The benefits of dance competitions

There is much to be learnt from dance competitions as a young, aspiring dancer. However, it is sometimes hard to see it amongst all the craziness that preparing for a competition can bring. Dance competitions can teach many lessons, much more than just dancing on stage in a costume, but it can be difficult to remember this at more challenging moments. Continue reading The benefits of dance competitions

Training not travelling

Many young dancers may choose to undertake further dance training and kickstart their career, rather than take a gap year and travel, for example, like many of their peers at school might. Further to that, some dancers may choose to travel abroad to train, or even to a different city, but for some dancers they might prefer to continue training much closer to home. Continue reading Training not travelling

Candoco Dance Company on Strictly Come Dancing

Candoco Dance Company became the first contemporary dance company to perform on Strictly Come Dancing last month when it opened the results show on 25 November. The renowned contemporary dance company of disabled and non-disabled dancers performed a brand new piece choreographed by former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips to David Bowie’s Life on Mars, alongside thirteen of the BBC programme’s professional dancers. Continue reading Candoco Dance Company on Strictly Come Dancing

Improving performance

The transition from studio to stage can be a big one, and often a daunting one. Sometimes dancers are completely comfortable in the studio, but they can experience nerves or even stage fright once the performance must be transferred to a theatre. For some it is a completely natural process, whereas for others it requires more preparation in order to master this. Once you have a method which works for you, stick to it and refine it! Continue reading Improving performance

Night of 100 Solos – a Merce Cunningham Centennial Event

As part of the Merce Cunningham Centennial, a global celebration of the iconic American choreographer, the Barbican presents Night of 100 Solos on 16 April 2019, which would have been Cunningham’s 100th birthday. The dancers and creative teams have all been announced for Night of 100 Solos in London, New York and LA. Continue reading Night of 100 Solos – a Merce Cunningham Centennial Event

National Youth Dance Company announces seventh new cohort

Run by Sadler’s Wells, the country’s flagship company for young dancers, National Youth Dance Company has selected its seventh intake sourced from 26 towns, cities and villages across England. The new cohort joins Guest Artistic Director Botis Seva to work on a new piece especially created for NYDC titled MADHEAD. This will premiere at DanceEast in Ipswich on Saturday 20 April 2019, followed by a UK tour. The new commission fuses contemporary dance, physical theatre and hip hop. Continue reading National Youth Dance Company announces seventh new cohort

World premiere for Akram Khan

Akram Khan Company has announced a brand-new production: Outwitting the Devil will premiere in Stuttgart in July 2019. The announcement comes six weeks ahead of Until the Lions’ homecoming to the Roundhouse in London, Khan’s first ever work in the round, which he will dance for the last time. Both pieces of work will explore old myth and reinterpret them in a contemporary context, in a way that Khan has become renowned for over the last two decades. Outwitting the Devil will premiere at COLOURS International Dance Festival, running from 13-14 July, and Until the Lions runs at the Roundhouse from 11-17 January 2019. Continue reading World premiere for Akram Khan

Emily Labhart – Popcity production

Emily Labhart is a Producer and Project Manager, specialising in Dance of the African Diaspora and international collaboration. From managing education workshops on tour, to devising and delivering festival programmes across indoor/outdoor sites, to producing international projects, Emily is passionate about bringing people together for transformative experiences through arts and culture. Continue reading Emily Labhart – Popcity production