Fresnel... Flood..... Followspot..

To give a wee college round up [I realise I haven't]: last month, I was learning the art of [basic] light rigging and light programming[!?] among other things at NCN, which was mega fun. Part of the course that is aligned with my work placement at Dance4 is really all about making sure I'm able to converse and understand the more technical language that is part of this industry. It makes sense that it helps for me to have a better understanding of the intricacies associated and part of arts events. 

I also met the new Creative Apprentice, who is joining me. She's called Robyn, and is based at NCN, with her specialist strand focussed on Technical Theatre. It's pretty cool to have someone else in Notts doing this too, so I look forward to the rest of the year... we've already started to come up with future ideas of extra projects to do with our tutor. 

Watch this space.

The White Project

 image courtesy of Nottingham Trent University

So on Thursday 11 March, I went down to Nottingham Contemporary to see a snippet of The White Project. Held by first year Fashion Design students from Nottingham Trent University, the collection they presented was completely white while having an open brief. Emma Prince, their Senior Lecturer said:

 
"We try to get our first year students to think about the shape, form and image of their designs, which is far easier when working in white. As they become more advanced they are introduced to colour. We have given students a completely open brief so there will be a really wide range of work on show."

There were obviously good and bad designs thrown in there, but to be honest, the thing that caught my attention was the apparant lack of brief to the models. And while I'm aware they're all amateurs, it struck me how important this factor is. Is modelling essentially performing? Could this be classed as performing arts?

World Storytelling Day

Happens today! 

For those in Nottingham wanting to get into the world of storytelling, Nottingham Storytellers take part in events around the country, and also host their own in the city. They will also be holding a workshop in May:
 

+ Beginners Storytelling Workshop

+ Saturday 15 May

+ 10.00am

+ Arnold Library

They're a dying breed, I tell ye! Anyway, you can find out more about this ancient art and it's presence in the city HERE. 

EDIT: It's also Alien Abduction day. An important fact to note, I feel..

Danza Contemporanea de Cuba

"From the heat of Cuba comes the heart of dance.

World famous, but rarely seen outside of Cuba, this breath-taking company of 21 dancers bring the heat and passion of Cuba to the stage with an eclectic mix of contemporary dance fused with Afro Caribbean and Spanish styles."

The Cubans landed in Nottingham on Thursday 04 March. The following four days in the city were IMMENSE.

image courtesy of Manuel Harlan via Dance Consortium [Mambo 3XXI by George Céspedes]

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to shadow Heather [Co-Ordinator] and Nina [Interpreter] of Dance Consortium who bring international dance to venues across the UK, during their stop in Nottingham. As I arrived to greet them at their hotel, the hoard of 21 or so dancers, Director and Team from Cuba's infamous Danza Contemporanea de Cuba came floating through the door; I knew this was going to be a pretty cool experience.

During their manic tour around.. everywhere [?], I got to catch a glimpse of what it's like to be on tour, to organise the days within a venue while on tour, and the general workings of bringing an international company to the UK. Heather occasionally gives talks on the subject at LIPA, and I gradually caught on to many of her 'Touring 101 Tips'. [I basically noted these down on a two year old notepad. Complete geek.]

image courtesy of Manuel Harlan via Dance Consortium [Folia by Jan Linkens]

They performed three pieces:

Demo-n/Crazy, choreographed by Rafael Bonachela - I'd seen Bonachela Dance Company a few days before at the Playhouse, so it was a wee bit interesting to see the piece he'd done with the Cubans

Folia, choreographed by Jans Linken

Mambo 3XXI, choreographed by George Cespedes - Their in-house choreographer, George led class each day with them, which I was lucky enough to join in with [I need to exercise waaay more]

The company were absolutely brilliant to be around; despite the sliiiiight language barrier, I was able to understand enough not to look like a complete mong. [Nanny Pereles would be proud.] [N.B. If any Cuban's are reading this/Nina, I have duly enrolled onto a Spanish course which starts April 01. YES.] They have a different way of communicating and behaving with each other, which was really beautiful; it reminded me of being with family or something, pretty sweet.

