Methods of Dance

2009 - the Year in Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +0000

February
Henri Oguike Dance Company at Contact Theatre *****

March
The Overcoat by Gecko at Contact Theatre *****
Richard Alston Dance Company at The Lowry *****
Boulevard of Broken Dreams at the Dancehouse **** (It would have been ***** if there had been more than 20-30 people there...)
Designer Body by balletLORENT at The Lowry ***** (Beautiful and mesmerising)
Mission Possible: Lads & Dads Move! by State of Emergency at Contact Theatre *****

April
Sylvia by the Birmingham Royal Ballet at The Lowry **** (Rather silly, tremendous fun, beautifully staged and some lovely performances)
Destino on the Road (Dance United) at Contact Theatre ***** (Some very powerful pieces full of meaning by a mostly male company (again). Full Circle, featuring a young cast drawn from West Yorkshire communities, many of whom have never danced before, was strikingly moving and challenged my negative perceptions of 'community' dance. The Empire's Fall [right], choreographed and soundtracked by Hofesh Schechter, was very reminscent of the two other pieces I've seen by him but still managed to be fresh and dramatically distinctive - and thoroughly compelling.)

May
Dancing On Your Grave by The Cholmondleys and the Featherstonehaughs at the greenroom ***
Romeo & Juliet by Northern Ballet Theatre at Manchester Opera House ***** (A lavish and spectacular production, with Prokofiev's fabulous score, made for a thoroughly enoyable evening of more traditional ballet.)

June
The Rain Parade by Lost Dog at The Lowry *** (An interesting show with two very appealling performers - Ben Duke and Raquel Mesequer - but it really only came to life for me when they danced and I wished there was more of it, but I'd certainly go and see Lost Dog again.)
New English Contemporary Ballet at the Dancehouse ***** (Simply gorgeous contemporary choreography, inspired music and stunning performances. I love NECB and hope they continue to go from strength to strength. And will Arts Council England please give them some much-deserved funding!)
NDT2 at The Lowry ***** (Wonderfully talented dancers perform breathtaking choreography to an edgy crystal-clear soundtrack with brilliantly atmospheric staging. World class contemporary ballet company marred only by the dreaded audience participation. Gods and Dogs especially was simply breathtaking. An unforgettable evening.)
Verve 09 at The Lowry *** (Interesting movement too often marred by some unlistenable specially commissioned 'music')

July
Love and Loss - Birmingham Royal Ballet at The Lowry *** (Galenteries * was pretty but dull, dull, dull. The Dance House *** was rather interesting with a fantastic central pas de deux. The Dream **** - which I had the lowest expectations of - was charming, fun, vivid and intensely colourful. The mixed programme by BRB was, as usual, notably for the company's extremely talented dancers and the technical quality of the ballet and presentation.)

September
Giselle by English National Ballet at Manchester Palace Theatre ** (Pretty but dull dull dull - the story was dumb and wafer thin, the dancing not to my taste and a huge disappointment. However I did very much enjoy Wayne Eagling's all-too-brief all-male experimental piece Men Y Men.)
Kith/Kin by Company Chameleon at The Lowry **** (Hugely imaginative, intense work by two wonderful contemporary dancers. Kevin Turner and Athony Missen do the most beautiful male lifts; performers full of charm, warmth, intensity and intelligence. I would love to see them expand Chameleon into a larger company of dancers.)

October
Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray at The Lowry ***** (I forgive Matthew Bourne for the disappointment of Edward Scissorhands. Dorian Gray is magnificent - sexy, exciting, fast-moving, full of interesting choreography and quite the gayest piece of dance I have ever seen. Dorian Gray takes men dancing together to the place it's often afraid to go. Wonderful.)
Regina by Tom Sapsford at greenroom ***

November
The Land of Yes and The Land of No by Bonachela Dance Company at The Lowry ***** (Simply stunning - emotionally connected, intricate, technically complex choreography to beautiful original music, performed by a phenomenally talented set of dancers, backed up with lovely costumes, great lighting and stage design and crystal clear sound. Exactly the kind of dance I love - and done to perfection.)

