British Dance Edition to be held in Cardiff and Newport from March 15 to 18, 2016, will comprise performances from 36 companies and artists, including six from Wales. The biennial event is the UK’s leading industry-focused dance showcase but will feature a selection of shows that will be open to the public. This is the first time BDE has been held in Wales.
The details of the four-day platform of performances and related events were revealed at a launch event hosted at Chapter, Cardiff last night (THURS). Last held in Glasgow and Edinburgh, BDE brings together artists and programmers from all four UK nations and abroad for performances, networking, a trade fair and social events.
The schedule was unveiled by Carole Blade of Coreo Cymru, which leads the consortium that is bringing BDE to Wales: Chapter, Wales Millennium Centre, National Dance Company Wales and the Riverfront, Newport. Coreo Cymru is the creative producer for dance in Wales and comes under Chapter’s umbrella.
Established by National Dance Network in 1998, the event will see performances across 11 performance spaces in the four venues with up to 375 delegates attending. Amongst the dance companies coming to Cardiff and Newport are MotionHouse, Hofesh Shechter and Ockham’s Razor. Welsh participants will include well-known artists Gwyn Emberton, Jo Fong and Eddie Ladd. These will form part of BDE’s programme for industry participants.
However, the five performances on public sale at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff and The Riverfront in Newport will include two triple bills in the Donald Gordon theatre with work by Russell Maliphant and Candoco; a double bill from Aakash Odedra and James Cousins plus dance theatre from both Gary Clarke and Gecko Theatre. There will another chance to see NDCWales’ Tuplet from choreographer Alexander Ekman which is currently touring. Also in the public programme of dance performances is Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Bloom which was choreographed by NDCWales’ new artistic director Caroline Finn before she joined the Welsh company.
In what is primarily an industry event, there will be a trade fair representing up 70 British companies, pitches from an additional 11 artists and companies, such as Shobana Jeyasingh and Jasmin Vardimon, about their forthcoming productions and ideas. From Wales, Ballet Cymru and Simon Whitehead will be part of the pitching programme. Also the Business of Dance programme for emerging artists and producers in partnership with Dance UK and the British Council.
Carole Blade said, “From the time we heard that Wales had won the 2016 BDE bid we have been carefully selecting and curating the programme to offer promoters a selection of high quality touring works. It has been a challenge narrowing down to the 36 artists and companies from such a vibrant, eclectic and vast field but we’re certain that, with the quality of dance we’re bringing to Wales, this Edition will leave a lasting legacy for the sector in Wales and the rest of the UK.”
The public performances:
Wednesday 16 March 2016
The Riverfront, Newport – 01633 656757 – tickets.newportlive.co.uk
3pm Gary Clarke Company: ‘COAL’
6pm Double Bill: Aakash Odedra: Echoes; James Cousins Company: There We Have Been
Wales Millennium Centre – 029 2063 6464 – wmc.org.uk
8pm Triple Bill: Scottish Dance Theatre: Dreamers; Russell Maliphant: Piece No. 43; Phoenix Dance Theatre: Bloom
Thursday 17 March 2016
Wales Millennium Centre – 029 2063 6464 – wmc.org.uk
8pm Triple Bill: National Dance Company Wales: Tuplet; Candoco Dance Company: Beheld; Hofesh Shechter Company: tHE bAD
Friday 18 March 2016
The Riverfront, Newport – 01633 656757 – tickets.newportlive.co.uk
3.30pm Gecko: INSTITUTE
The 36 performing artists and companies:
Aakash Odedra Company
Akram Khan Company
Balbir Singh Dance Company
Candoco Dance Company
Dan Daw
Darren Ellis Dance
Far From The Norm
Gary Clarke
Gecko
Gwyn Emberton Dance
Hofesh Shechter Company
Igor and Moreno
James Cousins Company
Joan Clevillé Dance
Jo Fong
Liz Aggiss
Lost Dog
Luca Silvestrini’s Protein
MotionHouse
National Dance Company Wales
Ockham’s Razor
Phoenix Dance Theatre
Ponydance
Project O
Reckless Sleepers
Robbie Synge
Rosemary Lee
Russell Maliphant Company
Scottish Dance Theatre
Second Hand Dance
Still House
Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru/Eddie Ladd
Theo Clinkard
Up & Over It
Vertical Dance
Wendy Houstoun
Participating artists and companies in the BDE pitching programme:
Alexander Whitley
Avant Garde
Ballet Cymru
Barrowland Ballet
Fevered Sleep
Jasmin Vardimon
Rosie Heafford
Shobana Jeyasingh
Simon Whitehead & Rosemary Lee
Tom Dale
ZoieLogic
For further information about British Dance Edition: britishdanceedition.com
Main image: Bloom, Phoenix Dance Theatre