopefully continue to do so. 

Why did you choose the name Ingenium?

Each set of performances have been named differently. In August it was called Entangled, in November it was named Rapture and I have named this one Ingenium as it means ‘Talent” which I felt was apt for what we are doing. As yet I haven’t come up with an overall platform name but it's something im thinking about!

It can be quite a challenge to make up the audience numbers when it comes to showcasing small and relatively new contemporary dance companies. What does Ingenium offer to an audience that makes attending performances worthwhile?

We try to be as diverse as possible with the companies that perform and the pieces that are shown. We want to give the audience an experience but also give them access to different styles and genres of dance. We also give the audience the opportunity to meet the choreographers and dancers throughout the three nights and encourage people to come and talk to us and ask questions and give feedback. The audience can really see the dancers up close and personal due to the layout of the stage and seating. It's also in the most incredible setting which gives it a completely different atmosphere to being in a normal theatre and the tickets are priced at a reasonable £10-£15.

Would you please tell us which dance companies are scheduled to perform this month?

The companies performing in Ingenium are: Uchenna Dance, Diecembre Dance Group, Beyond Repair Dance, Maxwell Dance Project, Embody Dance and Antique Dances

What are your plans for the future of the platform?

My next plan for the platform is to open it up to cover all genres of dance not just contemporary and ballet. I want people to come to the performances and see a multitude of styles and I want to appeal to as many people as possible. My aim is for the audience to come back again and again and experience something different every time.

For more details about Ingenium click here

Read More

Auditions for Hip Hop Contemporary Theatre Production with Nu Projeks

SoulSight

We are looking for all types of dancers for an amazing opportunity to be part of a New Hip Hop Contemporary Theatre Production. With or without experience – This will give you the opportunity to train in many styles from different choreographers.

We are keen to meet dancers with strong creative and performance ability, and who are willing to be open minded.

The production will be created and publicized during July and August 2011, with the possible opportunity to tour late winter.

The first Auditions will take place at the Nottingham Arts Theatre, George Street, Nottingham, NG1 3BE. Audition fee of £4

Saturday 4th June 2011

*10:30am - Registration for Youths 6yrs – 16yrs

11:00am-1pm - Youth Audition

*1:00pm - Registration for seniors 17-25yrs

1:30-3:30pm - Senior Audition

*3:30pm – Other Talents; Singing, Tricks, Poetry, beat box etc

(If you are unable to make this audition date, please contact us for a possible private audition)

Recalls will take place Sunday 12th June 2011

Times TBC

Recalls will take the form of a creative session.

Any further information required please contact nuprojeks@hotmail.co.uk if not we will see you on the day!

Good Luck

Read More

Donald Hutera joins Rosie Kay Dance Company for Post-Show Talk

This Saturday 14th May Rosie Kay Dance Company are going to accompanied by The Times dance critic Donald Hutera for their post-show talk.

Rosie Kay Dance Company have just returned from their international tour and will soon be performing their latest work 5 Soldiers at the Place in London. In the company's recent newsletter about their Germany tour Rosie commented that although the post-show talks were equally as interesting, there was a different reaction to a work about war than in the UK. 

Rosie Kay continues to provoke thought and generate in-depth discussion through her work. 

Performance Details

Saturday 14th May 2011, 8pm

THE PLACE, LONDON

Ticket price: £13/ £17

Box office: 020 7121 1100 www.theplace.org.uk 

Post Show talk with The Times Dance Critic Donald Hutera

Show lasts 80 minutes with no interval

DanceGround Review: Rosie Kay Dance Company 'The Body Is The Frontline'

Read More

A Matter Of Life And Death 'La Porte' and 'Eteins Pas'

Choreographed by Mickael Marso Riviere with music by Miguel Marin La Porte fuses hip hop and contemporary dance movement to demonstrate a battle between life and death.

"In this new work, the characters of Life and Death become real. This abstract vision shows Death holding control, choosing when to switch off Life. Meanwhile Life, in the guise of an ordinary person in his last moments, attempts to evade the inevitable."

La Porte premieres in the UK 11th June at The Place.

Eteins Pas is a solo piece choreographed and performed by Mickael inspired by the idea of life after death, with many ideas coming from reading stories about out of body experiences.

"This source material was a great stimulus to challenge my existing movement vocabulary and ways of thinking while performing. The piece is partly improvised."

*Eteins Pas won 3rd prize at the Masdanza 15 International solo choreography competition in 2010.

These two pieces will be shown at The Place June 11th with no interval and there will be a post-show talk. 

To book your tickets now click here. 

Read More

New Direction For Kompany Malakhi - Freestyle Forums

Emulating the legendary Augusto Boal's style of audience interaction theatre, Kompany Malakhi in collaboration with Nitro are introducing a new & exciting form of hip-hop theatre. 'Freestyle Forums' fuses freestyle rap, physical and forum theatre. Audience members have the freedom to have a direct influence on how the story unfolds.

Artistic Director of Kompany Malakhi - Kwesi Johnson - hopes that "Freestyle Forums encourages truthful debate from a different perspective, about how young people feel about the Police, peer pressure or the effects of gangs or knife crime. It dares to reveal the real issues facing young people today."

Latest project by Freestyle Forums Concrete And Steel presents a shared tale of modern life.

It's being performed at the Rich Mix in London tomorrow evening Thurs 5th May.

Click here for further details.

Read More