National Dance Company Wales’ new tour, Awakening, journeys across the UK this spring, opening in Newport, South Wales, on 1 March, St David’s Day 2019.
The tour comes as the company enters a new phase in artistic leadership, under the recently appointed Artistic Director, Fearghus Ó Conchúir. The Awakening tour continues the company’s commitment to making engaging and innovative dance with and for all kinds of people in all kinds of places.
NDCWales will be connecting with communities through dance participation and audience development activity in six venues, supported by the Foyle Foundation in Wales, and Arts Council England in England – in Bangor, Swansea, Mold, Shrewsbury, Huddersfield and Blackpool.
Awakening is made up of four dance pieces, three of which will be performed at each venue.
Afterimage, by the Brazilian choreographer Fernando Melo, is a journey of fleeting images; of appearance and disappearance. Mirrors are used on stage to form a unique theatrical experience where the past and the present collide with a poetic & creative style of dance.
Tundra forms part of National Dance Company Wales’ Awakening Picture: Rhys Cozens
Revellers’ Mass delves into a sumptuous world of ritual. An unlikely group gathers for a dinner party, where convictions, tradition and social etiquette are put to the test in an unexpected evening of revelry. The animated choreography and curious characters are Inspired by iconic paintings and historical events. Revellers’ Mass is choreographed by NDCWales’ Resident Choreographer, Caroline Finn won Best Female Dance Artist at the Wales Theatre Awards 2017.
Tundra tears pages from the history books on Russian folk dance, the USSR and revolution, revitalising old ideas with renewed meaning. The bold design is inspired by art and cinema. A dance so robotically precise it’s as mesmerizingly beautiful as it is astounding. Tundra won ‘Best Dance Production’ in the 2017 Wales Theatre Awards along with ‘Best Choreographer’ for Marcos Morau. The production was also recently shortlisted for the UK Theatre Award for ‘Achievement in Dance’.
They Seek to Find the Happiness they Seem, by Lee Johnston, who is the Company’s Rehearsal Director, is about the disconnection that can occur in relationships. The dance uses reconfigured moments of iconic choreography from famous couples including Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in a raw and beautiful performance that touches the heart.
The Awakening tour will also feature access to National Dance Company Wales’ participation opportunities. These include:
They Seek to Find the Happiness they Seem, forms part of National Dance Company Wales’ Awakening presentation Photo: Nicole Guarino
Discover Dance – This is ideal for young people (aged 7 and over) and is a joyous, fun experience of joining in and watching a dance piece whilst learning what it’s like to be a dancer.
Watch Dance Class – An opportunity to sketch, photograph and learn more about the backstage secrets and watch the dancers up close as they prepare on show day.
Post Show Talk – A chance to ask members of the NDCWales company about their work and what it takes to become a dancer in a leading UK dance company.
The tour will run from 1 March to 7 May 2019. Tour dates:
Riverfront Theatre, Newport
1 March | 7.30pm
Afterimage/Revellers’ Mass/Tundra
Family Discover Dance 2 March
Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House , London
8 – 9 March | 7.45pm
Afterimage/Revellers’ Mass/Tundra
Schools Discover Dance 8 March
Family Discover Dance 10 March
Theatr Clwyd, Mold
15 – 16 March | 7.30pm
Afterimage/Revellers’ Mass/They Seek To Find The Happiness They Seem
Family Discover Dance 16 March
Pontio, Bangor
18 March | 7.15pm
Afterimage/Revellers’ Mass/They Seek To Find The Happiness They Seem
The Hafren. Newtown
21 March | 7.30pm
Afterimage/Revellers’ Mass/Tundra
Schools Discover Dance 22 March
Grand Theatre, Blackpool
26 March | 7.30pm
Afterimage/Revellers’ Mass/Tundra
Schools Discover Dance 27 March
Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea
4 April | 7.30pm
Afterimage/Revellers’ Mass/Tundra
Schools Discover Dance 5 April
Lawrence Baltey Theatre, Huddersfield
8 April | 7.30pm
Afterimage/Revellers’ Mass/Tundra
Schools Discover Dance 10 April
Aberystwth Arts Centre, Aberystywth
24 April | 7.30pm
Afterimage/Revellers’ Mass/Tundra
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff
1 & 2 May | 7.30pm
Afterimage/Revellers’ Mass/Tundra
Schools Discover Dance 2 May
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
7 May | 7.30pm
Afterimage/Revellers’ Mass/Tundra
Schools Discover Dance 7 May
-
Further information about the Awakening tour by National Dance Company Wales can be found here http://ndcwales.co.uk
/