The final programme has been announced for the International Dance Festival Birmingham 2016, as the city prepares to welcome the return of the fifth award-winning biennial festival. Taking place across the city’s venues, streets and squares it will run from 1-22 May as one of the world’s biggest and most diverse dance festivals. It will see 11 premieres throughout the shows featured, from 17 countries and including 39 free outdoor events.The final programme has now been published, including intimate and large scale performances taking place on established stages, as well as unusual and outdoor spaces. With a range of styles from contemporary, classical, hip hop and flamenco, to a special three day South Asian focused programme, IDFB 2016 promises to get Birmingham dancing! Particularly Centenary Square LIVE NIGHTS (11-14 May) will feature the world premiere of The Machine Show, an outdoor spectacular, with dancer and choreographer Melanie Lomoff (France) and hip-hop sensation Salah (France), headlined with live music by cult band rinôçérôse (France). It also features two new IDFB commissions by Corey Baker Dance (New Zealand) and ZoieLogic Dance (UK) as part of a dynamic line-up of free entertainment throughout each evening.
A new IDFB 2016 Festival Hub will pop up in Birmingham’s iconic Municipal Bank, with a café, exhibition of Cosmic Birds by Japanese kinetic Sculptor Shun Ito, and a programme of talks and workshops. Carlos Acosta (Cuba) brings his acclaimed career to a close with his ‘Classical Farewell’; Ballet BC (Canada) present works by three of the finest female choreographers; Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (Netherlands) features a company of outstanding 18-23 year old dancers; and Cloudgate Dance Theatre of Taiwan (Taiwan) return to cover the Hippodrome stage with 3 tons of rice. Dance: Sampled, a taster selection of dance styles in one night, includes local acts in the foyers before live performances of contemporary, ballet, kathak, tango and hip hop.
For audiences new to dance, or even familiar with the dance artists and companies in the line-up, the 2016 festival promises to wow city residents and visitors to the West Midlands, with performances, community engagement and participation, talks and debates, city, regional and world-wide collaborations.