Mahajanaka research week at DanceXchange

Neon Dance have been in the studio at DanceXchange, Birmingham this week working alongside Producer / Composer Sebastian Reynolds and renowned Thai dance artist Pichet Klunchun

In May 2016, with the support of British Council and Arts Council England's Artist International Development Fund, Sebastian Reynolds and Neon Dance choreographer Adrienne Hart travelled to Bangkok to research Thai dance and music traditions within the context of Buddhist Jataka mythology. 

The creative duo have since secured funding from Arts Council England, Oxford Dance Forum, Kickstarter and support in kind from SOAS and DanceXchange to invite Pichet Klunchun over to the UK. A research week at Dancexchange enabled the team to work collaboratively to develop a new, bilingual musical and movement based language to tell the story of Mahajanaka, one of the great myths of the ancient world. 

Images and a video by Oliver Holms, documenting the making process, coming soon...

Brexit inspired Kosovo play

Neon's Adrienne Hart is currently working out in Pristina where the UK shock brexit vote has become the backdrop for a new tragic comedy; visioning Kosovo as the ideal country to take the UK's place. The brilliant writer Jeton Neziraj delivers a timely and hilarious take on modern day Kosovo. The play opens in Pristina on the 26th September with further dates in Tirana, Zagreb and Belgrade. 

Work on 'Puzzle Creature' begins!

We're thrilled to begin work on 'Puzzle Creature' this summer in collaboration with the fashion artist Ana Rajcevic, inspired by Arakawa+Gins. The Funambulist editor Leopold Lambert first introduced Neon's Adrienne Hart to the artists-architects-poets Arakawa and Madeleine Gins. Here's a great introduction to their work:

We start with a residency week at Pavilion Dance South West in August and continue at the Barbican Centre early next year - thanks to support from Arts Council Southwest. We'll keep you posted from the studio!

Neon Dance Audition

Neon Dance are seeking highly skilled male and female dance artists for a recasting of the company's latest evening-length work 'Empathy'. The period of employment will include UK and international touring. 

Deadline: 31st August 2016

Dates you will need to be available:

10th - 21st October 2016

27th October 2016

15th November 2016 

23rd November 2016

10-11th December 2016

About the company:

Neon Dance creates work for the stage and screen. Since 2004, we have produced a portfolio of bold, playful and risk-taking projects that ignite the public imagination.

Artistically led by Adrienne Hart, our work appears in diverse spaces across the UK – from theatres, festivals and galleries (The Intention (2012), Falling from Trees (2010)) to urban and digital space (Stages (2013), Archived’it (2011)). Collaboration is at the heart of our practice and we work across art form and alongside world-class artists on projects that often engage with contemporary science.

Our growing reputation as a bold and experimental company has helped us secure strong partnerships with Pavilion Dance South West (Dream Artist 2015-17), Sound and Music (Audience Lab 2015-16) and Sadler’s Wells (Adrienne Hart, Summer University 2015-18).

Our dynamic team is committed to presenting ambitious work of the highest quality. In 2016, we premiered Empathy – our first evening-length work. Completing its first showcase tour in March 2016, the production will continue to tour the UK and EU this autumn.

About the work:

What makes our behaviour uniquely human?

Touching and emotionally charged, 'Empathy' reflects on what influences us to emphasise with others. Five dancers jostle for position - folding, lifting and balancing against one another as they navigate through the award winning Numen's beguiling laser light design. 

Taking inspiration from the work of psychologist Professor Simon Baron-Cohen (Zero Degrees of Empathy), 'Empathy' is a truly theatrical experience where movement, sound and lighting combine and contribute in equal part. 

What we’re looking for:

Highly technical and creatively strong dance artists who enjoy working as part of a collaborative team. We're interested in hearing from experienced dance artists with the ability to learn and retain movement material quickly. 

Fee: £500 per rehearsal week plus travel and accommodation. £150 per performance. 

To apply:

Please send a CV, headshot and online film links of previous work to: info@neondance.org. A workshop audition will be held in London on Saturday 3rd September and will be by invitation only.

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact: felicity@neondance.org

Neon Dance Summer Intensive

Neon Dance Summer Intensive at Swindon Dance

Saturday 13th  & Sunday 14th August  10am – 4pm

A two-day intensive designed to offer participants an insight into Neon Dance’s approach to dance and dance making. Aimed at both professionals and students in full-time training. Join Neon Dance for two jam-packed days of contemporary technique, improvisation to live music and choreographic play!

Get fit, get inspired!

£60 early bird (booking by 30th June) | £80

To book your place: http://www.swindondance.org.uk/event/neon-dance-2-day-summer-intensive/

Limited availability. 

Jatakas Research Project, Thailand

Thanks to a grant from the combined British Council and Arts Council England initiative Artist International Development Fund, music producer Sebastian Reynolds and Neon's Adrienne Hart will be travelling to Thailand this May to research the Jataka Mythology performance traditions during Vesak.

We had a fascinating conversation with Sarah Shaw this week, who is behind the Penguin translation of 'The Jatakas - Birth Stories of the Bodhisatta' and met with SOAS Thai music academics in preparation for the trip. We have also been busy connecting with musicians and dancers to meet with whilst in Thailand next month. 

The filmmaking duo Liam Martin and Sam King will travel with us to document the trip so watch this space! More news on this exciting project soon. 

Image:

http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/asian-and-african/2015/07/the-life-of-the-buddha-in-thai-manuscript-art.html#sthash.1DBdW0ba.dpuf