West Midlanders can be sure next year they are in for the ultimate dance feast, with the launch of International Dance Festival Birmingham 2010 last night giving a mouth-watering taster for the event.
As sponsors, organisers and guests at the event filtered into The Patrick Centre, dancers from 2FaCeD DaNcE Company, who will be performing their touring show ‘Still Breathing’ at the venue tonight, replicated the festival logo using their bodies – holding the impressive stance for a good three minutes.
As a blend of hip hop, classical and dubstep music kicked guests were given snippets of the festival programme from 2FaCeD, two dancers from Rosie Kay‘s new creation 5 SOLDIERS: The Body is the Frontline which premieres at the festival, as well as Cossack dancing from Bruce Tetlow.
This hybrid performance was following by a speech by co-founders David Massingham, director of DanceXchange, and Stuart Griffiths, Chief Executive of Birmingham Hippodrome which highlighted parts of the festival programme.
‘Highlights’ is indeed a bit of an understatement – since the line-up revealed for the festival which will take place between Monday 19 April – Sunday 16 May 2010 is actually jam-packed with the rarest, best and top-class international dance talents.
The festival kicks of with ‘the Mozart of dance’ Mark Morris Dance Group performing L’Allegro with the orchestra of English National Opera. Carlos Acosta will feature as part of National Ballet de Cuba‘s performances of Giselle and Magia de la Danza. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui‘s critically acclaimed piece Sutra, with sets by Anthony Gormley will be coming to Birmingham following its success at Sadler’s Wells and Kathak and contemporary choreographer Akram Khan will perform a solo piece Gnosis.
Other acts to look forward to include the rest Rosie Kay Dance Company’s 5 Soldiers: The Body is the Frontline, acrobatic contemporary circus group C!RCA, The professional dancers from Strictly Come Dancing, and the fantastic Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker’s creations for Companhia de Dança.
Venues include Birmingham Hippodrome, The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Ikon Eastside, and the Town Hall. You download the original press releases and find out more info on the IDBF2010 blog.
The programme is impressive to say the least, and organisers are continuing to work hard to set to venues for certain performances.
At last night’s launch event, Stuart Griffiths said:
“I’m sure you’ll agree this is four weeks of wonderful dance. IDFB2010 is not an endnote – it’s part of a journey and we’re discussing plans for 2012, aiming to build this event as the world’s best festival for dance in a city which embraces dance as a force for good.”
David Massingham said:
“We want Birmingham to be known as a world centre of dance and we see International Dance Festival Birmingham is the future of this city for us and we want it to be a window for the world into this city to see what fantastic dance happens here.”
The festival is funded by Advantage West Midlands, Birmingham City Council, Arts Council England West Midlands and sponsored by Brewin Dolphin.
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Nice to see DX supporting the diversity of British South Asian choreographers by giving three successive prestigious platforms to the same fellow, Akram Khan: IDFB 2008, BDE 2010 and IDFB 2010. Come on DX, think outside the box…
Hello i am 13 years of age. And i love to dance i am just interested in auditioning please may i have some feed back or advice thankyou