December
The Mill by Ockham's Razor at The Lowry ***** (Really quite extraordinary and great fun - wonderful performances, technically impressive and beautifully lit.)

Highlights
Henri Oguike Dance Company, The Overcoat by Gecko, Richard Alston Dance Company, Mission Possible: Dads & Lads Move by State of Emergency, Birmingham Royal Ballet's Sylvia, New English Contemporary Ballet (again), NDT2, Kith/Kin by Company Chameleon, Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray, Bonachela Dance Campany's The Land of Yes and the Land of No, The Mill by Ockham's Razor

Disappointments
English National Ballet's Giselle, Dance Consortium's inability to book major tours into The Lowry this year, The Dancehouse's woeful lack of dance programming, the apparent change of programming policy at Contact

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:32:00 +0000

BBC condemned for pulling ballet featuring pregnant nuns and wild sex

Coming to Manchester 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:51:00 +0000

The first half of 2009 was great, and I saw a lot of fantastic dance, but it has felt like the second half of the year has been a bit disappointing, with relatively little progammed into Manchester theatres. However, The Lowry have just announced their first season for 2010 and there is some fantastic looking stuff booked - in addition to those few things I had already managed to find out about by trolling dance company websites. 2010 is starting to look promising.

I'm especially looking forward to the chance to see Akram Khan, Motionhouse and the Scottish Dance Theatre. It will be good to finally see Matthew Bourne's iconic Swan Lake, another chance to see the Balletboyz - with their new all-male company - and two more oportunities see the superlative Birmingham Royal Ballet. I'm also waging small personal campaigns to get Stan Won't Dance's new work Babel to Manchester and Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet across from the States to visit the UK - and not just London!

Watch this space.

February
Bahok - akram khan company - The Lowry - 4 February

Scattered - Motionhouse - The Lowry - 9-10 February

March
The Dreadful Hours - Tmesis Theatre - Royal Exchange Studio - 3-6 March

Swan Lake - Matthew Bourne's New Adventures - The Lowry - 1-7 March

The Talent - Balletboyz - The Lowry - 8 March

Ballet Central - The Lowry - 16 March

NQR (Not Quite Right) - Scottish Dance Theatre - The Lowry - 23-24 March

Los Vivancos - 7 Hermanos - The Lowry - 25-27 March

The Sleeping Beauty - Birmingham Royal Ballet - The Lowry - 30 March-3 April

April
Magia de la Danza/Swan Lake - Ballet Nacional de Cuba (feat. Carlos Acosta) - The Lowry - 14-17 April

Cinderella - English National Ballet - Palace Theatre - 20-24 April

Triple Bill - Candoco Dance Company - The Lowry - 27 April

A Chorus Line - The Lowry - 29 April-8 May

May
Queer Up North festival - 14-31 May

June
Romeo and Juliet - Birmingham Royal Ballet - The Lowry - 30 June-3 July

July
Love and War - Mark Bruce Company - Royal Exchange Studio - 1-3 July

Urban Moves Festival 2010 - 23-25 July

Balletboyz sex up The Rite of Spring (not that it needs it)

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:42:00 +0000

In a unique collaboration with the Balletboyz, BBC Three broadcasts a powerful new version of Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring, commissioned as part of December programming on the BBC, marking the 100th anniversary of the Ballets Russes.

In a film combining documentary and performance, the Balletboyz, Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, hand-pick the most exciting talent from a dynamic mix of professional and amateur dancers, all drawn from radically different modern-dance styles, including the tango, street, contemporary and even pole dancing. Following a brief selection process, the boys put together a unique company for this radical interpretation of Stravinsky's classic.

The film traces the history of Stravinsky's seminal work, which famously provoked riots in Paris at its première in 1913. Presented by the Balletboyz, the film culminates in a version of the work and offers an insight into the entire creative process. It features interviews with the choreographers Paul Roberts and Freddie Opoku-Addaie and the dancers themselves, in addition to behind-the-scenes footage following the development of the project – from the selection process through to the intensive rehearsal period and the final performance.

