Diamond Nights, 28th January, Brookes Drama Studio

Cafe Reason are hosting another ‘Diamond Nights‘ at the Brookes Drama Studio, Headington Hill campus this Saturday 28th January.
A variety of experiments and works in progress by members of Cafe Reason and invited guests with dance, theatre, live music, word and video.
They look forward to seeing you there.
Please arrive 7.45 for 8.00 start as the door opens straight on to the stage.
Donation (£3-5) appreciated.
For directions please check the Cafe Reason website:  www.cafereason.com

 

Pegasus Scratch Night 13th January – Ana Barbour writes

The first of what will hopefully be many Scratch Nights at The Pegasus.  One of the best things about taking part in this was the opportunity to see other artists’ work.  The evening was organised to enable sharings and audience feedback.  In total there were 8 works with a maximum of 8 minutes allocated to each act.

The evening was structured to show 2 performances followed by audience feedback to the choreographer/performers.  Claire Thompson, of Arts Officer of Oxford City Council and chair of Oxford Dance Forum took the role of introducing the pairs of acts and leading/facilitating the feedback sessions.   Each choreographer had been able to put forward specific questions about their work so the feedback could be tailored to suit each of their  needs rather than providing general, random opinions or unhelpful advice.  This structure worked well and enabled both performers and audience to focus.

I was performing in Paulette Mae’s choreography with Anja Meinhardt and Paulette in an excerpt from ‘A Suitcase for all Seasons’.  Paulette’s work explores attachment and is an interesting fusion of dance vocabularies.  We were 2^nd on and this meant I was not able to catch the first act –Nomi McLeod who was spectacularly treating the audience to aerial work on a rope up close.

The next pair were Leslie Tomkins performing an individual and moving solo and Amarita performing flamenco to a projected still backdrop and a practise recording of her flamenco teacher in Spain.  ‘This is very unusual and in a theatre performance I would use live musicians.  In flamenco the musician follows the dancer’s tempo so it is strange to follow a fixed pre-recorded track’.  Leslie talking about his piece said he quite likes to ‘alienate the audience’ while audience members commented that his absorption drew them in towards him.  The two contrasted well with Leslie’s inward looking and relaxed style and Amarita’s strong outward presence and precision.

Segolene Tarte in ‘Splice’ presented a very different use of the rope –as a prop and dance partner.  (how amazing to have 2 rope pieces in one evening!).  She brought a light, playful touch which was also at times mysterious and full of emotional resonance.  Making good use of space and clear form she also took on a variety of body qualities which showed an ability to extend well beyond ballet technique.

Emma Webb stood in her apron and wellies amongst domestic debris and talked and made me laugh.  Making poignant the reality of home and ‘waiting’.  ‘I wait’ she says and there is news of a body on the beach which may or may not be her husband.  She leaves her wellies and her apron and reveals her beautiful dress and her dance.  We do not know if it was her long awaited husband or someone else.  This was a strong piece with plenty of potential.  The use of text and humour with the dance worked well.

The last pair of the evening were Jo Lott’s ‘Tender’ danced by Helen Wadge and David Hudson and ‘Water’ by Helen Tennison and Lucy May Constantini.  ‘Tender’ was an athletic display of contemporary dance which only began to express its softness towards the end.  Jo explained the piece is normally a trio rather than a duet and will have a filmed projection in the finished work.  The audience enjoyed the energy of the dancers and the choreography.

The very last piece was my absolute favourite.  Very refreshing and inspiring.  Starting from the apparently simple idea of ‘water’ it opened up an amazing world of possibilities and ideas extending from that one source.  While one performer sat quietly and spoke to us about the properties of water – scientific terminology, densities, uses, function within the body, the process of drowning, the other dancer moved across the stage behind her in an embodiment of ice.  Then the roles began to change and speaker became dancer and dancer speaker.  More and more facts about the world and water and a story and a desperate chalking out on the floor of shrinking ice caps.   Yet, as someone said so poetic.  What a treat!  I felt really excited to have seen this work and look forward to seeing how and where they extend it.

As a Scratch Night, a space for showing work in progress, we are going to be able to see many of these pieces in their more developed forms during the dance festival:

Flamenco Intimo  3^rd March at The Pegasus: Amarita and guests

Moving with The Times , 9/10 March at Pegasus: Nomi McLeod,  Emma Webb and Jo Lott’s dancers

A Suitcase for All Seasons, 17^th March at The Old Firestation ; Paulette Mae and dancers.

The Scratch Night had a very good turn out, a warm and sympathetic audience and a nice feeling of shared experience backstage.  Euton managed all the tech slots throughout the day and operated lights and sound on the night.  I also saw him stacking up all the chairs after the show.  We are very lucky to have him and Pegasus on the side of dance in Oxford!

