ODF Presents… Arts at the Old Fire Station, 15th July 2017 – Jess Ryan-Phillips reviews

The first edition of Oxford Dance Forum’s ODF Presents… at The Old Fire Station showcased work-in-progress by five Oxford based dance artists and companies, as part of a three year Arts Council England funded professional development programme.

Ana Barbour:  Rope, Rock, R…

The opening piece of the evening unwound from a quiet, subtle beginning to great sweeps of movement and sound. The idea of examining the way that a lifeless object such as a length of rope can move and change shape, was an intriguing one, and an original way to develop a performance piece. There was some interesting use of multimedia, with projected images which Ana interacted with quite directly at times, at other times providing a less prominent backdrop.  It felt as though a large span of emotions and characteristics was explored in a short time, from intricate delicate movements and a soft, almost caressing interaction with the hanging rope on stage, to a cheeky, flirtatious moment of tango, and the violent rage of the rock star. Throughout all of these elements, Ana maintained a relationship with the audience; from defiant stares to small smiles and moments where she was facing away from us, one felt included in the journey that played out. The quick switch between different temperaments and movement styles in an instant was impressive, as was her innovative use of the props and media. 

 

ODF Presents… Preview of new work by Oxford dance artists, Old Fire Station, 15th July 2017

Completing a summer day of dance in Oxford following on from Dancin’ On The Green, some of Oxfordshire’s finest companies and choreographers invite you into their world of movement, music and storytelling , in an eclectic, exciting and mesmerising preview of new works in progress.

Work developed with the support of Oxford Dance Forum will be presented by the following selected artists/companies: Ana Barbour, Paulette Mae, Lunas Dance Project, Smidgen Dance Company and My Johansson.

“ODF Presents…” is part of a three-year Arts Council England funded professional development programme Evolution – which aims to support artists in the development of their own artistic practice and the creation of new work.

Date:  Saturday 15th July, 7.30pm

Venue:  Arts at the Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AQ

Recommended for ages 10+.

Duration: 90 mins approx.

Tickets:  £7, £6 concessions 

Book online here

Arts at the Old Fire Station offers a free companion ticket to disabled patrons. Please book via phone (01865 263990) or e-mail (tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk) to claim this.
Are you a member of Crisis Skylight Oxford?  Arts at the Old Fire Station shares the building with Crisis and offers 4 free tickets per show to homeless clients. Sign up in advance at Reception.

Find out more about Oxford Dance Forum here

 

 

 

Dance Scratch, Old Fire Station, Tuesday 25th April 2017

Curated by Oxford Dance Forum this occasional platform provides a welcome opportunity for Oxford dance artists to try out works in progress in a safe space, and for audiences to get an insight into the development of new works, and give feedback.  In this richly varied edition the artists are Naomi Morris with Hugh Pryor, Emma Webb and Richard Jones, Jenny Parrott, Ellie Aldegheri and Lunas Dance Project and Thomas Page Dancers.  See below for further details about the works they will be showing.

Performance:  Tuesday 25th April 7.30pm

Venue:  Arts at the Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AQ

Tickets:  £5

Book online here

 

C-A-G-E-D: Thomas Page Dances, Laban Studio Theatre, London, Thursday 16th June 2016 – Emily May reports

“The psychology of oppression is thus self-inflicted in a constant struggle where man hypocritically creates standards of life that they themselves perpetually contradict” – Duane Campbell

C-A-G-E-D is the recent, ambitious choreographic debut from aspiring choreographer Thomas Page. Originally from Oxford – having taken class with Lunas Dance Project – Page is now a contemporary dance student at the renowned Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.  However, despite relocating, Page stays committed to the Oxford dance scene by commuting back to his hometown at the weekend to teach dance at Authentic Performance Academy.

Thomas is an individual with guts and motivation, having approached the conservatoire’s Student Union at the beginning of his first year, asking for support in producing a full length dance work to explore his interest in the psychology of oppression. It was on 16^th and 17^th June that this ambition manifested itself in reality, and Page presented his work in the Laban Studio Theatre, costumed and lit. It was performed by a quintet of diverse and mesmerising dancers – all students of Trinity Laban aside from Iona McGuire, a prospective student of London Contemporary Dance School.

