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Category: What To See
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Published: Monday, 03 September 2012 15:58
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Written by Cloud Dance Festival
Who still remembers the excitement of last autumn, which seemed to be filled with a large number of visiting companies to explore, and companies which had been absent for far too long, La La La Human Steps being one of their number. And maybe we'll remember it as the last of the great Dance Umbrellas. As though we're paying for the overambition of last autumn, and the excesses of the Pina Bausch World Cities residency, this autumn seems to be playing it safe, with an emphasis on trusted favourites, which of course includes the mixed blessing that is the Place Prize.
Highlights
The Place Prize 4: Preview - 13 September, Semifinal - 22 September
The Place
Preview: www.theplace.org.uk/14094/whats-on/the-place-prize-preview-4.html
Semifinal: www.theplace.org.uk/14096/whats-on/the-place-prize-semifinal-4.html
One of the most exciting choreographic voices we've encountered, Goddard Nixon - Jonathan Goddard and Gemma Nixon, formerly of Rambert Dance Company - are performing a "duet of fractured tenderness and mysterious camaraderie" in the final of the four nights. Created in collaboration with lighting designer Michael Hulls, you can expect amazing lighting design, amazing choreography and amazing dancing.
Please give them your votes. Goddard Nixon to win!
Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet: 11 - 13 October
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Cedar-Lake-Contemporary-Ballet
For some of us, our first introduction to Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet will have been in the film The Adjustment Bureau - which will have been reason enough to see the film! From that, we'll know that Cedar Lake is not a typical dance company, with a specific interest in installations and site-specific work, and highly technical dancers; this will be their long-overdue first visit to the UK, and they will be bringing a fascinating triple bill with works by Hofesh Shechter, Crystal Pite and Alexander Ekman - if you remember what Ekman created with cacti for NDT2, start imagining where he'll take the theme of rhythm for Cedar Lake....
Birmingham Royal Ballet, 'Opposites Attract': 23 - 24 October
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Birmingham-Royal-Ballet-Opposites-Attract-and-Autumn-Celebration
Video of Grösse Fuge: www.brb.org.uk/Grosse-2012.html
Every autumn, Birmingham Royal Ballet brings a modern triple bill and a classical programme to Sadler's Wells, often challenging our definitions of "modern" ballet, by programming works such as Ninette de Valois's not-quite-timeless Checkmate from 1937.
Opposites Attract features works by the extremely prolific and sought-after American choreographer Jessica Lang, a tribute by director David Bintley to jazz icon Dave Brubeck and a revival of Hans van Manen's unforgettable Grösse Fuge, which we last saw performed by Dutch National Ballet (cue Luke Jenning's review "Dude, you're so ripped".)
The Autumn Celebration! triple bill also looks intriguing, offering Broadway show choreographer Joe Layton's amusing take on the celebrities of the 1920s in The Grand Tour, David Bintley's Faster, inspired by the Olympic motto, ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’, and Frederick Ashton's The Dream, where all hangs on the puppyishness of Puck and the height of his jumps.
Viscera: 3 - 14 Nov
Royal Opera House
Tickets & details: www.roh.org.uk/productions/viscera-by-liam-scarlett
As part of a triple bill with revivals of Christopher Wheeldon's Fool's Paradise and Wayne McGregor's Infra, Viscera is the UK premiere of Liam Scarlett's US choreographic debut, commissioned for Miami City Ballet and performed to great acclaim. It is an abstract ballet in three sections; expect choreographic gorgeousness.
Batsheva Ensemble: 19 - 21 November
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Batsheva-Ensemble-Deca-Dance
Batsheva Ensemble is the junior company of Batsheva Dance Company whose recent Edinburgh International Festival performances were met with pro-Palestinian protests, depriving them of the audiences they deserved.