Ana Barbour

 

Private Acts: The Acrobat Sublime

A fascinating and evocative selection of photographic and other images of acrobats in the beautiful setting of the Divinity School, but only for one evening – catch it if you can…

Bodley’s Librarian invites you to join Harriet Heyman, author, and Acey Harper, photographer, in a conversation about “dancing on the thin edge of possibility”

Convocation House and Divinity School, Bodleian Library

23rd January 2012, 5.30pm (display viewable from 5.00pm)

Heyman and Harper will screen videos on the making of the book Private Acts, an extraordinary photographic record of acrobats in unexpected, open spaces. Refreshments will follow the presentations and there will be an opportunity to purchase signed copies of Private Acts.  Selected materials from the Bodleian illustrating acrobatics over the centuries will be on display.

The event is open to all but please register in advance:

Wilma Minty, Bodleian Libraries, Clarendon Building, Oxford OX1 3BG

wilma.minty@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Tel: 01865 277084

 

Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia

The Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia return to Oxford’s New Theatre for a short season 16^th to 18^th January. Formed in 1981, The Russian State Ballet of Siberia has quickly established itself as one of Russia’s leading ballet companies and has built an international reputation for delivering performances of outstanding quality and unusual depth. The soloists and corps de ballet are superb and never fail to delight audiences with their breathtaking physical ability and dazzling costumes.

“The dancing was sharp, precise and light of foot throughout…”  Oxford Times January 2010

Monday 16^th, Tuesday 17^th January 7.30pm:  Giselle

The most poignant of all classical ballets combines powerful emotions and visual splendour in a chilling and heart-rending tale of love, treachery and forgiveness from beyond the grave.  The story of Giselle and her aristocratic but duplicitous lover Albrecht is set to a glorious score and brought to life by the magnificent costumes and virtuoso performances of the Russian State Ballet of Siberia.

Wednesday 18^th January 2.30pm and 7.30pm: The Sleeping Beauty

Every child’s favourite fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty is the classic story of love and magic set to Tchaikovsky’s sublime score featuring stunning choreography, sumptuous costumes and wonderful sets.

http://www.atgtickets.com/venue/New-Theatre-Oxford/245/

 

First Stage: Dance Scratch

First Stage: Dance Scratch
Friday 13 January 7.30pm
Free event presented by Pegasus & Oxford Dance Forum

First Stage in the Pegasus Studio is where you the public can see new performances being made. This Dancin’ Oxford 2012 preview (it starts next month), is an opportunity to be the first to see new dance work in progress for the festival. Your post show feedback will help shape the artists’ final productions.
Suitable for ages 14+

Booking online www.pegasustheatre.org.uk or call 01865 812150

This is a Pegasus 50th birthday event

 

Christmas dance on television

This Christmas has been a surprisingly good one for dance on television.  I interrupted frantic Christmas preparations to take in a re-run of the Royal Ballet Nutcracker on December 23^rd, only to discover that the Royal Ballet was again visible with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on Christmas Day itself.  The day continued with Darcey Bussell Dances Hollywood, the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special and later a BalletBoyz documentary about their new young male ensemble.  Or you could have switched to Matthew Bourne’s Christmas on More4 – having only a few days previously been able to see the recent recording  of his Swan Lake on Sky Arts 2.  How wonderful to see dance prominently featured in festive programming – but can we now expect a famine after such a feast?  What were your highlights of the dance offered on television over the festive season, and why?

Check out Diarmaid O’Meara’s thoughtful appraisal of Darcey Bussell Dances Hollywood on his blog Dance Dialogue…

 

Royal Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty at the Phoenix

Maggie Watson writes:

Sleeping Beauty, broadcast live from the Royal Opera House to the Oxford Phoenix, 15 December 2011

Sleeping Beauty is my favourite Petipa/Tchaikovsky ballet both for the music and the classical choreography, and because it has a happy ending (there’s no suggestion in this version of the story that Aurora has acquired as mother-in-law who will try to eat her!).
Lauren Cuthbertson was a charming and very English Aurora inhabiting the role with a lovely clean and uncluttered style.  There were some wobbles in the Rose Adagio (did she not like her third prince very much?), but her acting carried the audience, and she became increasingly secure, always showing a subtle feeling for mood and contrast.  Her prince, Sergei Polunin, was elegant and noble, landing softly from his jumps, and performing with apparent ease throughout.  Together, they made a happy partnership in the third act.  Claire Calvert gave us a smiley and cheery Lilac Fairy, who was not afraid to take risks with the choreography, confidently shooting into her arabesques penchées.
I’d have liked to have seen more of the excepts from rehearsals that were shown in the first interval, and there is indeed more on the ROH website http://www.roh.org.uk/discover/ballet/sleepingbeauty.aspx , where Monica Mason rehearses Carabosse.

