PLATFORM A.D. WORKSHOPS 4TH & 5TH NOVEMBER

From the 3rd-5th November, A.D. Dance Company will present PLATFORM A.D. at the Actor’s Church in Covent Garden. A three night choreographic platform presenting dance from six dramatically different dance companies that showcases the best in new UK choreographic talent and performance. Performing companies are:

JAMES WILTON, Winner of Sadler’s Wells Global Dance Contest & The Blue print Bursary, performing Falling Unknown
JAMES FINNEMORE, of Hofesh Shechter Company, performing new work Patriot, premiered at Cloud dance Festival
EXQUISITE CORPSE DANCE THEATRE, Associate Artists of Dance City and Stockton Arc, with their piece Dead Voices
BEYOND REPAIR DANCE COMPANY, Associates of National Dance Company Wales, premiering their new work Room
STEWART KENNEDY Dance Company, Scottish Choreographer & Post Graduate Student of Jasmin Vardimon Company, premiering new piece No Tomorrow
A.D. DANCE COMPANY, performing new work FAWN choreographed by Holly Noble, Dance Artist with Sadler’s Wells

For the first time, we will be introducing workshops to run alongside the platform, which will be taught by the companies and choreographers performing. The workshops will be held on Friday 4th November and Saturday 5th November and will be £30. Included in the price is a ticket to the evening’s performance at The Actors Church, in Covent Garden. The workshops will run from 9.30am-5pm and will include company class, creative development session and afternoon repertoire session taught either by the choreographer or a company member.



These one off workshops will be limited to 30 people per day and will give people the opportunity to work closely with the choreographers and their dancers and understand their style and creative process. These workshops will challenge the participant and help to develop technique, as well as performance and creative skills through differing styles.

The workshops are suitable for dance professionals, graduates and people training at a recognized vocational school.

To book your place please email info@addancecompany.org.uk with a current cv. A £10 deposit is required to secure the booking.

For more information please visit www.facebook.com/Platform A.D.

Read More

'In The Dust' - 2Faced Dance Company, Tom Dale & Freddie Opoku- Addaie

2FACED DANCE COMPANY COLLABORATE WITH TOM DALE AND FREDDIE OPOKU-ADDAIE FOR THEIR FOURTH TOUR OF THE UK...

Award-winning Fringe sell-out 2Faced Dance Company returns to the UK touring circuit with a triple bill of darkly explosive new break-infused contemporary dance works, as guest choreographers Tom Dale and Freddie Opoku-Addaie join 2Faced's artistic director Tamsin Fitzgerald to create 'In the Dust' - an athletic and brutal hour exploring themes of decay and destruction from three distinct standpoints.

After the success of 2Faced's last production 'Still Breathing' - a bold stride forward in the company's innovative fusion of adrenalin-fuelled breakdance and contemporary's grace and agility - the award-winning Fitzgerald was keen to collaborate with other up-and-coming, critically-lauded choreographers who share her desire to challenge stylistic genres and boundaries. Dale is a nationally renowned dance artist whose "edgy work takes the temperature of Britain" (Guardian), while 2011 Place Prize finalist Opoku-Addaie is choreographer in residence at the Royal Opera House, London.

Dale's Subterrania is inspired by the evocative music of Shackleton. His oozing bass lines and snaking percussion, among the dread filled lyrics of Vengeance Tenfold, combine with Dale's iconic movement to evoke a picture of a world facing imminent doom, juxtaposing a chaotic urgency with a rich warmth. Dale has taken 2Faced’s unique fusion style, within the boundaries of his interpretation of movement to create a dark, powerful and thought provoking piece.

Opoku-Addaie's Politicking Oath takes as its starting point the spirit and emotion expressed by the Olympic oath, Olympic anthem and national anthems. With an original score by Alberto Bernal, it explores the ecstasy and adversity of representing a national psyche in competition in the stadium of dreams.

7.0 is inspired by Fitzgerald’s visit to Haiti a year after the devastating earthquake. It questions how we react when everything we take for granted - our homes, communities and social structures - are ripped from us, and has been created in collaboration with composer Alex Baranowski, renowned for his dramatic and filmic scores for the likes of Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein at the National Theatre and RSC (Merchant of Venice).

“Fitzgerald has forged her own distinctive language” Guardian.

In The Dust will be on tour throughout the UK this Autumn, with 25 dates including Birmingham DanceXchange, Dance City – Newcastle, The Place – London and The Marlowe – Canterbury.

