During IDFB 2010, we were all mesmerised by Vocab Dance Company’sKwenda – Kwenda and their performance during Utopia. In May, the company unleashed Episodes of Blackness: a powerful evening of dynamic interdisciplinary work inspired by aspects of black culture and heritage.
Using dance theatre, music and spoken word, Episodes of Blackness is Vocab’s first triple bill. Programmed by East London Dance, the show premiered brand new work ‘Word!’, a choreographic response to headlines around the negative aspects of youth culture which asked “is it in our power to do anything about it?”. The triple bill also featured ‘Temps Mort’, a powerful quintet that explored the theme of polygamy. It was a fierce combination of dance and percussive rhythms of drums.
And there was also a revival of the highly acclaimed ‘Kwenda – Kwenda’, a compelling exploration of a group of women wishing to step away from their roots but are worried about its consequences.
Vocab’s choreographer Alesandra Seutin combines traditional African dance with Contemporary and Hip Hop dynamics resulting in a distinctly fast paced, athletic evening of Afro-Eclectic Contemporary Dance.
Renowned dance critic Donald Hutera said: “Seutin’s work puts me in touch with a feisty inner black/mixed race female self I never even knew I had.”
This is what Akram had to say about his latest production:
Vertical Road also features two IDFB 2010 veterans – Ahmed Khemis and Salah El Brogy, who were involved in our Outspoken Weekend with their solo works.
We caught up with Salah and here are his thoughts on his Vertical Road journey so far:
Vertical Road is Khan’s first ensemble work since the critically acclaimed bahok in 2008. The performance is inspired by the idea of vertical ascension – a common motif in several different religions, and the journey that the soul takes after death. These ideas will be explored in a ground-breaking work of contemporary dance, choreographed by Khan and performed by eight hand-picked world-class dancers from across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Performances at the Curve Theatre in Leicester will be between 14-18 September with the world premiere on 16 September. Tickets start from £8.25.
On 5 September, there are two workshops being held at the Curve. Workshop 1 (11am-1pm) will be a masterclass for experienced dance practitioners and Workshop 2 (2-4pm) will be aimed at experienced dance students. To book tickets or workshops, call the ticket office on 0116 242 3595.
The Leicester performances kick off the Vertical Road tour – the dates are below:
29 Sep – 2 October 2010: Geblasehalle, Duisburg (Ruhrtriennale Festival), Germany
5 – 9 Oct 2010: Sadler’s Wells, London, UK
19 – 23 Oct 2010: The CUB Malthouse, Merlyn Theatre, Melbourne (Melbourne International Arts Festival), Australia
28 Oct 2010: Brighton Dome, Brighton, UK
11 – 12 Nov 2010: Halle Kalk, Cologne, Germany
15 – 16 Nov 2010: Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea, UK
19 – 20 Nov 2010: DanceEast, Snape Maltings, UK
24 Nov 2010: Nuovo Teatro Comunale, Bolzano, Italy
2-4 Dec 2010: de Singel, Antwerp, Belgium
26 Jan 2010: Stadsschouwburg, Amserdam, Netherlands
29 Jan 2011: De Warande, Turnhout, Belgium
1 Feb 2011: Schouwburg, Tilburg, Netherlands
3 Feb 2011: Stadsschouwburg, Groningen, Netherlands
5 Feb 2011: Cultuurcentrum, Hasselt, Belgium
8 Feb 2011: Stadsschouwburg, Brugge, Belgium
4-13 March 2011: Theatre de la Ville, Paris, France
17 – 20 March 2011: Teatre Mercat de les Flors, Barcelona, Spain
25 – 26 March 2011: Teatro Central, Seville, Spain
16 – 17 May 2011: Kunstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
20 – 21 May 2011: The Hellerau, Dresden, Germany
23-24 May 2011: Le Grand T, Nantes, France
27 May 2011: Teatr Wielki, Poznan, Poland
29 – 30 May 2011: Teatr Wielki, Lodz, Poland
7-11 June 2011: Kunstencentrum Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium
24-25 June 2011: Montpellier Danse festival, Montpellier, France
Vertical Road is sponsored by COLAS and co-produced with Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, Curve Theatre, Leicester, Sadler’s Wells, London, Theatre de la Ville, Paris, National Arts Centre, Ottawa, Mercat de les Flors, Barcelona and supported by Arts Council England.
