March will see Project Polunin take to the Sadler’s Wells stage in London, with internationally acclaimed and notorious dancer Sergei Polunin dancing at the venue from Tuesday 14–Saturday 18 March. Project Polunin will draw together world-class artists for this new production, aiming to challenge perceptions of dance through live performance. In addition, the production hopes to act as a catalyst for a new generation of dance artists to explore what the future may bring.
Month: March 2017
Watkins Dance Company – woman on a mission
Anna graduated from the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in 2005. She has worked as a dancer with European Ballet, Neville Campbell, Pair Dance, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, MaxwellDanceProject and Motionhouse for its world premiere tour of ‘Broken’. Anna is a current dancer for Tavaziva Dance, having joined in 2007. She was Rehearsal Assistant from 2009–2010, Project Manager in 2014 and then Project Leader for ZIVA Youth Dance, Tavaziva’s youth company.
Crazy for Caroline Flack
The classic musical Crazy for You is soon to reappear around the UK, as it embarks on a UK tour this summer. Adding to the excitement of the musical reopening, television presenter Caroline Flack will make her stage debut in the UK tour. Flack previously won the 2014 series of Strictly Come Dancing – and trained at Bodyworks in Cambridge – so a step onto the musical theatre stage will not be at all taxing for the performer.
Annie – starring Miranda Hart
Much-loved comedian Miranda Hart is set to make her West End debut in the musical Annie, playing the notorious Miss Hannigan in Nikolai Foster’s show. Foster will direct the new production of Annie at the Piccadilly Theatre, London to open in May this year, a distinct change for Hart renowned for her stand-up comedic talents. Musical theatre will be a new string to her bow, with fans anticipated to support the star’s venture into singing, dancing and acting.
Hair’s 50th anniversary production
The 1960s musical Hair is set to receive an immersive revival at The Vaults, in the heart of London, returning to the city for its 50th anniversary production. This new production of the acclaimed musical will be a particularly immersive one, celebrating the show’s anniversary in October, underground in The Vaults near to Waterloo in the city.
Hair will run at The Vaults from 10 October to 3 December, with previews from 4 October: it is set to be a hugely successful opening. Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, the production will be preceded by an immersive experience including pop-up restaurants and themed stalls down in The Vaults, and added post-show entertainment will include ’60s discos, live bands, and screenings of iconic ’60s movies. In an experience similar to that of Secret Cinema, the musical is sure to delight and excite.
Hair is set in the East Village of New York in 1967, and tells the story of a tribe of young people yearning to change the world – under the shadow of the Vietnam War. It features the songs “Aquarius”, “Let the Sun Shine In” and “Good Morning Star Shine”, and has a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni. With music by Galt MacDermot the show is a plea for change, and is particularly poignant in how relevant it could be regarded today.
The production will be mounted by four young producers; Katy Lipson, Ollie Rosenblatt, Joseph Houston and William Whelton. Whilst they have some experience under their belts the foursome are undoubtedly fresh-faced, however this unique transfer looks set to deliver for them. Already there has been a very positive reaction to the vibrant young production of Hair, providing it with both a future and longevity. At 50 years old The Vaults is the perfect setting to celebrate this continually topical and moving musical.
Data-driven dancers’ health
The Royal Ballet has recently committed itself to sharing its knowledge in caring for dancers, by partnering with the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science. It’s support of the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science means that one of its research projects that aims to gather injury and fitness data from dancers at the UK’s major companies and schools can move forward, in a data-driven approach to dancers’ health.
The project hopes to improve care for dancers’ health and wellbeing through this research, and as a result of the partnership The Royal Ballet will share learning from its system that uses specialist digital technology to track dancers’ injuries, health and day-to-day training, which it uses to inform its injury prevention strategies. As they work together it is hoped that the dance industry will better understand the vast breadth and depth of ‘injury’ across the wider dance sector. It is deemed as essential for the development of the industry.
The partnership between the ballet company and the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science will strengthen the valuable work already done in this area, and will go on to further support the physical and psychological health and wellbeing of dancers around the world. The work has been welcomed by the founding partners of the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science, including One Dance UK and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Jerwood Centre for the Prevention and Treatment of Dance Injuries. The centre has already begun to align its injury surveillance methods with the Royal Ballet.
The National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science was founded in 2012 to share dance science expertise and provide information, guidance and access to healthcare services. Its other partners include the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, the University of Birmingham and the University of Wolverhampton.