"The ride they take us on is arresting" The Times

Tour Dates

September
13th PETERSFIELD Bedales Olivier Theatre
14th YEOVIL Octagon
15th NEWBURY Corn Exchange
21st HEREFORD Courtyard
22nd LOUGHBOROUGH Town Hall
27th WeymouthThe Bay Theatre
29th BIRMINGHAM DanceXchange
30th BIRMINGHAM DanceXchange

October
1st BIRMINGHAM, DanceXchange
4th NOTTINGHAM, Lakeside
5th SPALDING, South Holland Centre
7th NEWCASTLE, Dance City
8th KENDAL, Brewery Arts Centre
12th ALNWICK, Playhouse
13th BERWICK UPON TWEED,The Maltings
15th HEXHAM, Queens Hall
19th MALVERN, Theatres
21st IPSWICH, New Wolsey
24th CANTERBURY, Marlowe
26th RHYL, Pavilion
27th CHESTERFIELD, Pomegranate Theatre
29th LUDLOW, Assembely Rooms
31st LONDON, The Place

November
1st LONDON, The Place
2nd WELLINGBOROUGH, The Castle

Read More

Autumn Residency with Jean Abreu at Moving East Studios London

Monday 3rd – Friday 7th October 2011

10am – 2pm

Cost: £95

To book please contact: Eleanor@jeanabreu.com

Tel: 07714 761 402

This intensive residency for dance professionals and recent graduates will include a daily technique class as well as workshops exploring Jean’s choreographic techniques and movement vocabulary which combines
contemporary western dance styles with elements of capoeira and Latin ballroom dance. The workshops will also include repertory from his critically-acclaimed 5-star production, INSIDE.

Jerwood Choreography Award winner Jean Abreu has been a professional dancer and choreographer for 12 years. Born in Brazil, he graduated from Laban in 1999 and became a founder member of Protein Dance. Jean has been an Associate Artist at The Place and The Hat Factory and an Artist-in-Residence at Dance East.

He is currently an Associate Artist at Swindon Dance and South Hill Park.

Read More

PARTNERING WORKSHOP WITH RASMUS OLME (Sweden) "hooking up"

Continuing with the series of workshops by European contemporary dancers & choreographers NUX COMPANY and ROOM 2 MANOEUVRE present:

PARTNERING WORKSHOP WITH RASMUS OLME (Sweden)
"hooking up"

We will discover partnering work through the sharing of weight. Mostly working with a common balance as in difference to taking eachothers weight. We will develop the consciousness of "hooking up" to another body as an extension of our own and dig into the similarity of manipulating another body and manipulating our own body. We will work partly with thematic improvisations and partly set material to finally see how we can combine the two.

Rasmus studied in Sweden at the Royal Ballet School (modern department) and at the University of Dance in Stockholm. He has performed with numerous European companies including a 3 year stint with Ultima Vez. After his career as a dancer he created the productional unit REFUG in 2001 and creates work in between Brussels and Stockholm since then. In 2007 he moved back to Sweden and is currently doing a practical artistic PhD at the University College of Dance and Circus in Stockholm.

To read more about Rasmus PhD visit: www.doch.se
To read more about Rasmus work visit: www.refug.eu (under construction)

Where:

Calton Centre
121 Montgomery St
Edinburgh EH7 5EP
tel: 0131 661 0880

When:

Sat 22nd Oct • 9am - 3pm
Sun 23rd Oct • 9.30am - 3.30pm

Who:

This workshop is open to Professional/Advanced Dancers & Physical Artists only

Cost:

for both days = £70(£60 students). SIngle day option available.

Booking:

contact tony@r-2-m.net / t: 07800524294

Further info on our Facebook Group Page

Read More

DANCE:FILM 11 – Call for Submissions

IdeasTap have just launched a new Dance Film Brief with DANCE:FILM 11. The only Dance Film festival in Britain which is biannual and takes place in Edinburgh 12-19 November.

IdeasTap are looking for members' short films to be screened at the festival.

Click Here for the brief with further information about this member opportunity.

Deadline is 3rd October.

Read More

Desh - Akram Khan at his most purest

Occasionally one wakes up in the morning with a feeling of bliss which lasts for only a few seconds before the daily tasks start pouring into the brain. Well this morning... that few seconds happened, and then Desh by Akram Khan crept in, followed by a smiling sigh of 'ah that's why I'm feeling so good today'.. followed by the attempt to cherish the experience for just a little bit longer reminiscing last night's performance. Then I hit the laptop to check out reviews,  watch videos of Desh (not my normal behaviour straight after watching a show) and read how other people felt about the performance...

Not surprised at all to see that audiences are blown away just as much as we are.