Highlights from the experience include: the curtain raising on the first night and realising what it was about / Nina pulling me onto stage for the Post-Show Talk / random golden tips from Heather when I would least expect them / having a philosophical conversation about age and personality and the body and the mind in two languages while listening to a beaut of a playlist / cutting the hair of a company member communicating only through screams / finding Nicola, the Dresser at Playhouse, soaked after the steamer had exploded / running around, and actually knowing where I was going and who I was looking for / being sat in the Auditorium, the curtain raising on the second night and knowing I knew the people who walked on stage / the Capoeira party at Nottingham Contemporary after the second night [They can definately dance.]

The remaining dates are both in London at Sadler's Wells:
+ Friday 19 March / 7.30pm
+ Saturday 20 March / 7.30pm

LINK=HERE for more information.

And on that note, I'm probably going to Cuba for my next holiday.

But this isn't the end... In May, the Brazilian Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker will be hitting the Nottingham Playhouse stage through Dance Consortium, and I will be shadowing once again. Should be awesome. More info later...

Mad Go

It's been mad these past two weeks. I'll post it all up in the next day or so...

In the mean time:

 
  
The Incredible San Fancisco Artists' Soapbox Derby, 1975 from Mike Haeg

Fashion Week Roundup

While we have a few guys in the office, it is rather rammed with girls.

On that note, I present a couple of links on London Fashion Week.

 

image courtesy of Mark Reay

Why not have a quick peek at:

THIS

and 

THIS.

Conversations Around Choreography

In the winter, Siobhan Davies held a series of talks with a number of artists from different disciplines centering around the subject of Choreography.

Francis Alÿs, Artist

Tim Crouch, Playwright / Performer

Edmund de Waal, Ceramicist

Molly Dineen, Film Maker

Matteo Fargion, Composer

Lavinia Greenlaw, Poet / Novelist

Katie Mitchell, Theatre Director

Sarah Wigglesworth, Architect

"‘Do you recognise choreographic practice in your work?’ Striving to extend her understanding of the meaning of choreography through other people's practice, artistic director and choreographer Siobhan Davies speaks with a number of eminent artists and practitioners from outside the world of dance. Explore these eight published conversations which consider creative process and choreographic practice."

The results can be found at the new live site dedicated to the subject HERE, and make for an interesting read [provided you have the time... I suggest bookmarking the pages!]

You can also find the Foreword by Francis Hodgson, HERE.

Looking Into The Past

Following my visit to Curve on Friday, I spent some time filling in a questionnaire [all will be revealed soon...] that made me look back at the past six months of my Creative Apprenticeship.

I'd not actually realised that I'm halfway through. Already!!

And coincedentally, this weekend I came across Looking Into The Past, a Flickr Group containing shots such as these...

images courtesy of Looking Into The Past

Nice, oui?

Curve, Leicester

So, in a couple of weeks, we have an event extravaganza called U.Dance East Midlands. It’s held at 800 capacity Curve, Leicester and is...

 "a visual feast of dance highlighting the exceptional talent of young people and celebrating the wealth of youth dance in our region. Prepare to be blown away…"

Yesterday, I went for a few meetings with Linzi [who is heading up the event] at Curve, and was blown away by the sheer magnitude of the place! It’s basically a building within a building, and for those of you who haven’t been before, or seen it, you must check out their website. The stage itself is surrounding by moving walls, which can be raised up. When we arrived, and as I was shown to the huge stage for the first time, I saw this --->

..and was rather confused.

“So that is the stage?” I ask.

“That is the stage” they answer.

“What the..$%&;%”!” I think.

[N.B. And if my wee illustration hasn't painted a beautifully detailed depiction of the place, visit their website for a more comprehensive and virtual tour of the place... :o]

Immense = the only word I can use to describe its architectural design.

Thankfully, Linzi, Vanessa and everyone else involved have obviously been there plenty of times; I, on the other hand, am definitely going to need another visit, and another session studying the floor plan before I get my head around helping the management of 200 performers for U.Dance. Should be exciting. 
Belief.

Creative Block?