Led by Ohad Naharin, one of of the more influential choreographers of today, whose works have been performed by many of the leading contemporary and ballet companies, this will be their first visit to the UK - and we can hope they receive a much warmer welcome. They will be performing Deca Dance, a medley of the most memorable and best-loved segments of Naharin’s creations from the last 20 years, set to an eclectic mix of music from Vivaldi to the Beach Boys. If you love Hofesh.....
Worthy Mentions
Michael Clark, 'New Work 2012': 17 - 27 October
Barbican
Tickets & details: www.barbican.org.uk/theatre/event-detail.asp?ID=13338
Following residencies in the Tate Modern over the last two years, working with both trained and untrained dancers, the notorious enfant terrible of ballet - described by Sanjoy Roy as a "ballet punk" and "dance's rock'n'roll legend" in his essential step-by-step guide - returns to the Barbican with his first new work for the Barbican stage since 2009. Some will be delighted; others will look on in horror.
Dance United: 20 & 22 October
The Place
Tickets & details: www.theplace.org.uk/14275/whats-on/dance-united.html
Following his two-year residency in Hong Kong, Dam Van Huynh is Dance United's new associate artist, and this new programme features new work from him in addition to works by Kwesi Johnson, Carly Annable-Coop and Helen Linsell.
Swan Lake: 10, 13 & 25 October
Royal Opera House
Tickets & details: www.roh.org.uk/productions/swan-lake-by-anthony-dowell
Strictly for the classical ballet fans, this is just a heads up to remind you that in light of Tamara Rojo's premature departure for English National Ballet, Carlos Acosta will be partnered by Natalia Osipova on these dates. Mutterings hope that this will be the start of a longer-term partnership between the two.
- Details
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Category: What To See
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Published: Monday, 09 July 2012 15:15
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Written by Cloud Dance Festival
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Between Big Dance and everything else, this week is absolutely jampacked full of dance, and you may well have a hard time squeezing everything in. To make it easier for you, we're listing events per day, as it's the best way to keep track of them all! We heartily recommend New Movement Collective - and for the rest, see below....
(Disclaimer: this roundup has been written under the influence of a migraine and lots of painkillers).
Monday
Pina Bausch: Wiesenland - 9 July
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details (last-minute returns only): www.sadlerswells.com/show/Pina-Bausch-World-Cities-2012-Wiesenland
Unthinkable even a few short weeks ago, but the festival of Pina Bausch's works has finally come to an end, with Wiesenland, a somewhat unHungarian exploration of Hungary but with an amazing enormous hedge covering the back wall. As ever, expect whimsy, theatre and beautiful dancing in varying quantities - but be warned that several of her dancers are absent for this final piece.
Dance In Focus: 9 July
City Hall
Tickets & details: www.ballet.org.uk/editorial.php?ref=big-dance-focus
This evening is something special, offering a chance to view dance photography by aspiring photographers working with acclaimed dance photographer Chris Nash, who will then lead a panel discussion exploring the special relationship between dancer and photographer and how to achieve the perfect image.
There will also be a performance by English National Ballet of a new work choreographed by Hubert Essakow, using the photography exhibition as his inspiration. Essakow's works are always worth watching, and as an added bonus, tickets are only £5.
It's also the final week of Chris Nash's exhaustive exhibition at Artsdepot, so make sure you set aside time to trek up there before it's over.
Details: artsdepot.co.uk/event_details.php?sectionid=visual%20arts&eventid=1653&searchid=current
Big Dance: The Big Dance Big Top Tent: 9 July
Grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich SE10 9LW
Details: greenwichdance.org.uk/engage/bigdanceevent/the_big_dance_big_top_tent/
There are two events at the Big Tent on Monday, the Family Cabaret from 5pm till 7pm, and then the Cabaret (ages 14 upwards) from 8pm onwards. Both events will be compered by Michael Nunn and William Trevitt of BalletBoyz, with circus acts and live music in addition to the dance performances.
The family cabaret show features several youth dance companies including Quicksilver, Rambert's youth dance company (our reviewer Rachel Vogel is one of the dancers) as well as a performance by English National Ballet.