Balletboyz – The Rite Of Spring
Wednesday 23 December
10.00-11.00pm BBC THREE

Looking forward to this - the story of Diaghilev, Nijinsky and the Ballet Russes production of The Rite of Spring is one of the key things that got me interested in dance as a teenager and is still my favourite piece of classical music to this day. Having seen the trailer, this version looks pretty raunchy so it's a win-win for me!

The Lowry looks for 'complementary' role in Royal Opera House northern scheme

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:01:00 +0000

Plans for a northern base for the Royal Opera House have moved a step forward after an arts centre withdrew its opposition to the plan.

The Royal Opera House plans to establish a presence at Manchester's Palace Theatre.

Trustees of The Lowry arts centre in Salford had said the plan would be "bad for the arts".

However, the Lowry has now agreed to support the scheme on the basis it can have a "complementary" role.

Opera and musical theatre would be concentrated at the new facility at the refurbished Palace and The Lowry would concentrate on lyric theatre, ballet and dance.

Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House, said: "These recent developments are a significant step forward in fulfilling our desire to make the ROH a truly national resource."

If the plans are finalised, the Royal Opera House Manchester will regularly present performances by The Royal Opera but it could also create productions in Manchester with the Halle Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic and Manchester Camerata.

Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw has backed the scheme, saying it "has the potential to be something really special".

The planned programme for The Lowry would include performances by the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.

It will also continue to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

Rod Aldridge, chairman of The Lowry Trustees, said: "We welcome this agreement, which builds on the existing world class arts provision in the region.

"The agreement recognises the importance of establishing a clear artistic identity for both Royal Opera House Manchester and The Lowry."

BBC

Have Your Say and Win

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:49:00 +0000

Dance Consortium theatres are searching the world for exciting contemporary dance companies to bring to the UK and the Dance Consortium website is holding a poll so you can choose from a shortlist who you would most like to see - there's even a prize for entering.

The poll can be found here

Petronio comments on changing dance world post-economic crisis

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:18:00 +0000

What you probably don’t know is that the dance field is shifting radically in conjunction with the economic crisis. Networks that present us have drastically destabilized and we are navigating within a world where international touring for American companies has greatly diminished.

Extract from a letter sent by American dancer/choreographer Stephen Petronio to the Stephen Petronio Company mailing list.

Fortunately, the bulk of the letter was rather more optimistic, detailing the company's plans to strengthen for the future in this, their 25th Anniversary season.

Graphic ballet scenes cut by BBC

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:19:00 +0000

The BBC has pulled scenes from a ballet after their graphic sexual nature was deemed unsuitable for broadcast in a pre-watershed time slot.

Eternal Damnation To Sancho And Sanchez depicts a pope abusing an altar boy and strangling a pregnant nun.

The scenes, by Venezuelan choreographer Javier de Frutos, form one of four distinct works in the collaborative ballet In The Spirit Of Diaghilev.

Critics reviewing the extract called it "lurid" and "deliberately offensive".

The Sadlers Wells production celebrates 100 years of the Ballets Russes, founded by the ground-breaking Russian dance impresario Sergei Diaghilev.

The four individual ballets were originally scheduled to run together on BBC Four over the Christmas period.

"When we announced we were showing it, at the time we weren't fully aware of the details of the ballet and had every intention of showing all four acts," a BBC spokesman said.

"Basically, the material isn't suitable for a pre-watershed broadcast."

The remaining three extracts will be shown on 18 December.

BBC

At least there will be some interesting ballet on the BBC... shame they lost their nerve. Offensive ballet? On BBC4? Are we children?

In the Spirit of Diaghilev - The Guardian

Richard Alston Dance Company Spring Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:16:00 +0000

Richard Alston Dance Company will tour the UK in Spring 2010. But they're not showing a date for Manchester... Shame, as I really enjoyed the company at The Lowry last spring.

