Here at IDFB we’re not afraid to ask for help every now and again, especially when we know that things are about to get really busy!
As we head into the most hectic and exciting period in the festival’s calendar, we’re looking for an agency or individual to support our in-house media and PR activity.
Building on the success of previous festivals, we want to generate greater profile and media coverage than ever before. If you have a strong track record in securing media coverage and a creative, “can do” approach to PR, you could be just what we’re looking for.
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.”
Fans of dance and pop legend Michael Jackson have IDFB co-producer Birmingham Hippodrome to thank for bringing West End hit THRILLER LIVE to the city. The show is a celebration of the King of Pop’s music packed with awesome dance numbers. I spoke to Adrian Grant, the producer of this brilliant two-hour dance and musical extravaganza.
How did you cast for the musical? Have you had trouble finding artists for such an important role?
Casting the show is the most difficult aspect in Thriller Live because Michael Jackson was such a unique talent. I decided from day one that I didn’t want the show to be a straight tribute performance with one impersonator. I wanted to take the audience on a journey and display all of Michael Jackson’s different personas and talent on stage. Therefore we have 5 lead principal singers sharing the songs throughout – including a child for the early Jackson 5 hits, a soulful singer, the pop singer, a rock singer and a female singer which surprises many people – but she brings a lot of balance to many of the songs.
Then there is also the dancers. We have one lead ‘MJ’ dancer, who fronts songs such as ‘Smooth Criminal’, ‘Thriller’ and ‘Billie Jean’. On top of this we have 10 male and female dancers who bring the stage to life with fantastic choreography from Director Gary Lloyd. For these dancers it is a dream come true to be in a show inspired by an icon they grew up on, learning his moves daily.
Why is there a big gap between the first Jackson Celebration of ‘91 and the musical?
The Annual Michael Jackson Celebration started in 1991 and ran every years for 10 years. In 2001 Michael personally attended the show in London and watched over 100 performers pay tribute to him. Afterwards he came on stage and told the 3,000 fans in attendance that he thought the Celebration had been ‘beautiful and incredible!’
Is it true that Jackson didn’t want to start this show about him?
No, from the outset his management were fully aware of the show, and in 2007 Michael wished me luck with the production. He had always been fully supportive of the Annual Michael Jackson Celebration, even sending over his own video crew to film the event and fans.
It’s a great shame that he never got to see Thriller Live, but Kenny Ortega [Director of Michael’s This is It tour - ed.] recently told us that he was planning on coming to watch the show during his ‘This Is It’ stay in London – but dressed in disguise!
Do you believe that the performances scheduled in July in London would have meant his artistic rebirth? Or his golden moment had passed?
I believe the This Is It concerts would have reaffirmed Michael Jackson as the world’s greatest entertainer – and would have taken concert production to a whole new level. Michael was a perfectionist and was always looking to better his previous work. He was the ultimate showman, and he still had so much more to give – both on and off stage.
Do you see any possible heir of Jackson in the pop world?
There will never be another Michael Jackson. The music industry has changed and is far more instant then it was 10, 20, 30 years ago. Michael grew up during the Motown era, and worked hard with his brothers touring and perfecting their craft. Furthermore he learnt from greats such as Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Jackie Wilson and James Brown. He always said he would ‘study the greats and aim to become better!’
You may find an individual who can sing better, or dance better – but what made Michael the King of Pop was that he did everything, and he did it so very well and with his own style. As a songwriter he was sometimes underrated – but like at hits such as ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Wanna Be Startin Somethin’, ‘Earth Song’ and ‘Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough’ – pure pop classics. As a singer he had an incredible 4-octave range, and as a dancer he created breakthrough videos such as ‘Beat It’ and ‘Thriller’, and was complimented by none other than Fred Astaire.
THRILLER LIVE will be at Birmingham Hippodrome on Monday April 18 until Saturday 30 April. Tickets are priced between £13.50 and £32.00. You can book online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000. Please remember that transaction fees apply.
We’re giving away two free tickets for the opening night on the 18th. Simply go to the IDFB Facebook Fan page, ‘Like’ us and tell us what your favourite Michael Jackson video is. We’ll do a draw and we’ll announce the winner on Friday April 15.
Also, on Saturday April 16, a mass Thriller flash mob will be descending on central Birmingham and you can be part of it. You can register online and to find out more, go to http://thrillerinthecity.com/.
Here’s the Thriller in the city video:
Thriller in the city is presented by Birmingham Hippodrome and supported by Dancing for the Games; a project inspired by London 2012 and part of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands and DanceXchange.