The evening show will include an extract of Protein Dance's LOL (Lots of Love) and performances by AD Dance Company, Levantes Dance Theatre and English National Ballet.
Grad Show: London Contemporary Dance School - 9 - 13 July
The Place
Tickets & details: www.theplace.org.uk/13925/performance-listings/london-contemporary-dance-school-graduation-performances.html
London Contemporary Dance School's graduate shows continue, offering a mixture of student choreography, commissioned works and Richard Alston's repertoire, eliciting works and performances of a high standard. Saturday's show - kindly broadcast live by The Place on YouTube - presented the two best student works from LC3 (2pm by Tom Peacock and Andrea Dorelli; Opsimath by Michael Kelland) and a fantastic work for the students by Sasha Roubicek. We don't know what the remaining programmes will offer, but we know that most of it will be very good indeed.
Tuesday
New Movement Collective: Casting Traces - 10 - 13 July
Testbed1, Parkgate Road, Battersea, London SW11 4NP
Details: www.newmovement.org.uk/casting-traces.html
Tickets: www.seetickets.com/Tour/NEW-MOVEMENT-COLLECTIVE
Trailer: vimeo.com/43068655
"Dance, architecture, film and specially commissioned music meet to create a world of illusion, mystery and shadow play, where nothing is what it seems. Touching on the popular themes of detective novels and the modern issues of ever-present surveillance, the audience explore a giant paper maze, becoming directly involved with the performance space and influencing the transformation of their surroundings. Projection and live camera feeds enable participants to meet themselves around every corner as they explore the hidden spaces of Testbed 1 – a 650sq metre former dairy in the heart of Battersea."
New Movement Collective is more than a typical dance company: it's a collective of established dancers, many of them current or past dancers with Rambert Dance Company, seeking to challenge the boundaries of dance and performance, working with architects to create new performance spaces for their work. But don't let that put you off or make you think of the stereotypes of experimental dance - New Movement Collective presents brilliant choreography and dancers in an intriguing and refreshing way.
Thursday
C-12 Dance Theatre: The Van Man - 12 July, 1pm & 6.30pm
National Theatre
Details: insideout.nationaltheatre.org.uk/event/the-van-man-c-12-dance-theatre-uk?day=201207121830
C-12 Dance Theatre is an impressive company founded by Middlesex University graduates fusing physical theatre and contemporary dance to create a wide range of striking indoor and outdoor works, notching up acclaim and awards over the years. Having performed Trolleys last weekend at the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, they now bring their work about a man, a van and a blowup doll to National Theatre's Watch This Space festival. You may have to fight for space, but it's definitely worth watching.
Matthew Bourne's Play Without Words: 12 July - 5 August
Sadler's Wells
Tickets & details: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Matthew-Bournes-Play-Without-Words
Definitely one of Bourne's best works, 'Play Without Words' is a sexy, '60s-set, upstairs/downstairs dance drama, based on Robin Maugham's story 'The Servant' (and the Joseph Losey film of the book). You'll see super-stylish, precision choreography, setting out the complex social mores and sexual desires of a Chelsea couple and their domestic help. Bourne's trademark wit is in evidence, but none of the pantomime mugging seen in some of his other works. Terry Davies's jazzy score sets the scene perfectly and sets come courtesy of Bourne's longtime collaborator Lez Brotherston. (from Time Out).
Play Without Words won the 2003 Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Theatre Choreographer.
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company: TooMortal - 12 - 14 July
St Pancras Parish Church, Euston Rd, NW1 2BA
Tickets & details: www.shobanajeyasingh.co.uk/TooMortal/index.html
Trailer: vimeo.com/43895397
Shobana Jeyasingh's latest work has been created especially to be performed in churches. 'TooMortal' is inspired by the idea of church as a place of enquiry and a place of solace, and responds to the architecture and history of these sacred buildings. Set to a soundscore by Nick Rothwell, aka Cassiel, the six female dancers perform Jeyasingh's trademark movement language - contemporary dance shot through with Indian bharata natyam. (Description from Time Out).
