Dance group presents autumn programme

Merged organisation unveils debut performances.

FABRIC, the new company formed from the merger of dance organisations DanceXchange in Birmingham and Dance4 in Nottingham, presents its first full programme of work this autumn.

“Our vision is to inspire people through dance, transforming lives, communities and places,” says Paul Russ, FABRIC’s Chief Executive. “Our aim is to create unique, thrilling and ambitious programmes and we are delighted therefore to produce our new autumn season presenting performances and workshops across the Midlands, with the highlight being Nottdance 2022, a season of dance and choreographic ideas and works, which includes a new touring partnership with Fierce Festival in Birmingham.”

Nottdance runs from 5th–29th October offering more than 25 events from over 17 artists across 11 locations in Nottingham. The programme was created in collaboration with partners and artists whose home, place of work or international destination is Nottingham and its wider communities.

FABRIC’s international Centre for Choreography (iC4C) will be Nottdance’s hub, and performances, workshops, and social events will inhabit Nottingham’s theatres, galleries, shopping centres and outdoor spaces, reflecting on the city and world we live in. To ensure that as many people as possible can experience Nottdance, FABRIC has reviewed its pricing structures, introducing a new Pay What You Can option for selected events.

Sam Thorne, Director, Nottingham Contemporary, Nottdance 2022 venue partner, commented: “We are thrilled to be building on Nottingham Contemporary’s longstanding partnership with Nottdance to inaugurate this new chapter with FABRIC. We look forward to welcoming new audiences to experience pioneering approaches to performance and choreography.”

The line-up of artists, which features Seke Chimutengwende, Clara Furey, Usha Mahenthiralingam, and Janine Harrington, come from near and far and draw on themes of touch, care, decolonisation, personal archives, and labour. Part of the programme includes FABRIC’s first touring work across the region. Following Clara Furey’s Dog Rising UK premiere in Nottdance on 8 October, it will also be presented on 13 October as part of Birmingham’s Fierce Festival, one of FABRIC’s long-term partners, demonstrating an ambition for more international and home-grown work to be showcased across the Midlands.

FABRIC will co-present two further shows as part of Fierce Festival, in the Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome. A UK Premiere from Lisa Vereerbrugghen, SOFTCORE a hardcore encounter on 12th and 14th October and Radio III by Zoë Poluch, Hanako Hoshimi-Caines and Elisa Harkins on 15th October.

FABRIC’s autumn season will continue in the Patrick Studio with Altered Skin’s Fatherhood on 27thand 28th October and Contemporary Dance 2.0 by Shechter II on 24 and 25 November.

For what’s on at Nottdance visit: Nottdance. For what’s on in Birmingham visit: Dancexchange.