Posts Tagged ‘british dance edition’

What goes into a performance?

One of IDFB 2010’s new commissions is a piece from Rosie Kay Dance Company called 5 SOLDIERS The Body is the Frontline, which will premiere at the festival on 23 April.

5 SOLDIERS The Body is the Frontline | International Dance Festival Birmingham

Rosie Kay is artist-in-residence at DanceXchange in Birmingham where she’s been developing the piece. I’ve been lucky enough to have a glimpse of the work from time to time and it has been fascinating to see how it has come together.

Part of that is seeing the sheer amount of research that goes into developing a piece like this. For example:

  • In early 2009, Rosie spent two weeks training with the 4th Battalion of The Rifles (see her write-up here)
  • Following that, Rosie spent some time at Headley Court a rehabilitation centre for injured soldiers
  • Three of the dancers also spent a weekend with the Officers Training Corps
  • After a hard day in the studio, the company relaxed by watching the Oscar-winning film, The Hurt Locker
  • In an unusual move, an injured bomb-disposal expert was released by the military for two days to spend time in the studio where he spoke with the company’s dancers

It’s not just Rosie Kay and her dancers who are involved with this deeper research; others involved in realising 5 SOLDIERS have:

  • Early on, Rosie Kay and collaborators Annie Mahtani (sound artist) and Petra Tauscher (dramaturgist) conducted interviews with members of 4 Rifles, a retired Major General and a recent recruit
  • David Cotterrell, a visual artist, spent time in Helmland Province with the Joint Forces Medical Group

The issues explored in 5 SOLDIERS are not ones that should be approached lightly. What this immersion in the subject matter means is that, as well as infusing the finished piece, Rosie has become an eloquent speaker on the matters raised. Here she is discussing the origination of the work:

Rosie Kay – 5 Soldiers from Mr Nat Higginbottom on Vimeo.

Buy tickets – 5 SOLDIERS The Body is the Frontline will be at International Dance Festival Birmingham at the Patrick Centre on 23 and 24 April. Tickets cost £8-10.

Birmingham’s big year of dance

In an earlier post I mentioned that “Birmingham’s a busy city for dance this year”. Two major events have already taken place in the city and more are to come.

Already happened

British Dance Edition 2010

First up was British Dance Edition 2010, hosted and directed by DanceXchange on behalf of the National Dance Network, which took over venues across the city from 3-6 February, showcasing some of the best UK-based artists and companies.

Birmingham Royal Ballet

10 March saw a Royal gala performance from Birmingham Royal Ballet, with HRH Prince Charles in attendance to see highlights drawn from the company’s 20 years of success since moving to the city. Celebrations will be ongoing throughout the year and the plaudits started early, winning the dance category in the last ever South Bank Show Awards.

Still to come

International Dance Festival Birmingham takes place in April and May although if you’re reading this here, it probably doesn’t come as news to you.

However, sampad South Asian Arts will also be celebrating their 20th anniversary in May and two of their events form part of the IDFB schedule. Those two events are:

  • The Absent Lover – Thresh Dance Company (13 May, The Patrick Centre)
  • Kathak Duet – Abhimanyu & Vidha Lal (14 May, The Patrick Centre)

UDance

On 4 July the Hippodrome hosts U.Dance England 2010, a national showcase event for groups of young people aged 11 to 19. It will be held at Birmingham Hippodrome and will be the flagship performance for the U.Dance programme.

The series of events leading up to the Olympic Games is now getting into full swing. In the West Midlands the focus of the programme is People Dancing which aims aimed at get people across the West Midlands moving for themselves and inspire people of all ages, skills and abilities to make dance part of their everyday lives.

Birmingham: a world centre for dance

In January, Terry Grimley, arts editor of the Birmingham Post, previewed BDE 2010 and IDFB. This quote from David Massingham, co-director of IDFB, comes from that article:

“We are certainly thinking now about really seeing Birmingham as a world centre for dance,” says David. “That’s how we want the city to be seen. With Birmingham Royal Ballet and the other companies here, with the festival, the Hippodrome and all the work we are doing across the region, I’m sure it’s the largest hub in Britain for dance.”

Interview: Rosie Kay on research and the army

RosieKaypic

Rosie Kay is what you might call an intellectual choreographer – she doesn’t see the point of taking on a subject unless you have done your research and had some experience of it. For her latest piece, which explores war and its affect on the body, she joined a battalion and trekked across Dartmoor with a 70lb rucksack. Her approach couldn’t be more considered for what is a current and sensitive issue – and the piece will premiere at next year’s International Dance Festival Birmingham. We spoke to Rosie Kay about the work, her success at the last festival, and her plans for Rosie Kay Dance Company. (more…)