 

Dance Dialogue – new dance blog

Some of you may remember the talented Diarmaid O’Meara from the Ballet in Small Spaces performances in May and June this year; also from the BiSS Masterclass featuring him and Bethany Elliott with choreographer Susie Crow at the URC in March, where they previewed some extracts from new ballet Inside Out.  Diarmaid has since been dancing with National Ballet of Ireland in their new production of Scheherazade.  But he has also begun a new blog, Dance Dialogue, at http://dancedialogue.wordpress.com

Subtitled “Opinion, Debate, Review”, the blog has already hosted a stream of short thoughtful pieces from a dancer’s perspective on current issues in ballet – worth a read and response!

With ever decreasing space and opportunities for in-depth discussion of dance in print media, blogging and online magazines seem to offer a way forward for developing critical debate about dance.  Despite concerns about lack of traditional editorial control, and the possible disappearance of the informed dedicated critic with years of viewing experience, blogs can provide a space not only for aficionados but for artists such as Diarmaid to develop a voice and articulate a view.  What may be the effects for dance of losing the professional critic and gaining the blogger?  Check Dance Dialogue out – and please share other dance blogs you have found to be of interest…

 

Oxford Improvisers present Cohesion Festival 2011

Not too late to catch the second weekend of this year’s Cohesion Festival programmed and organised by Oxford Improvisers.  The Oxford Improvisers have some stunning musicians among their number and many of the group have contributed to a wide variety of dance projects over the years, so give them your support!  Exciting events on both Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd, with the final performance at the Pegasus involving not only musicians of the Improvisers and their distinguished guests, but also dancers and visual artists from the Drawing Dance Project.

  

COHESION FESTIVAL 2011

http://cohesion2011.wordpress.com
     Artistic Direction: Pat Thomas
                                                                                        
On Friday, 2 December and Saturday, 3 December Oxford Improvisers present two further concerts as part of COHESION 2011. The first is an inventive and edgy community piece called Boundaries.  The second piece called New moves; new sounds is a collaboration across the arts, featuring exceptional musicians, dancers and graphic artists from Oxford’s creative arts communities. Both of these concerts involve workshops to which local music communities from around Oxford are warmly invited to participate.


Friday 2 December   4.45 pm and 9.15 pm
Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, St Hilda’s College, Cowley Place Oxford OX4 1DY Entry: £5.00

Boundaries  a multi-layered work combining live contributions from Oxford’s vibrant musical communities, vocal and instrumental, with soundscapes from the edge of town.
Workshops and rehearsals are held throughout the month of November,
contact cohesionfestival@gmail.com or 01865 721564 if you wish to take part.
——————

Saturday 3 December afternoon and evening
Pegasus Theatre Magdalen Road Oxford OX4 1RE

New moves; new sounds

1.30-3.30 pm  Taster workshop on improvisation techniques. Cost: £3
4.00-6.00 pm   Open session. An open rehearsal and discussion prior to the evening performance. Cost: Free (booking required).

8.00 pm  Concert: £7, £5 concessions, £4 U18

An exciting live collaboration across the Oxford arts communities featuring three exceptional guest musicians:

Tunde Jegede http://www.tundejegede.com/ (kora, cello),

Hafeez Al-Karrar (percussion),

Ahmed Abdul Rahman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af6Bopr5S90 (erhu)

Four remarkable Oxfordshire based dancers:

Susie Crow (Ballet in Small Spaces http://www.balletinsmallspaces.co.uk/ )
Ana Barbour (Anadance http://www.anadance.co.uk/ )
Aya Kobayashi (Anjali Dance Company http://www.anjali.co.uk/ )
Jason Manito (Anjali Dance Company http://www.anjali.co.uk/ )

Three well known Oxford visual artists from the DEC Drawing Dance Project:

Clare Bassett, Kassandra Isaacson and Susan Moxley

Four established members of Oxford Improvisers: 

Pete McPhail (flute/sax), Jill Elliott (viola), Sarah Verney Caird (voice) and Pat Thomas (electronics)

Information and tickets:

http://cohesion2011.wordpress.com <http://cohesion2011.wordpress.com/>

www.wegottickets.com <http://www.wegottickets.com/>

www.pegasustheatre.org.uk <http://www.pegasustheatre.com/> .

www.oxfordimprovisers.com  <http://www.oxfordimprovisers.com/>

Direct contact:  Email: cohesionfestival@gmail.com or tel: 01865 721564.

 

Seminar on e-research in dance 8th November

The Oxford e-Research Centre is pleased to welcome Professor Helen Bailey from the University of Bedfordshire, to present a seminar on Tuesday 8th November 2011, entitled:

“e-dance: pioneering e-research in dance.”

This seminar is open to all and will start at 2pm in the Oxford e-Research Centre Access Grid Room (room 277 – access available via 7 Keble Road). Estimated finish time 3.00pm.

This seminar may be broadcast with permission via video-link to other e-Research South venues. Only the speaker will be visible from other locations. Recording of this seminar is prohibited.