 

Lunas Dance Project: Summer Intensive Final Performance at Old Fire Station Saturday 25 July 2015

Lunas Dance Project’s Summer Intensive students and company dancers will be presenting a compilation of dance pieces and extracts of Of Myths, Perspectives and Transformations at the Old Fire Station on Saturday 25th July.  Lunas Dance Project Summer Intensive is a five-day course led by director Ellie Aldegheri aiming to develop the professional within the student, including technique study, a mock audition, and a final show with the company.  The intensive focuses on developing well rounded dancers by exposing the participants to a variety of disciplines with an emphasis on contemporary dance, the mission to provide the tools to become strong and reliable professionals.  The final showcase performance offers a chance to see a new generation of dancers in development.

Performance: Saturday 25th July, 7.30pm

Venue:  The Old Fire Station, 40 George Street Oxford OX1 2AQ

Tickets:  £8.00, available online here or by phone 01865 305305 via Tickets Oxford, or in person from the Box Office at Oxford Playhouse, or on the door.

More information here and you can find out about Lunas Dance Project here

 

Of Myths, Perspectives and Transformations: Lunas Dance Project at The Old Fire Station, Saturday 20th June – Susie Crow reviews

For Lunas Dance Project’s latest production Of Myths, Perspectives and Transformations the dark stage space is suggestively characterised and demarcated by dimly glowing suspended light bulbs and scattered empty picture frames; to one side a wooden structure implies giant frames emerging from the floor. An expectation of symbolic significance to match the big theme of emotional change, desire and resistance that choreographer and artistic director Ellie Aldegheri signals in her programme note with reference to works by Kafka and Gabriel Garcia Marquez which have inspired her.

 

Lunas Dance Project: Of Myths, Perspectives and Transformations at Wandsworth Fringe 8th May 2015

Up and coming Oxford contemporary dance company Lunas Dance Project lead by Ellie Aldegheri will be performing in London as part of the Wandsworth Fringe Festival on Friday 8th May.  New work Of Myths, Perspectives and Transformations  explores the transformative effects of emotional change; desire and resistance, and all the difficulties a new path brings. Inspired by Franz Kakfa’s Metamorphosis and Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World, EIlie Aldegheri revisits choices that led to personal transformations. The company is energetic and dynamic, invoking past experiences by exploring the sensations associated with them through connected and flexible movements. The dancers excite the curiosity of their audience and engage their empathy.

Performance:  Friday 8th May, 6.00pm
Venue:  St Paul’s Church, Welham Road, London SW16

Get your tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/of-myths-perspectives-and-transformations-tickets-15676941153

For a free short taster, please join Lunas at St George’s Hospital Tooting at 2.30pm, 3.00pm and 3.30pm

St George’s Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London SW17 0QT

Wandsworth Fringe, London
http://wandsworthartsfestival.com/2015/event/of-myths-perspectives-and-transformations1

Find out more about Lunas Dance Project here

Read Jane Connelly’s review of Lunas Dance Project’s previous show here

 

Lunas Dance Project in Measuring Time, Old Fire Station, 10th May 2014 – Jane Connelly reviews

This show followed the theme of time. Lunas Dance Project’s new work Measuring Time started and ended the show, framing works by guest companies in the middle.

Measuring Time: Part 1 and Part 2. The piece began as Ellie Aldegheri moved a stone from a heap at the side of the stage to a new pile beside it; she danced a powerful solo, then joined all the dancers grouped at the back. There were fast sequences of intense movement on, off, around and across the stage, and with big umbrellas and newspapers, including a solo of quiet intensity from Elly Tiburcio.

 

Measuring Time : Lunas Dance and guests at the Old Fire Station 10th May 2014

Lunas Dance Project is a dynamic emerging Oxford based contemporary dance company.  Directed by Ellie Aldegheri, the company will be presenting her new work Measuring time, in May at Arts at the Old Fire Station in Oxford alongside two guest companies, Bracknell based nocturn dance Company and Slaves to music from Switzerland.  Measuring Time will be accompanied live by Nia Williams, and an ensemble of five musicians.

 

The Dance Shed – Cornerstone, Didcot Sunday 25th November

the DANCE SHED

Come see an evening of exciting dance work performed by pro, semi-pro and community adult groups at the Cornerstone, Didcot.  John Darvell and locally based company Nocturn Dance are hosting an evening  celebrating adult dance, showcasing all the best that adult community dance groups across the Thames Valley and South East can offer. The platform is an opportunity to engage with the diverse range of creative dance activity that takes place in the local community; watch them perform and learn how to get involved.  A night not to miss!