New talent and acclaimed companies bringing dance to Birmingham.
DanceXchange, the Birmingham-based dance house, announces its latest performance season which runs from 15th February until 24th May in The Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome.
The packed new programme features incredible new choreographic talent together with three critically acclaimed companies nominated for Best Independent company at the National Dance Awards 2018: Ballet Black, Lost Dog and Russell Maliphant Company. In addition, dx is partnering with Flatpack Festival 2019 to present a radical international dance work at Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Lucie Mirkova, Executive Producer at DanceXchange said: “Our programme presents a range of exciting original voices with personal stories to tell in a diversity of styles. We are particularly pleased to showcase new work from the next generation of outstanding choreographic talent including Humanhood and a unique double bill from Tirabasso and Masui, which is co-commissioned through our new partnership with The Place and Northern School of Contemporary Dance.”
The season launches on 15th and 16th February with the UK Premiere of Torus by dx Associate Artists Humanhood. Inspired by physics and a personal insight into Eastern mysticism, for artistic directors Rudi Cole and Júlia Robert Parés, Torus will be Humanhood’s first large group work.
Rudi & Júlia commented: “It’s been a year and a half in the making, from our research residency with Ten Drum percussion group in Taiwan in 2017, months of crafting the choreography in the studio, right through to the final production on stage. It has been a completely new experience for us, working with a group of 5 of the most talented performers from across the globe and we are so excited to premiere this very special show.”
The Spring Season also features:-
• a thrilling double bill on 28 February of new work by two rising female choreographers, sharing personal stories of illness, love and loss. Léa Tirabasso presents The Ephemeral Life of an Octopus, at once absurd and grotesque, playful and liberating, inspired by her personal experience of cancer and the lived experience of illness. Yukiko Masui’s Falling Family is a visceral dance piece which explores in movement those moments in family life where extremes of emotion are felt.
• U.Dance, a vibrant and exciting mix of dance genres and themes celebrating some of the best young performers from the West Midlands. Presented on 13th March in association with One Dance UK, the winning group will be shortlisted by the national panel to progress to U.Dance 2019 in London.
• Lost Dog’s witty and engaging Juliet & Romeo on 14 March. Broadly based on Shakespeare’s deeply pessimistic teenage love story, this entertaining, amusing and tender dance theatre production explores contemporary culture’s celebration of youth and how it creates unrealistic expectations around love, sex and relationships. Solène Weinachter, who plays Juliet, is nominated for Outstanding female modern performance at the 2018 National Dance Awards, along with Lost Dog as best Independent Company.
• leading choreographer Russell Maliphant’s new work Silent Lines on 9 April; a unique mix of movement, cutting edge animated video projection and lighting. Russell Maliphant Company received five nominations at the National Dance Awards 2018.
• awe-inspiring circus performers Nikki & JD’s new show Knot on 9 May. A finely crafted theatrical journey through the struggles of commitment, breath-taking hand-to-hand circus skills and delicate sensitivity tell a heart-wrenching tale of an impossible emotional choice.
• Ballet Black’s double bill of dramatic and inventive storytelling on 23 & 24 May. Ingoma (meaning song), is a specially commissioned piece by Mthuthuzeli November which features a fusion of ballet, African dance and singing to portray the struggles of black South African miners during a milestone strike in 1946. The programme also includes a new light-hearted ballet by renowned choreographer Luca Silvestrini.
• a thought-provoking performance where dance meets theatre, meets youtube mashup, in Forecasting by Premier Stratagème at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in partnership with Flatpack Festival.
Lucie Mirkova comments: “As the producers of Birmingham International Dance Festival, we are thrilled to collaborate with another distinctive festival, as part of our passionate commitment to promote exceptional choreographic international talent to audiences in Birmingham and beyond.”
Throughout the spring season, dx will be running its hugely popular dance class programme. Drop in and try out something new in the latest programme, which offers classes to suit all ages and skill levels with styles including street dance, swing, ballet, contemporary, salsa, commercial and jazz dance.
To find out more about the spring season including sneak previews of the shows or to check out the full range of dance classes visit www.dancexchange.org.uk