Gathering finest dancers in world
NATIONAL Dance Company Wales will pack a double-bill and a host of events into its spring tour, which visits two North Wales venues.
The tour comes to Venue Cymru, Llandudno on February 24-25, and Theatr Clwyd in Mold on April 25-26.
NDCWales kicks off 2017 by performing two works; one by an internationally renowned choreographer, the other a brand new piece by the company’s artistic director, Caroline Finn.
The Green House is Finn’s second theatrical work as Artistic Director for NDCWales; a new, romantic and intense piece that asks what happens when we prune ourselves – and our lives.
Finn takes us on a nostalgic journey, where, on a twisted TV set, characters are confronted with who they really are.
Profundis, by Israeli-born Roy Assaf, is a provocative piece, featuring vintage bathing costumes, whimsical wordplay and an exotic soundtrack by Umm Kul- tum (a mid-20th Century Egyptian singer of Arabian classical music), Alva Noto (a contemporary German musician and composer) and West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein.
It was first performed in a short NDCWales tour in Autumn 2016, and is Assaf’s first work in the UK.
Both will be performed by NDCWales’ core dancers; the very best contemporary dancers from all four corners of the globe; Josef Perou, Camille Giraudeau, Matteo Marfoglia, Àngela Boix Duran, Elena Thomas, Ed Myhill, Franklyn Lee, and student apprentices Alexandra Pholien and Oliver Chapman.
NDCWales Artistic Director, Caroline Finn said: “We cannot wait to take The Green House and Profundis out on the road. They’re such distinct pieces – one is broody and romantic, the other is performed with more of a wink – but together they give a wonderful flavour of both the extraordinary talent of the company, and the inventive and ambitious direction in which National Dance Company Wales is travelling.”
Alongside the performances, the company will host a series of (mostly free) events and activities, to tackle some of the myths about contemporary dance, give curious audiences of all ages an opportunity to give it a try and offer newcomers an introduction by some of the best artists in their field.
Discover Dance performances (suitable for age 7+) are a perfect 90-minute introduction to dance for families and schools, in which audiences get a chance to learn some moves, get on stage with the company dancers, watch a short performance and ask the dancers anything they’d like.
Watch Dance Class is an open house session in which anyone and everyone is invited to watch, sketch, film and photograph a ballet or contemporary class on stage, giving a unique glimpse into how the NDCWales dancers prepare hours before a show, (a free event - booking is required).
Post-Show Talk. An opportunity for an informal chat and Q&A with artistic staff and dancer, (free event). ● For full details and tickets please contact the venues directly. ● Venue Cymru W: venuecymru.co.uk Box Office: 01492 872000. ● Theatr Clwyd W: theatrclwyd.com Box Office: 01352 701521.