Sadler's Wells, London
Wed 3 & Thu 4 March 2010 (dates tbc)
www.sadlerswells.com / 0844 412 4300

Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon
Thu 11 March 2010
www.brycheiniog.co.uk / 01874 611 622

Brighton Dome
Wed 17 & Thu 18 March 2010
www.brightondome.org / 01273 709 709

Derngate, Northampton
Tue 23 & Wed 24 March 2010
www.royalandderngate.co.uk / 01604 624 811

Norwich Theatre Royal
Tue 30 & Wed 31 March 2010
www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk / 01603 630 000

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
Wed 21 & Thu 22 April
www.theatresevern.co.uk / 01743 281 281

The Place, London
week commencing 15 May (dates tbc)
www.theplace.org.uk / 020 7121 1100

Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Tue 18 & Wed 19 May
www.theatreroyalglasgow.com / 0870 060 6647

The Curve, Leicester
Tue 25 & Wed 26 May
www.curveonline.co.uk / 0116 242 3595

The Place, London
Wed 16 - Sun 20 June

Best Christmas Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:46:00 +0000

Today's edition of the Guardian gives a round-up of the best seasonal dance to see this Christmas - sumptuous productions of The Nutcracker, The Snow Queen, Peter Pan, Swan Lake, that sort of thing.

What marvellous, seasonal Christmas dance is on in Manchester?

Er, nothing.

Still, I have Ockham's Razor's very interesting looking The Mill to look forward to. I'm going to miss Insane in the Brain - the street dance version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest [!] - as I'm away, and then a very quiet January looms until it all kicks off again in February.

Bonachela Dance Company - The Land of Yes and the Land of No *****

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:41:00 +0000

Rafael Bonachela's new show The Land of Yes and the Land of No is a stunning piece of work.

Emotionally powerful, intricate and technically complex, it creates a fascinating series of tableux on the theme of subtle social control - manifested in the form of signs and instructions we encounter daily.

As soon as we leave our homes, we are told what to do and more often what not to do. But these instructions are not only physical, they have emotional resonances which go beyond the literal commands. In his first work for his own company since his appointment as Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company, Rafael Bonachela explores this duality and how it affects us.

I loved everything about this show, from the crystal clear sound of the beautiful original chamber music by Ezio Bosso, to the simple set of neon strips and sumptuous colour, the clean, elegant costumes and the company's phenomenally talented and charismatic troup of dancers.

All were superb, but I would have to single out former gymnast Paul Zivkovich [pictured], who is possibly the most gifted contemporary male dancer I have seen, Renaud Wiser, for his quiet intensity, Amy Hollingsworth, who is a founding member of BDC and a simply beautiful dancer, full of sinewy intent, and Fiona Jopp, who just fizzed. But the entire company were excellent.

Wonderful stuff - see it if you can.

Bonachela Dance Company

Rafael Bonachela

Dorian Gray *****

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:32:00 +0000

After a year of waiting and many months of anticipation I finally got to see Dorian Gray - fortunately with the lovely Richard Winsor as Dorian, the role he created, the stunning Michela Meazza mesmerising and achingly elegant as Lady H and Jason Piper as Basil. And my patience was rewarded. Dorian Gray was everything I hoped - sexy, gay, fast-moving, beautfully staged, full of exciting choreography, powerful acting and great music. And all from the middle of the front row in my favourite theatre...

At the post-show talk I wanted to ask Matthew Bourne why he thought no one else was creating contemporary narrative ballet - but of course I didn't. Dorian Gray proves it can be done.

Pictured: Richard Winsor as Dorian Gray, Michela Meazza as Lady H & Jason Piper as Basil Hallward

BRB plan two Lowry visits in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:46:00 +0000

The Birmingham Royal Ballet will be making two visits to The Lowry in 2010, bringing two classic ballets to the city.

The Sleeping Beauty - 30 March-3 April 2010

Romeo and Juliet - 30 June-3 July 2010

Tickets for The Sleeping Beauty are on sale now. I have never seen The Sleeping Beauty so look forward to this production. I have enjoyed the Birmingham Royal Ballet every time I have seen them so far and look forward to more great dancing, sumptuous sets and costumes [below].

I saw the Northern Ballet Theatre production of Romeo and Juliet at the Opera House earlier this year, which was a splendid production, full of colour and drama. I'm sure the BRB will also do it justice [below] - and Prokofiev's score is certainly splendid enough to hear again.

I can't help wishing that the company were bringing their new contemporray piece Quantum Leaps instead though... maybe some other time.