Weekend
Royal Ballet: Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 - 14 - 20 July
Royal Opera House
Tickets & details: www.roh.org.uk/productions/metamorphosis-titian-2012-by-various
Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z90BeVQiAtA
Dame Monica Mason's final year of directorship finally draws to a close with this specially-commissioned triple bill, which will say a sad farewell to both her and Tamara Rojo on 20 July. Metamorphosis: Titian is a collaboration between the National Gallery and the Royal Opera House, commissioning three renowned artists to create works inspired by Titian paintings, depicting scenes from Ovid's Metamorphosis, in collaboration with a total of seven choreographers: Christopher Wheeldon, Will Tuckett, Liam Scarlett, Jonathan Watkins, Kim Brandstrup, Wayne McGregor and Alastair Marriott.
There will be a free screening in Trafalgar Square on 16 July: let's hope this rain can hold off for one whole evening!
Big Dance: Big Dance Trafalgar Square: 14 July, 12pm (tbc)
Trafalgar Square
Details: www.bigdance2012.com/trafalgar_square.php
Wayne McGregor has spent the last few months creating a new work to be performed at Trafalgar Square as the culmination of this year's Big Dance, to be performed by 1000 dancers from 40 groups from across London. Commissioned films will be shown of Big Dance Beijing and Big Dance Rio as part of the UK’s Big Street Dance Day.
Gwyn Emberton: 14 July (6pm) & 15 July (2pm)
Regent's Canal Festival, Mile End Park, Grove Road/ Burdett Road, London E3
We were very impressed by Gwyn Emberton's performance in Resolution! at The Place earlier this year, so we're welcoming another chance to see him perform - if the rain holds off!
Cloud Dance Festival Corner
Milo Miles Presents: Elysium at Prism - 11 July
Prism Brasserie, Harvey Nichols
Tickets & details: www.harveynichols.com/hnedit/food-and-wine/whats-on-food-wine/prism-london-whats-on/elysium-at-prism/
Interview: www.thisiscabaret.com/milo-miles-here-to-entertain-you/
This July Prism Brasserie will be hosting Elysium, a sensational floorshow, mixing cabaret, burlesque, circus and illusion.
Created and choreographed by Milo Miles, this sophisticated evening looks back to the heyday of cabaret and blends it with contemporary supper club chic in a relaxed and glamorous environment.
With entertainment running uninterruptedly throughout the night you can spend the evening, from cocktail hour to post dinner drinks, enjoying performances from dancers, singers and guest acts.
Ijad Dance Company: In-Finite - 14 July
Rich Mix
Tickets & details: www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/in-finite/
Trailer: vimeo.com/32620005#at=0
In-Finite celebrates cultural identity, exploring collages of untold secrets. Creating harmony between dance, music and visual imagery, IJAD Dance Company will explore the state of flux between knowing and not knowing.
Audiences will witness a work in progress performance of In-Finite, which will be developed into a full work and performed at Rich Mix in Autumn 2012.
Audiences (both in the venue and online) will be encouraged to interact with the performers through social media platforms and this communication will become a part of the piece. The work is an interpretation of the secrets that IJAD has received during an investigation into the relationship between a person, their secrets and the intensity this creates.
The Arts Dance - 15 July
The Arts Theatre
Tickets & details: www.londontheatredirect.com/ballet/1106/Summer-Arts-Theatre--The-Arts-Dance---An-Evening-of-Contemporary-Dance-tickets.aspx
Charlie Dixon Dance Company will be performing Wise Man again, in a one-off evening of contemporary dance alongside other emerging companies including Tom Bowes Dance (Jordan Massarella Dance (his work was recently performed by Verve) will no longer be performing). The Arts Theatre is a very atmospheric venue, rarely used for dance, so this promises to be an interesting evening for all.
