Press Office
All press releases can be downloaded from the section on the left.
If you have an enquiry that relates directly to press and media coverage of this year’s festival, please contact Pippa Whittaker, IDFB 2012 Press Manager or call her direct on +44 (0)121 689 1082.
MOST RECENT NEWS
9 January 2012
IDFB 2012 announces Director of new HOME project
Theatre Director Andy Brunskill has been appointed as Director of Home, a bold, new production created by International Dance Festival Birmingham (IDFB) 2012, which will involve 1000 people. It will draw on stories, experiences and locations unique to Birmingham and the West Midlands, based on the themes of home, identity and belonging, and will animate public spaces across the city.
As one of the centrepieces of IDFB 2012 during April and May, Home is also part of Dancing for the Games, which is part of the Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands, and has been granted the prestigious London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme which recognises exceptional and innovative projects inspired by the 2012 Games.
An exciting new talent, Andy has a background in Drama and Physical Theatre, and is one of only a handful of young directors who have benefitted from the Jerwood Assistant Director Program at the Young Vic, where he has recently finished directing two different productions of Hamlet for their annual Schools Theatre Festival.
Moving through the streets and squares of Birmingham city centre, Home will engage thousands of people and present a diversity of dance styles. Taking place over a three-week period (from 23 April), the performances will begin quietly with a string of solos one after the other, evolving into group pieces and eventually becoming one large-scale spectacular finale performed on a landscape of connected doormats (Sunday 13 May). Individual doormats, chosen for their reference to home, will act as miniature stages on which community participants and professional dancers will perform.
Click here to download the full press release
17 November, 2011
DanceXchange and Birmingham Hippodrome launch International Dance Festival Birmingham 2012
The streets of Birmingham will come alive with dance next April when International Dance Festival Birmingham (IDFB), the UK’s biggest dance festival, takes place across the city. Now a well established, biennial event co-produced by DanceXchange and Birmingham Hippodrome, IDFB 2012 will include a world-class programme of international performers, world premieres, new commissions and a range of participatory events in venues and public spaces across Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Building on the success of IDFB 2010, which generated over 66,000 audience and participatory experiences, IDFB 2012 aims to create even more opportunities for people to get involved, and attract more national and international visitors to the city.
Artistic Director of DanceXchange and Co-Artistic Director of IDFB 2012, David Massingham said, “The city’s existing dance offering provided by DanceXchange, Birmingham Hippodrome and Birmingham Royal Ballet has already created the biggest dance hub in the UK. IDFB 2012 not only creates a window to what is now a world centre for dance, but extends our reach to new, young audiences by breaking free from traditional venues and providing opportunities to participate in many different ways.”
Stuart Griffiths, Chief Executive of Birmingham Hippodrome and Co-Artistic Director of IDFB 2012 added, “With IDFB 2010 creating £6.2m worth of economic activity, it is well recognised that this festival makes a significant contribution to the economic growth of Birmingham and the West Midlands. It is a great example of a successful partnership working to enrich the cultural offering in the city.”
Click here to download the full IDFB 2012 press release.
25 October, 2010
International Dance Festival Birmingham 2010 wins gold in Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards
International Dance Festival Birmingham 2010 has been awarded a Gold Award at this year’s Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards ceremony held recently at Birmingham University’s Great Hall.
IDFB 2010 beat off Malvern Spring Gardening Show and Christmas at The Black Country Museum to win Gold in the Best One-off/Annual Event of the Year category.
Judges said “International Dance Festival Birmingham 2010 brought great national and international dance to venues and open spaces across the region. Through the range of work on offer, IDFB 2010 connected with the region’s diverse population, inspired pride and attracted visitors to the city. In doing so, IDFB 2010 raised aspirations, benefitted the local economy and enhanced the cultural life of the region.”
IDFB 2010, the second to be held in the city, was produced by DanceXchange and Birmingham Hippodrome.
David Massingham, DanceXchange Artistic Director and Co-Director of IDFB said: “It is fantastic news that IDFB 2010 has been recognised in this way. The programme was truly diverse and very appealing, engaging people who wouldn’t usually come to arts events.
“The stage shows and unique outdoor productions complemented each other and attracted big audiences. We’re very proud of this result, which recognises the impact the event has had on the city and the region – after just two Festivals, it is a real achievement. We’re really looking forward to 2012!”
Click here to download the full IDFB 2010 Tourism Award press release.