Theatre Royal preferred option for Library Theatre

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:15:00 +0000

As previously reported on Methods of Dance -

Manchester’s oldest surviving theatre could be restored to its former glory if plans to make it the new home for the city’s Library Theatre Company can be realised.

Manchester City Council's Executive are currently looking at a number of options for the Library Theatre Company's future and has identified the Theatre Royal on Peter Street, as the preferred location.

Having outgrown its current home at Central Library, the Library Theatre Company has been searching for a new, more suitable venue for a number of years. The basement space at Central Library is now too small and restrictive for the Library Theatre Company to operate and they are now looking to expand and develop their range of performances and valuable community work.

A number of venues are being considered, but according to a city council report, the Theatre Royal has been identified as "the best solution" and its availability could prove to be extremely timely.

The plans will be subject to agreement with the current owners of the building and if approved, would not only offer the Library Theatre Company a more contemporary and flexible space but would also restore the theatre for its original purpose.

The transformation of the Theatre Royal would make a positive contribution to the wider regeneration of St Peter's Square, bringing the city's oldest theatre, which dates back to 1845, back into use.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure said: "The benefits of this proposed relocation are manifold and will have a significant, positive effect on the cultural life of the city. The Theatre Royal - a piece of Manchester's history - would offer a great opportunity for the Library Theatre Company to develop and expand both its range of performances and its valuable community and education work, while also opening up this Grade II listed building and returning the oldest theatre in Manchester to its former glory. We're excited by the proposals."

If the plans go ahead, the Theatre Royal would provide more seating than the Library Theatre Company's current 312-capacity venue and would offer greatly enhanced facilities, attracting more audiences that would in turn contribute to the city's economy. The new venue would also enable the further development of the Library Theatre's successful educational programme and its participation with the local community.

Chris Honer, the theatre's Artistic Director said: "The Central Library has been a wonderful venue for us for over half a century but the prospect of a move to the Theatre Royal offers the Library Theatre Company a marvellous opportunity for the future. What a great story it would be to be able to turn the Theatre Royal back into a theatre."

The proposed move is part of an £155m scheme to transform Manchester's Town Hall Complex, including Central Library and the Town Hall extension, which is not only about improving and restoring buildings but which will also deliver enhanced services to the general public making everything from submitting a planning application to finding advice on benefits quicker and easier.

Refurbishment work on the Town Hall Complex including St Peter's Square, will start next year and the whole project will last up to five years. Central Library is due to close temporarily next summer and if the plans to fully restore the Theatre Royal go ahead, the Library Theatre will perform at venues around the city in the interim, offering continuous theatre provision while the changes take place.

Anyone with tickets for the Library Theatre's current season, which runs until June 2010, can be assured that productions will run as normal at Central Library.

Manchester City Council 16/10/2009

For more information on the Library Theatre visit www.librarytheatre.com

According to the Manchester Evening News and as previously discussed here the Library Theatre Company will stage a number of performances, including their successful Christmas shows, at the Lowry while their new home is readied. They are also reported to be staging several site-specific productions around the city. Exciting times.

I See Swans - Beautiful Male Swans!

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:26:00 +0000

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake will return to Sadler's Wells this Christmas for a 7 week season from 10 December.

The production received its World Premiere at the 'old' Sadler's Wells in November 1995 and was last seen at the venue for the Christmas Season 2006/7.

Casting news will be announced on the New Adventures website in the coming months.

This production will then go on tour in 2010 - hopefully stopping by the waterside at the Lowry for a few nights - as I would love an opportunity to see this groundbreaking production.

STOP PRESS: Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake will appear at The Lowry 1-7 March 2010.

Motionhouse - Scattered

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:39:00 +0000

Motionhouse - Scattered
The Lowry
9-10 February 2010

Motionhouse

Giselle...zzzzzzz

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:04:00 +0000

I went to see the English National Ballet's production of Giselle this evening, and whilst it looked pretty good and had some rather splendid lightning effects, I found it tedious in the extreme. The wafer thin story, the excessive amounts of miming and dance acting, the underuse of the corps de ballet for pretty much the entire first act and the endless sequences of solos made for a very dull evening - for me at least.