This was Akram's first solo piece. A creation based on Akram's identity yet there were no feelings of ego. An hour and 20 minutes with no interval and not a second of boredom. It felt honest. He uses movement as his most faithful means of communicating, and in watching this performance it feels like you're getting to know the real Akram Khan.

It wasn't Akram's technical skill as a dancer that stood out for us, it was the fact that his performance had soul. Akram described in the post show talk that movement can't lie and is the most truthful form of expression. Desh is a visually stunning production that uses myth, enchantment and exaggeration

to convey truth. It is Akram's grasp of raw physical expression that makes this performance believable.

An unmissable opportunity to genuinely connect with one of the world's most highly rated and as it seems down to earth choreographers. Judging by his fitness, there will be many more to come.

photo by Tim Yip

Read More

What happens at a C-12 Summer Intensive & Merce Circus

Received a press release from C-12 Dance Theatre and quite enjoyed the update on what went on at their youth dance summer intensive this year. It's great to hear what companies are personally doing to encourage younger people into dance and theatre. For those interested in finding out more - the following provides a snippet !!

For C-12 this year's youth dance intensive was attended by young people aged 15-18. Each received a certificate of attendance, a t-shirt and performed what they had learnt to their parents and an invited audience on the last day. 

Each day of the intensive asked something new and challenging, to encourage further development for each person. Day one, morning, covered Communication within dance, vocal and non vocal. During the afternoon the students explored writing a significant moment in their life and sharing it with a partner, who would respond through movement. Day two, morning, introduced working with Props. In the afternoon they created characters, to respond further to day ones text, this included hot seating. Within day one and two, Alicia Pattyson taught some C-12 rep from Damaged Souls. At the end of day two, 2 pieces had emerged, a contemporary commercial piece created by Alicia Pattyson and Adam Towndrow (Firework), and an intense personal contemporary piece created by the students facilitated by C-12 (My Story).  Day three, Wayne Summerbell choreographed, with the students, a musical theatre piece, with music by Britany Spears’ Lucky. This allowed them to explore and experience a different side to contemporary dance. Day four was about tidying up the 3 works followed by the performance and a presentation. Over the four days the students explored text, props, contemporary choreography, solo, partner, group work, musical theatre and characters, resulting in a 25 minute sharing of Lucky, Firework and My Story.

C-12 Dance Theatre are currently excited about featuring part of "Merce Circus" at Stratford Circus, an East London Dance, Dance Umbrella commission, creating their first Dance on Film piece in response to Merce Cunningham. 

Read More

Freshest platform in London showcasing dance of all genres PLATFORM A.D

From the 3rd-5th November, A.D. Dance Company will present PLATFORM A.D. at the Actor’s Church in Covent Garden. A three night choreographic platform presenting dance from six dramatically different dance companies that showcases the best in new UK choreographic talent and performance.

For this platform we will be presenting innovative work from James Wilton, Winner of Sadler’s Wells Global Dance Contest and the Blueprint Bursary, performing the duet Falling Unknown a work commissioned by South East Dance. A striking new work 'Patriot', choreographed by James Finnemore, current dancer with Hofesh Schecter Dance Company, first premiered at Cloud Dance Festival in July 2011.
 
The world premiere of No Tomorrow by Stewart Kennedy Dance Company, choreographed by Stewart Kennedy, Scottish choreographer and Post Graduate student of Jasmin Vardimon Company. Dead Voices a hauntingly beautiful piece by Exquisite Corpse Dance Theatre, choreographed by Anthony Lo-Guidice associate artist of both Dance City and Arc Stockton.

Returning for the second time to Platform A.D. is Beyond Repair Dance Company with Room, a graphic and moving piece about grief. And finally host company A.D. Dance Company performing their new work FAWN to Mozart’s Requiem. Choreographed by Holly Noble, Dance Artist with Sadler’s Wells. 

For the first time, we will be introducing workshops to run alongside the platform, which will be run by the companies performing. The workshops will be on Friday 4th November and Saturday 5th November and will be £30 including entrance to the evening’s performance. The workshops will run from 9.30am-5pm and will include company class, creative session and repertoire session taught by the choreographers and company members.
 
Platform A.D. was created in August 2010 by Holly Noble, Artistic Director of A.D. Dance Company. The platform aims to help and provide emerging dance companies, of all genres, the opportunity to showcase their work in the beautiful surroundings of The Actors Church in Covent Garden as well as providing a regular platform for dancers and choreographers to participate in.

Along with offering choreographers a unique opportunity we also hope that the platform gives people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to come and explore and be involved with exciting new and innovative dance.