 

Image courtesy of ISO50

READ THIS.

Light Night

This was another grrrrreat night! Light Night is a City Council run event, which [unlike it’s Parisian counter-part] only lasts a few hours. The idea is that the city is lit up with performances, art, music et all for one night. I think it’s an awesome night though... much room for expansion!

Dance4 were there in full glory bringing Nottingham FIVE great artists for the crowds’ viewing pleasure.

And what a sight.

Pete Shenton

Sally Doughty

Simon Ellis

Gariele Reuter

+Jamie McCarthy

Set in Congregational Hall, and presented as ‘Dance4 Presents... Improvisation Congregation’, it really was a crazy concoction. We had all four dance artists and one musician set within a sunken hall, surrounded by rows of pews.

While the musician, Jamie, worked with strings, organs, keys, he manipulated the set using digital means. The dancers were left to improvise around the space, which looked beautiful and weird and mesmerising, especially with the backdrop of pews and expansive arches encircling the scene.

I bumped into a few friends who came the following night, and were happily surprised by their reviews [I wasn’t sure what their take on it would be]. Apparently, they found it pretty funny at first, quickly got sucked in, wanted to join the performers and had consequently been talking about it to people all day. It’s awesome to get the opinion of those who might never have experienced anything like that before...

The building had a constant flow of people, [which was possibly helped along by the fact we occasionally had six foot metal dragon stationed outside our doors], and the night was a great success for Nottingham all round.

Whhheeeyyyyyy!!

Who’s up for checking out Paris’ Nuit Blanche next October?

episodes2010

Friday February 06 and Sunday February 06 2010

+ Nottingham Playhouse

+ Over 300 Performers

= Fun tiiiiimes.

As one of the biggest projects I’ve supported so far, it’s fair to say I was pretty... grateful I had some excellent people showing me the way!

With months of preparation, I learnt A TON about how something of this magnitude is organised. The smooth runnings of 300 young performers over two days in one of Nottingham’s premier venues [A.K.A Nottingham Playhouse] was no mean feat, but thankfully Helen, who headed up the whole project was On It.

Each day beginning pretty damn early, and thankfully we had a small crew of volunteers consisting of uni students/recent grads to help out the manic day. Helen had organised it so there was basically a running conveyor belt – in this way, we knew exactly where everyone was at any given moment, nothing was static. Kirsten, myself and the brillllliant Playhouse Staff, then managed the performers within the boundaries set – all making for a smooth, smooth night!

I love that moment in a performance when suddenly nothing else matters; you have an aim, you have a job, and you do it. Adrenaline kicks in, and everything is realising itself around you.

The performances ranged from contemporary to street, south asian inspired to ballet; something to suit everyone and perhaps introduce something new audience members. We also had Vernon Coaker, along with our Director, Paul Russ, presenting speeches before the shows, which I felt was quite an honour.  [For those not aware, Vernon Coaker is Minister of State for Schools and Learners. Great that he must see this as an important opportunity for young people!]

For photos of the performances, check out Dance4's Facebook HERE and HERE!

All photos by the marvellous David Severn. Big up!

Save BBC6 Music!

image courtesy of Save BBC6 Music

For a detailed explanation on the situation, read HERE.

Leicester: Big Screen

Something to note for Leicester-ites. I got this email a while back, but after meeting few more Leics-dwellers at last months EMPAF Event [tres interessant, and I might post about this event soon. Any creatives within the East Midlands participatory arts scene should check these guys out. Now!], I thought, I may as well add info I receive for our regional brother!

"Think of it as a city centre venue rather than a big screen. There'll be live opera and concerts, interactive games, events, short films by local film makers, artistic pieces and videos from local bands.

The screen is one of a growing number of Big Screens across the UK and will be a showcase for community projects, film makers, bands and artists from across the region and beyond.

With its camera on top and ability to relay live events, Leicester's new Big Screen is much more than just a big telly. Why not make sure you're on it?"

words courtesy of BBC Leicester
 

Find out more HERE.

I'm still alive!

I'll give you an update as to my absence in a few days...

Keep your eyes peeled!

Good stuff.