The most enjoyable part of the evening - apart from a rather lovely bearded young fellow selling programmes and ice creams - was an addition to the programme I had not been expecting. As Giselle makes scant use of the company's male dancers, Artistic Director Wayne Eagling has choreographed a new all-male prelude Men Y Men, which opened the show.

"The ballet really came out of the necessity of keeping the men busy, and fit," Eagling is quoted in the programme. "The ballet is an experiment of men partnering men, men lifting men, men, men, men...!"

So, on a dramatically lit bare stage the male dancers of the company walked and span and jumped and lifted each other, clad only in black trousers. This was the 3rd performance of the piece and I throughly enjoyed it. The Rachmaninov setting was dullish but the dancing was creative and impressive, still very much within classical ballet forms but necessarily forcing more contemporary movement - and it managed to be more visually arresting and compelling than poor Giselle flouncing around the forest in her peasant dress.

Wayne Eagling may consider his men dancing with men an experiment. I can't help wondering if he ever sees any contemporary ballet? What's experimental for the English National Ballet is business as usual for many of the companies I've seen in the last couple of years.

A most welcome break with 'tradition' for me.

Regina - exploring Elizabeth I

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:32:00 +0000

Coming soon to greenroom -

Exploring the life of Queen Elizabeth I, Regina fuses dance, text and video to create a theatrical portrait of this iconic monarch. Regina examines the tensions inherent in Elizabeth as both an icon and an individual.

For Regina, award-winning choreographer Tom Sapsford (Royal Ballet, Michael Clark) has collaborated with cutting edge computer artists KMA (Darshan Singh Bueller, DV8) and Stevie Stewart (formerly one half of the innovative and influential fashion design label BodyMap and designer for Kylie Minogue) to realise the rich imagery of Elizabeth’s world.

Regina
greenroom
Friday, 30 October
8pm

This show will aslo appear as part of Glasgow's queer culture festival Glasgay! in October 2009, which should give some more clues about the nature of the show. Sounds very interesting.

It'll be Queer Up North again in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:55:00 +0000

Queer Up North have just confirmed that the 2010 festival will take place from Friday 14th to Monday 31st May 2010.

2010 marks the 18th birthday of Queer Up North, and plans for 18 days of celebration, performance, art and ideas are already underway.

Having enjoyed several events at this year's festival (and the year before) I wish them well with their preparations and look forward to getting my hands on the schedule as soon as it's available so I can go see stuff!

Waiting for Autumn

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:23:00 +0000

Much as I don't want to wish the summer away - and as disappointingly drab as much of this summer has been - I can't wait for the autumn, when new theatre schedules will start confirming some new dance tours and performances.

I've got tickets for a couple of things - Chameleon's Kith/Kin, Dorian Gray - and have plans to book for a few of others - ENB's Giselle, the Rambert's Comedy of Change Tour, Company F.Z.'s We Can be Heroes and the Bonachela Dance Company to name a few - but I've not actually seen any dance since July.

That's just not right.

More than a year after renewing my vows to love dance forever will I still go and see everything I can?

Yes, probably.

Orbo Novo - Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:32:00 +0000

Orbo Novo - or New World - a gorgeous new dance work from Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, choreographed by Belgian Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Would love to see this performed.

Orbo Novo (excerpts) from Caleb Custer on Vimeo.

CEDARLAKECONTEMPORARYBALLET

Ballet: The Secret Lives of Dancers

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:06:00 +0000

They were once the toast of society. But modern-day corps de ballet endure punishing working hours, crippling injuries, terrible pay and little job security. Then why do it? The Telegraph's Richard Johnson spent a day with the Royal Ballet’s finest to find out.

Merce Cunningham dies at 90

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:48:00 +0000

US choreographer Merce Cunningham, widely recognised for revolutionising modern dance, has died aged 90.

A statement from the Cunningham Dance Foundation said the New York-based dancer 'died peacefully in his home of natural causes' on Sunday.

He formed the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in 1953 and choreographed nearly 200 works for it.

Although he used a wheelchair by the end of his career, Cunningham danced on stage right into his 80s.