"Set to become an established platform for small scale dance companies and their choreographers" Graham Watts, LondonDance.com

Listings information, Platform A.D.

 
Choreographed and Performed by A.D Dance Company, Beyond Repair Dance Company, Exquisite Corpse Dance Theatre, James Finnemore, James Wilton Dance Company and Stewart Kennedy Dance Company.

Date 3rd-5th November 2011

Location The Actor’s Church

Tickets available via SeeTickets. Prices: £15 On The Door, £12 Pre Booked, £10 Concessions

Limited number of £5 tickets available per performance

Workshop & Performance £30

For more information visit Facebook.com/Platform A.D. 

or contact holly@addancecompany.org.uk

A.D. Dance Company, 126 DOWNTON AVENUE LONDON, SW2 2TT
TELEPHONE: 07977 112134, EMAIL: INFO@ADDANCECOMPANY.ORG.UK WEBSITE: WWW.ADDANCECOMPANY.ORG.UK

Read More

Audition Call: Errol White Company

Errol White Company (formerly Errol White Dance) (UK) – is looking for experienced male and female dancers to join the company for a project starting on the 9th January 2012.

The project will run for a period of 12 weeks including a tour of Scotland. Candidaes should have strong contemporary and classical technique and extensive performance experience. 

Please send a CV + photo/headshot by e-mail to applications@errolwhitecompany.co.uk by 23rd September 2011. Auditions will be held in London and Edinburgh.

Read More

How Batel Magen combines Artistic Direction & Dance Movement Psychotherapy

Batel Magen is a Dance Movement Psychotherapist and Artistic Director of Neshima Dance Company. Curious to find out how Batel may work with dancers differently to other choreographers and how she might incorporate dance movement psychotherapy into her choreography we contacted Batel for an interview...

Dance Movement Psychotherapy – what is it?

The best way to define DMP is through the definition from the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy:  

‘Dance Movement Psychotherapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement and dance through which a person can engage creatively in a process to further their emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration. It is founded on the principle that movement reflects an individual’s patterns of thinking and feeling. Through acknowledging and supporting clients’ movements the therapist encourages development and integration of new adaptive movement patterns together with the emotional experiences that accompany such changes.’ http://www.admt.org.uk/whatis.html

Dance is a therapeutic activity for many, but how does this differ to your psychotherapeutic sessions?

In dance therapy sessions the therapist has aims and objectives that are specific for the client or group taking part. As in the above definition dance therapy accesses the therapeutic benefits of dance, such as social and physical aspects but then focuses and gears the session towards the client/s individual needs. The notion that there is a strong and important link between the body and mind guides sessions of these kind. Dance therapy is an eclectic form of therapy, meaning the therapist can amalgamate their approach from various sources and therapeutic philosophies. This then makes dance therapy accessible to a range of people and needs. The idea is that participants entering a dance therapy session may want a change, can be interested in finding personal growth via movement rather then words, and are keen on minimising the gap between the body and mind. The therapist then ‘connects the dots’, and through a safe and secure environment guides the client to find those things. Dance Therapy is a creative process, and although there is always a clear structure the therapist holds, it is a process with no need for an end product.

In what ways does your psychotherapy influence your creative process and the ways in which you work with professional dancers?

Good question! I see my range of skills as applicable and inter connected. In every situation I am part of I aim to create a safe space for the people involved in order to support a positive experience. I believe this is a basic need for anyone, especially people involved in a creative process, be it as a professional dancer, a client in a dance therapy session or a student. My approach as a dance therapist is Humanistic and Client Centered, basically meaning that the therapist supports the client in guiding the session and choosing how the session will unfold within a contained and held environment. Again, I believe this is applicable in the studio with professional dancers and with students in the class room. When working with dancers I enjoy including their personal imprint of movement and interpretation of the concept at hand, and although I am clear and direct with my needs for the piece, I aim to share leadership and open the creative process so that it becomes a shared experience with a range of perceptions. As a teacher I follow the student centered approach, where again I aim to support the student to discover their own questions and answers through creative discussions and practical experiences.

Do you think of yourself as a dancer first then a therapist, or a therapist first then a dancer?

