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

 

 

 

Leap Day Dancing, Old Fire Station 29th February 2016

Leap Day Dancing is a special programme of works by Oxford artists featuring dance, live music and film to join Dancin’ Oxford’s tenth anniversary celebrations.  Guest performers will include Crossover Intergenerational Dance, Joelle Pappas Projects and Jos Baker presenting the UK premiere of his new solo Of No Fixed Abode.  Full programme:

Allan Hutson with his solo performance Am I Real! which takes the Idea of objects having a soul from the ballet Petrushka.  Left on the shelf in the toy shop, a lonesome figure is destining to venture out and explore the beauty life has to offer.

Taut from Cecilia Macfarlane’s Crossover Intergenerational Dance, explores architectural forms and archetypal relationships between generations. Inspiration is taken from the live music of the cello, the sounds that emerge as the strings meet is echoed in the dance.

 

Oxford Dance Forum presents: Dance Scratch Night, Old Fire Station, Tuesday 21 July 2015

On each Scratch Night at the Old Fire Station, local and regional theatre performers, comedians or dance artists perform works in progress for audiences to watch and give feedback on.  This month, DANCE SCRATCH takes place, supported by the wonderful organisation, Oxford Dance Forum (ODF) on Tuesday 21st July.  Dancers get a chance to try out works-in-progress in a safe space; for audiences it is an opportunity to see new dance work and give feedback.  Artists presenting on this occasion are Butoh group Cafe Reason, Paulette Mae, Anuradha Chaturvedi & Meena Anand, and Roosa Leimu-Brown & Anja Meinhardt.

 

Dance Scratch Night at The Old Fire Station 15th July 2014

At The Old Fire Station Scratch Nights, held on every third Tuesday of the month, local and regional theatre performers, comedians or dance artists perform works in progress for audiences to watch and give feedback on.  After a year of successful Theatre Scratch Nights, the current season season has included three different Scratch Nights – Theatre, Comedy and Dance.  This month, the next DANCE SCRATCH takes place, supported by Oxford Dance Forum.  Artists presenting work will be Natalie Heller, Jenny Parrott, Jane Connelly, Erika Montenegro, Paulette Mae and a guest artist from Brighton, Emmeline Cresswell.  If you are able to, do come along to support them, see their new work and have the opportunity to offer feedback to them.

Performance: Tuesday 15th July at 7.30pm

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

Tickets:  £5 available on the door

Please spread the word to anyone who may be interested to come!

 

 

A Storyteller’s Inadequacy – Eva Kotátková at Modern Art Oxford 30th November 2013 – 2nd February 2014

Modern Art Oxford presents the first UK solo exhibition of Eva Kotátková’s varied conceptual work featuring the most prolific performance based works to date.  Local independent dancers Marina Collard, Paulette Mae and Jane Connelly are among a shifting team of performers in A Storyteller’s Inadequacy in which the artist proposes a playful and awkward relationship between performance, object, sculpture and installation.   A giant speech organ commands the space of the Upper Gallery, creating a  playground, gym, theatre and circus mixed environment for a group of performers to enact poses and temporary body constellations; they interact with an eclectic range of objects in an exploration of the possibilities as well as the limits and barriers in human communication and interaction.

 

Exuberant Oxford ! The Exuberant Trust 10th Anniversary Gala Showcase Pegasus Theatre 22nd September 2013

The Exuberant Trust is a local Oxfordshire charity which supports young people’s aspirations in the arts by providing small grants at crucial times for specific purposes to help them achieve their goals.  Founded in 2003 in memory of Jennifer Graham-Jones, it has since then given out nearly 80 grants and over £42,000 to help young singers, instrumentalists, composers, dancers, designers, actors, video makers, jewellers, and workshop leaders.

The Trustees are delighted that Pegasus Theatre has agreed to host Exuberant Oxford! a special 10th anniversary showcase which will feature a range of talented young instrumentalists, emerging singer Anna Shackleton, a presentation by acclaimed Oxford theatre group Idle Motion, and performance by local dance artists such as Paulette Mae, Kathak dancer Anuradha Chaturvedi, Hannah de Cancho of Sole Rebel Tap, and street dance group BodyPolitic, as well as dance film by Erika Montenegro and video excerpts of Commedia by Susie Crow commissioned and supported by the Trust for Ballet in Small Spaces’ 2011 tour. 

 

Oxford dance artists at GOlive Dance and Performance Festival September 2013

September promises to be an exciting month for Oxfordshire based dance artists, several of whom are performing at the new GOlive Dance and Performance Festival curated by dance critic Donald Hutera (the Times) at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre in London.  Part of the Giant Olive Community Theatre Company, and now going into its twenty-fifth year, Kentish Town’s only theatre has firmly established itself as a cultural centre for high quality and innovative theatrical productions.  Resident Company Giant Olive have produced over twenty of their own productions at the venue, including classics, new writing, musical theatre projects and contemporary ballet productions and have also played host to over 300 visiting companies in the last five years.

London will get a chance to see work by the following Oxfordshire dance artists: Paulette Mae, Marina Collard, Nick McKerrow of Anjali, Cecile Feza Bushidi, Ana Barbour, and Susie Crow with Jennifer Jackson as BIG Ballets.

 

Work in progress at URC 20th July and OFS 26th July 2013

Two opportunities to see what Oxford dance makers are up to before the summer holidays; Susie Crow of Ballet in Small Spaces in collaboration with viola da gamba player Jonathan Rees at URC on Saturday 20th July, and Oxford Dance Forum’s Work-In-Progress Sharing event featuring work by Paulette Mae, Ségolène Tarte and Anuradha Chaturvedi, Jenny Parrott and Leslie Tomkins at the Old Fire Station on Friday 26th July.  More details…

 

Paulette Mae’s ‘the escapologist’ installation at the Jam Factory from 31st May 2013

After the excitement of a bumper weekend of dance in Oxford, something perhaps quieter and more contemplative… Oxford dance artist and poet Paulette Mae has sent this invitation:

“I currently have a piece at the Jam Factory Boiler Room Gallery as part of Oxford PRIDE Festival 2013. It’s titled ‘the escapologist’ and will form part of my current performance project ‘sea me’, and has partly been inspired by public response to an image I posted in my blog. For more information please see website:
http://www.paulettemae.com/2013/05/12/the-escapologist-at-the-jam-factory-gallery-oxford-from-31st-may-2013/

31st May-9th June

The Jam Factory Boiler Room Gallery, Holly Bush Row, Oxford, OX1 1HU