The statement said he 'revolutionised the visual and performing arts, not for the sake of iconoclasm, but for the beauty and wonder that lay in exploring new possibilities'.

Judith Fishman, chairman of the Cunningham Dance Foundation, said: 'Merce was an artistic maverick and the gentlest of geniuses.

'We have lost a great man and a great artist, but we celebrate his extraordinary life, his art, and the dancers and the artists with whom he worked.'

Just last month, Cunningham had set up a legacy plan for the continuation of his work in the coming years.

Merce Cunningham
Cunningham Dance Foundation
Merce Cunningham, Who Reinvented Dance, Dies at 90
Merce Cunningham: a moving human sculpture in air - The Telegraph
Who will protect the legacies of Pina Bausch and Merce Cunningham? When a great choreographer dies, does their work die with them? Judith Mackrell in the Guardian

Joffrey Ballet and the Rite of Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:15:00 +0000

In 1987, the Joffrey Ballet received a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant in Dance of $243,400 to support three self-produced seasons in New York City and Los Angeles, and the reconstruction of Vaslav Nijinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps.

The reconstruction was the culmination of more than 15 years of work by Millicent Hodson, a choreographer and dance historian, and her husband Kenneth Archer, an art historian. Hodson and Archer had painstakingly pieced the ballet together from prompt books, contemporary sketches, paintings, photographs, reviews, the original costume designs, annotated scores, and interviews with eye witnesses, such as Dame Marie Rambert, Nijinsky's assistant. The ballet was performed again in 2002.

It was reading about Diaghilev and Nijinsky, and especially the story of the creation of Le Sacre du Printemps and the artistic storm it created on its debut in 1913 that fired my interest in dance.

If I have any ambitions in dance - and I have many - the most dearly held must be wishing for the chance to see the Joffrey Ballet's reconstruction of this extraordinary work in performance some day.

Roundel - dance news

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Rivendell) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:51:00 +0000

Henri Oguike Dance Company - Following the company's successul tenth anniversary tour this spring, over the next 18 months HODC will be devoting time to research and development as well as to some prestigious commissions, including one from Rambert Dance Company.

According to the company website, Henri has longed for time to explore new collaborations and to look at areas such as design, sport, fashion and technology, and to working with music in new ways. It will no doubt feed into the new repertoire which will tour in Autumn 2010/Spring 2011.

I loved the company when I saw them earlier this year so look forward to seeing new work - even if I am going to have to wait at least a year!

Stan Won't Dance - Physical theatre company Stan Won't Dance are promising to announce tour dates for Autumn 2009 - although time is ticking.

Earlier this year they were advertising for male performers with a strong grounding in contemporary dance and with experience of working with improvisation and text - which makes it sound very interesting. I've never seen this company and they don't appear to have performed since July 2007 when they mounted at large scale outdoor performance at the Southbank Centre, where they are artists in residence. As they are also identified as artists in residence at The Lowry, hopefully their new show will make an appearance there. As the company was founded by former members of DV8 I'm keen to get an opportunity to see them.

DV8 Physical Theatre - As for the mighty DV8, there seems to be much activity of the cards. The company are still internationally touring the stunning To be Straight With You until December 2009.

Founding choreographer Lloyd Newson is then re-working and re-staging his groundbreaking 1992 work Strange Fish for performance and touring in late 2010 into 2011. This is the first time Newson has chosen to revisit a previous work.

The company will also be researching and developing a brand new work in 2010-11 , again based on interviews as To Be Straight With You was, for performance in 2012.

Phoenix Dance Theatre - Another company I have yet to see, Leeds-based Phonenix Dance Theatre are due to announce some tour dates for Autumn 2009 soon. Hopefully, they'll put in an appearance in Manchester - as most of their Leeds-based fellows (Opera North, Northern Ballet Theatre) seem to make the effort to cross the Pennines.

Dance Consortium - As previously reported, Dance Consortium will be promoting and supporting tours by the following companies in 2010:

Danza Contemporanea de Cuba
Companhia de Danca Deborah Colker
Alvin Ailey Dance Theater

No dates or venues announced yet.