Well…from one came the other and then they both have supported each other in my life. I started dancing at the young age of 6 and continued training and dancing till my late teens until I got drafted to the army for 2 years. From the age of about 23 I started feeling that there was something more to dancing then just technique and performing. I started asking myself questions about my relationship with dance and why it makes me feel so good and vulnerable at the same time. I was getting bored of auditioning and training, I knew that dance/movement had so much more to offer and teach me. That’s when I became interested in Dance Therapy, the therapeutic elements of dance. After a bit of research I got to Bristol and have been here for 10 years now, working as a dance practitioner and therapist. So chronologically I was a dancer first and as I matured as both a person and a dancer I gradually became a therapist. Now they both influence each other in my life, in my work and the way I approach things. When in the studio I sometimes put the therapist hat on and when in a therapy session I sometimes invite the dancer in me to surface.

Does the concept of performance play a role in your approach to psychotherapy?

I would say yes to that. Performance can play a big role in a therapy session and can be considered a therapeutic concept. The idea of performing or sharing something in front of others, be it a couple of people or a whole theatre, can be very empowering. I am part of the core staff of therapists at a wonderful dance therapy charity organization called Dance Voice (Bristol). Every year they hold an annual charity performance gala where all of the clients from the different groups held at Dance Voice are invited to perform in front of a sold out theatre. The performance pieces are completely client led, the therapists are there to support and encourage clients to enjoy the element of performing on stage. It is a massive success, everyone involved, including the audience, becomes very emotional and proud. Performance, with in a safe and contained environment, can be a very strong positive experience as it has the ability to increase self confidence, support participants in taking ownership of what is being performed, support taking risks, enable people to voice themselves and empowers those involved.

Can you give an example of how Dance Movement Psychotherapy has changed someone's life?

All of the Dance Therapy sessions I run are highly confidential but I can easily say that Dance Therapy has changed my life hugely! It is a constant reminder of how fragile I am and how amazing our bodies are. Every session I lead is a new experience and unfolds the magic and strength a creative process contains within a therapeutic context.

Beyond words is your next planned piece, tell us more...

As I mentioned before all of the different roles I am lucky enough to consider my work, influence each other. My new piece Beyond Words acts as the second part in a trilogy about Language and Communication, a concept I became interested in exploring since becoming a dance therapist. The first piece of the trilogy, See What You Say, explored three different languages (English, Spanish and Hebrew) and the cultural elements embedded within them. It also examined the intricacies and nuances of body and sign language through energetic movement which incorporated speech, humour and an original musical score. Beyond Words elaborates upon the ideas explored in See What You Say but deepens the exploration through an enquiry into curiosities surrounding the power and weight of words; asking why one chooses the words he/she uses and how words are able to create a wall to communication rather then a discussion. The piece delves into supposedly mundane and everyday statements and questions to create a mantra like trance of rhythms that explore real answers to these questions.

From my therapy sessions I have become aware of the strength words have and how much we as verbal beings rely on verbal communication. But that channel or form of communication can be challenging. At times our bodies can get ignored even though they hold more information then we realise. Also I have noticed how sometimes we can take words for granted, use certain words without real intention or meaning. And there are people who struggle to say words like YES or NO because of past experiences or the power those words hold.

I am now curious and excited about translating this investigation into dance theatre and choreography, incorporating the beauty and uniqueness of contemporary dance and physical theatre, speech and original musical scores. 

 

Both pieces have been funded by Arts Council and Bristol City Council. Beyond Words will be made in November 2011 in Bristol and will perform in several venues mainly in the south west region. A larger scale Neshima tour will aim to take place in 2012. 

You can found our more about Neshima Dance Company at their website: http://neshimadance.com/

Read More

Scottish Dance Theatre - Under Construction II

Scottish Dance Theatre bring exciting evening of short works back to Rep Stage.

After the resounding success of Under Construction II in July, Scottish Dance Theatre (SDT) is delighted to have another opportunity to perform this exciting collection of short works choreographed by SDT dancers at Dundee Rep Theatre on Wed 21 September, 7.30pm.

SDT dancer Joan Cleville under the Tay Road Bridge, Dundee. Photographer Nicole Guarino

SDT is committed to developing talent and Under Construction nurtures and celebrates emerging creative talent from within SDT, offering the audience an experimental, atmospheric evening of shorter works, full of variety and surprise. Under Construction 2010 produced work that has now been performed internationally with two works receiving critical acclaim at the 2011 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Under Construction II features work choreographed by SDT Dancers Joan Clevillé, Toby Fitzgibbons and Matthew Robinson, Nicole Guarino, Jori Kerremans, Naomi Murray, Natalie Trewinnard, and Solène Weinchater with musician Jer Reid.

With a range of short works with many different styles and inspirations, Under Construction is the perfect introduction to dance for those who have never seen SDT before and a must for people who already love the work of SDT.

Read More

Dance Video: Battle dubstep cameraman versus Marvin Gofin by woow

 

Read More