Sep 21 2010: Danceworks UK takes centre stage for Autumn 2010
SOME of the biggest names in contemporary dance come to Sheffield over the next few weeks with the launch of the Danceworks Autumn ‘10 season, produced and presented in partnership with Sheffield Theatres.
As well as presenting a range of critically acclaimed new works, the season will also include a major one day conference aimed at stimulating debate and action around family friendly dance productions nationwide.
The Generate Debate, produced by Danceworks, hosted on October 12 by Sheffield Theatres and funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation with additional support from Sheffield Theatres, Sheffield City Council and the Arts Council England through a G4A award, will see dance companies, choreographers, producers and theatre and festival programmers discussing the importance of dance for young audiences.
And there will also be a work-in-progress showing of Paper Mountain, the eagerly awaited new piece from Sheffield company Short Back and Sides, which has been developed as part of the Danceworks UK Generate Project and which is scheduled to open in Sheffield next summer.
The Danceworks season begins on October 4 with a one night only performance of Israeli dancer and choreographer Hofesh Shechter’s hugely acclaimed new work, Political Mother.
Shechter is one of the most exciting talents in dance today, equally at home either working with his own dancers or creating the opening credits dance sequence for Channel 4 cult hit Skins.
Combing stunning visuals, thunderous music and the traditions of Jewish folk dance, Political Mother comes to Sheffield’s Lyceum as part of an international tour.
Performed by the ten dancers of the Hofesh Shechter Company and with music by Shechter himself, Political Mother is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the dance calendar.
/more
On November 2 and 3 The Lyceum plays host to the third national Breakin Convention tour, hosted by British Hip hop legend Jonzi D and featuring street dance and Hip Hop experts from across Europe, including Sebastien and Raphael and Phase T.
Presented in association with Dance Consortium, the two days will also include DJs, graffiti, freestyling, workshops and film screening.
Two of the most popular figures in contemporary dance return to the Crucible Studio on November 23 and 24 for a new Danceworks Double Bill in partnership with Sheffield Theatres.
Award-winning Barnsley dancer and choreographer Gary Clarke presents
2 Men & a Michael, a bizarre blend of comedy and movement with just a hint of Morecambe and Wise and Lee Evans along the way.
It’s a sharp contrast to Coal, his acclaimed work of 2009 that commemorated the 25th anniversary of the national Miners’ Strike and which was heavily influenced by his own childhood memories of like in the Dearne Valley coalfields.
He is joined by internationally acclaimed dance theatre artist Wendy Houstoun for Keep Dancing, a new work in which computer talk gets demanding and a performer gets trapped inside her own construct.
As idiosyncratic as only Houstoun can be, Keep Dancing tackles such issues as persistence, age, visibility, inertia, fighting, surrendering, continuing…and, of course, dancing!
And for lovers of a more traditional approach to dance, Northern Ballet Theatre are back at the Lyceum from November 9 to 13 with David Nixon’s acclaimed and charming re-working of Tchaikovsky’s Christmas treat, The Nutcracker.
Commented Danceworks UK artistic director Annabel Dunbar:
“Autumn 2010 represents a hugely important season for Danceworks UK and not just because of the consistently high standard of work we are bringing to Sheffield.
“The Generate Debate on October 12 makes Sheffield the centre of national dance debate and agenda.
“We are delighted that we will be producing such an important event and are thrilled that Sheffield Theatres are hosting this landmark occasion.
“Add to that a line-up that includes such fantastic talent as Hofesh Shechter, Jonzi D, Wendy Houstoun and Gary Clarke and you have a fine mixture of talent and choice to brighten up the darkest autumn evening!”
