Press Release: DanceEast launch their Spring 2019 season

[Jan McNulty]

Wednesday, 16 January 2019

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

DANCEEAST LAUNCH THEIR SPRING SEASON WITH PREMIERES FROM JAMES COUSINS, RUSSELL MALIPHANT AND NATIONAL YOUTH DANCE COMPANY.

 

The new year brings a new and highly anticipated Spring Season at DanceEast, featuring three premieres, and a regional U.Dance platform.

 

The season commences with Epilogues, a premiere from James Cousins Company.

Inspired by stories of division and separation, this new production weaves three duets into one emotive evening. Two new works sit alongside the ‘visually breath-taking’ (The Stage) Within Her Eyes, in which the female dancer never once touches the floor.

“Strikingly original.” - The Guardian

 

Presented by DanceEast and its performance company EncoreEast, Host promises to be a day of workshops, performances and debates focusing on the voice and experience of the older dancer. It will challenge assumptions about what the older dancer can bring to dance, how they want to be represented in performance, how they can dance and what they can dance about. Host is suitable for dancers over the age of fifty, along with artists, practitioners and choreographers working with older dancers.

 

Danced by an all-female cast, TRIBE//’s debut work, Still I Rise channels the resilient, unapologetic nature of Maya Angelou’s poem. It is unflinching, relentless hope for the human spirit that binds this visceral dance work together. From pounding beats to stirring classical arias, the music drives the dancers forward.

"Very beautiful and cinematic…like in Handmaid’s Tale – you’ve got to hold on to the last fragment of hope, that there’s a way out, a hope of change.” - Still I Rise audience member.

 

After the success of the One Dance UK U.Dance National Festival in the East of England last year, DanceEast are honoured to be one of two Regional Platforms in the East this March.  The second regional platform will be at the University of Bedfordshire. U.Dance East 2019 will provide youth groups from all over the East to come together and celebrate youth dance. Expect an energetic and diverse evening of performances from local dance groups as well as a special performance from DanceEast’s boys only performance company, Boys United.

 

Lost Dog’s new production, Juliet and Romeo reveals the true story of the well-known tragedy. It turns out they didn’t die, they grew up and lived happily ever after. Well, they lived at least. With Lost Dog’s blend of dance, theatre and comedy, this duet prepares to take on our cultures obsession with youth and inevitable issues with longevity.

“Squirmingly funny and no less heartbreaking.” – The Times.

 

Towards the end of March comes Humanhood’s first group piece, Torus. Drawing inspiration from their tribal roots, this production will take audiences on a journey of chaos and stillness. This will be the company’s first visit to DanceEast and audiences will not be disappointed.

 

DanceEast’s Company in Residence, Russell Maliphant Company premiere their new work, Silent Lines. Drawing upon extensive research into dance and anatomy, Silent Lines uses a variety of movement disciplines, animated video projection and lighting.

 

National Youth Dance Company and guest Artistic Director, Botis Seva present Madhead, a unique evening fusing contemporary, physical theatre and hip hop. Botis Seva’s choreographic style combined with 38 young dancer’s energy and talent promises to make for an enthralling and energetic experience. Every year National Youth Dance Company visit DanceEast, and every year they impress. This year is very special as it will be the first time the company premieres their work outside of London, at the Jerwood DanceHouse.

 

DanceEast ends the packed Spring Season with Seeta Patel’s Rite of Spring. Using the South Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, Seeta Patel takes on the challenge of reimagining Stravinsky’s iconic work. With intricate rhythmic footwork and expressive prowess, Rite of Spring is set to be one of the most exciting flirtations between East and West in current times. The production encourages audiences to look beyond notions of exotic and orientalist perceptions of Eastern classical arts and to experience something new.

 

Brendan Keaney, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of DanceEast says: “This is just the start of what we promise will be a really exciting year, we have lots of treats in store.”

 

ENDS

 

 

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

Box Office 01473 295230 | DANCEEAST.CO.UK

Jerwood DanceHouse, Foundry Lane, Ipswich, IP4 1DW

 

SPRING 2019 PERFORMANCE LISTINGS

 

JAMES COUSINS COMPANY, EPILOGUES

Friday 8 & Saturday 9 February | 7.30pm

 

DANCEEAST & ENCOREEAST, HOST

Tuesday 26 February | 11.00am – 6.30pm

 

TRIBE//, STILL I RISE

Friday 1 March | 7.30pm

 

DANCEEAST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE, U.DANCE EAST 2019

Jerwood DanceHouse, Saturday 2 March | 7.30pm

University of Bedfordshire, Saturday 9 March | 7.30pm

 

LOST DOG, JULIET & ROMEO

Friday 8 March | 7.30pm

 

HUMANHOOD, TORUS

Friday 22 March | 7.30pm

 

RUSSELL MALIPHANT COMPANY, SILENT LINES

Friday 5 & Saturday 6 April | 7.30pm

 

NATIONAL YOUTH DANCE COMPANY WITH BOTIS SEVA, MADHEAD

Saturday 20 April | 7.00pm

 

SEETA PATEL, RITE OF SPRING

FRIDAY 10 MAY | 7.30pm

About DanceEast

DanceEast is one of the UK’s leading dance organisations. It is based at the Jerwood DanceHouse in Ipswich, the home of dance in the East of England.

 

DanceEast’s programme embraces the artistic, educational, social and recreational roles that dance plays in the local and national arts ecology. It places artists at the heart of the organisation, presenting high-quality, high-profile dance work in the Jerwood DanceHouse and offering artists support, development and stimulation via programmes such as the Associate Artist Scheme, Rural Retreats, Professional Development workshops, advanced level classes and the Choreographic Development Fund. DanceEast has been running a range of innovative community projects for over thirty years, working closely with partners on local, national and international projects.

 

DanceEast is a registered charity, funded by Arts Council England, Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council, and donations from individuals, businesses, trusts and foundations. Thanks to Catalyst: Evolve funding, all donations DanceEast receives before 31 August 2019 will be matched by Arts Council England £1 for £1, doubling their value. There has never been a better time to donate, and contribute to the future of great dance at the Jerwood DanceHouse.