Phoenix Dance Theatre – Dance Direct Blog. News, Reviews & Advice About Dance

Phoenix Dance Theatre At Home

Phoenix Dance Theatre will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ground-breaking 1964 Civil Rights Act by presenting Tenacity, a specially curated programme that commemorates the Act as a landmark piece of American legislation that allowed voices to be heard. It became a catalyst for change in many parts of the world. Presented at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre in Leeds, Tenacity is a mixed bill curated from Phoenix’s archive, reflecting the company’s own heritage through a range of choreographic voices and paying tribute to the global civil rights movement.

Alesandra Seutin’s 1976 tells the story of the Soweto uprising in South Africa, where a group of children were shot dead during a bloody protest for their rights. Longevity is an emotional duet by Gary Lambert, inspired by Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a Dream’ speech delivered during the Civil Rights March in 1963. The Audacious One, by Warren Adams is a passionate look into a world of political intrigue and power.

To accompany the Tenacity season Phoenix Dance Theatre will present a unique multi-media Symposium – including dance, lectures, film and audience discussions – that further explores how dance and choreography address historical and current political issues. It will consider the history in this programme and explore how movement can approach historical moments and express the forces that fuelled them.

Phoenix will then embark on a 7-venue national tour with its new triple bill of exciting and diverse works as part of its 2014 national tour, including a week-long season at Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House. The London season features a double bill by Christopher Bruce including Shadows, a brand new work created especially for Phoenix Dance Theatre, and a restaging of Christopher’s classic study of life in the 1940’s, Shift. Having choreographed works for leading dance companies across the globe, this is the first time that Phoenix will perform any of this renowned choreographer’s work.

Ghost Peloton At The Yorkshire Festival

Ghost Peloton is a ground-breaking collaboration between Glasgow-based public arts organisation NVA (they of the light suits and 2012 event Speed of Light) and Leeds based dance company Phoenix Dance Theatre.

As night falls on the Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May an audience of over 3,000 people in Leeds will watch a ghost peloton of 30 synchronised cyclists dressed in LED light suits. The company will commit to mass choreographed movement in a live performance that fuses endurance sport, dance and public art.

The work will unite the live action of the cyclists with film projection of the 10 illuminated dancers interacting with a nationally reputed ‘flatline’ BMX stunt cyclist. This film also includes the Ghost Peloton blazing a trail through iconic locations drawn from the Tour de France route through Yorkshire as spectators pedal along three national cycle network routes across Leeds.

This stunning event of movement patterns is also made up of volunteer cyclists taking part in the performance, lead by Phoenix Dance Theatre Artistic Director Sharon Watson and NVA Creative Director Angus Farquhar. Ghost Peloton is a central part of the Yorkshire Festival 2014, the first cultural festival in the Tour de France’s 111 year history. The piece draws on talented and diverse artists to provide the audience with creating something unique and engaging on many levels.

Directed by Farquhar and choreographed by Watson, Ghost Peloton is inspired by the wheel in motion. The work fuses performance cycling with choreography performed by the Phoenix Dance Theatre dancers on film with the varied landscapes of Yorkshire. Each ghost rider, bike and performer will be lit by a fantastic lighting design by Phil Supple, using bespoke LED suits which can instantaneously change colour, flash rate and luminosity. The lights are set to a stunning electronic score.

Open House For Northern Ballet And Phoenix Dance Theatre

Northern Ballet & Phoenix Dance Theatre Audiences can have the unique chance to go behind the scenes at two large UK dance companies on 15 February in an event called Open House. Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre are opening their doors to the public for people to take a look at what life is like behind-the-scenes in their multi-award winning building. Open House 2014 is a day of free events, which will run at the companies’ home in Leeds.

There will be plenty of activities for all the family to find out more about the professional dance companies. Visitors can sample an array of Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre’s dancing treats such as open rehearsals and company class, an insight into the creativity of the wardrobe department as well as craft activities, storytelling and face painting for younger dance fans. There is fun for everyone at Open House, from enthusiasts to novices. There are even taster classes on offer for the very young to the over 55’s, and workshops for those with physical disabilities and additional needs.

Open House is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about dance: the event has something for everyone whether you want to take part, are looking to gain an insight into the work of a professional dance company, or hoping to forge a career in dance and looking for some advice. Open House 2014 will be the third year that Northern Ballet and Phoenix Dance Theatre have opened their home to the public. All events are free although some will require pre-booking through the website.

The event is a rare chance to glimpse at a working dance company in their own home with a wide variety of activities to take part in, so take the whole family!