Beruflich Dokumente
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page
CONTENTS
Quick guide to Verve 08
Page 3
About Verve
About NSCD
Page 4
Verve 08 repertoire
Page 5
Selling points
Target markets
Page 6
Marketing resources
Brochure copy
Page 7
Rehearsal photos
Page 8
Repertoire notes
Page 9-10
Biographies: dancers
Page 12-13
Biographies: choreographers
Page 13-14
Key contacts
Page 16
page 2
QUICK GUIDE
TO VERVE 09
What is Verve?
Verve is the award winning postgraduate
performance company of the Northern School of
Contemporary Dance. In 2009 the company
comprises eleven dancers who will perform 20+
shows in the UK and Europe. The School is one
of the UK’s leading conservatoire dance schools
and offers full time courses in contemporary
dance at foundation, degree and postgraduate
diploma/MA levels.
page 3
ABOUT ABOUT
VERVE NSCD
Verve is the postgraduate performance company The Northern School of Contemporary Dance
of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. It (NSCD) is a unique dance training institution
was launched in 2006 and has since went on to offering a select group of students the opportunity
be sell-out performance at many venues and be to develop and excel as dance artists in a
recognised as the Best International Production conservatoire environment.
at the 2008 ITs Festival in Amsterdam, an honour
shared with P.A.R.T.S., the Performing Arts It offers professional dance training for the most
Research and Training Studio based in Belgium. talented students, providing access regardless of
background or financial circumstances.
The company is a pathway of the School’s
successful Postgraduate Diploma which is NSCD is an affiliate member of the Conservatoire
designed to facilitate the transition from training to for Dance and Drama (CDD). The creation of
professional practice. The Postgraduate Diploma CDD has opened the way to exciting new
in Contemporary Dance has two additional developments at the forefront of international
pathways: an advanced training scheme and a professional practice in vocational arts training.
graduate apprenticeship scheme.
There are approximately 200 students from all
In this, Verve’s third year as a mid-scale touring over the UK and abroad as well as from Leeds
contemporary dance company, there are 11 studying at NSCD. Courses include a BPA (Hons)
company members. Through open auditions held in Contemporary Dance, a Postgraduate Diploma
in the UK and abroad dancers were chosen to in Contemporary Dance, and a Postgraduate
join the company for the one-year duration of the Diploma/MA in Choreography, which are
Postgraduate Diploma course. The final company accredited by the University of Kent, as well as a
comprises graduates from leading conservatoire Foundation course in Contemporary Dance.
dance schools and talented young dancers with
some professional experience originating from History
the UK, Belgium, Sweden and Korea. The Northern School of Contemporary Dance
was founded in 1985 as the first conservatoire
They have been working with leading dance school within the public sector. Nadine
international choreographers Filip Van Huffel, Senior was founding Principal, and she
Glenn Wilkinson and Milan Kozánek as well as established the school to give the young people
emerging dance artists Jennifer-Lynn Crawford, of Leeds vocational dance training following the
Katie Baldwin and Leanne Pike to create a success of her earlier teaching work at Harehills
mixed-bill of works for the 18-venue 2009 tour. Middle School.
Historically, performances from NSCD have had NSCD moved into its permanent home of a
great acclaim from audiences and critics. The former synagogue in Chapeltown in 1987 and
School has played host to many exceptional since then it has grown into one of the UK’s
choreographers whilst simultaneously giving leading dance training institutions.
audiences the opportunity to witness the next
generation of innovative dance artists. Nadine Senior MBE retired in December 2001
and was succeeded by Gurmit Hukam as
For over ten-years final-year degree and diploma Principal in January 2002. In 2006, Akram Khan
students have not only performed at the School’s MBE and Darshan Singh Bhuller showed their
Riley Theatre but also had short UK tours under support of NSCD by becoming Patrons.
the name of Verve.
Over the School’s twenty-three year history it has
The exciting and fresh contemporary graduate produced some of the UK’s leading contemporary
and professional dance artists now making up dance artists including Akram Khan, Tom Roden,
Verve, will be building on the company’s previous Robert Hylton, Benji Reid and Fleur Darkin.
reputation and taking the inspiring mix of
unmissable dance works to many audiences
throughout the UK and Europe.
page 4
VERVE 2009
REPERTOIRE
Verve 09 presents an exhilarating programme of
contemporary dance selected from a repertoire of newly
commissioned work.
Major commissions are supplemented by a number of short works. These short commissions
provide opportunities for emerging and established choreographers from the North of England
for the development of their distinctive and exciting work.
Dancers
Christina Robinson, Jaeyun Kim, Jessica Hothersall, Jimin Park, Judith Clijsters, Kristina
Alleyne, Leigh Pearce, Nathalie Wahlberg, Nicholas Keegan, Peri Warren, Robert Goodby
page 5
SELLING TARGET
POINTS MARKETS
• Verve repertoire consists of completely • Contemporary dance fans.
new commissions and this tour will be • Previous attendees of NSCD and
the first and only opportunity for Verve performances.
audiences to see the work. • Previous dance attendees particularly
• The School has a long history of those who have attended EDge,
producing strong and distinctive Transitions or other graduate dance
professional dance artists and Verve company performances and those who
gives audiences the opportunity to see have previously seen works by Verve
them at the cusp of their professional choreographers.
careers. • Contemporary art fans, for example
• In 2008 Verve was awarded Best music, experimental drama, new
International Production at the ITs writing, physical theatre, multimedia,
Festival in Amsterdam, an honour visual arts, arthouse and short films.
shared with P.A.R.T.S., the Performing • Dance and arts practitioners and
Arts Research and Training Studio professionals.
based in Belgium. • Dance schools and classes targeted at
• Verve is an extension of one of the young people or adults.
UK’s leading conservatoire dance • Secondary school groups.
schools, Northern School of • Students, from GCSE level upwards, of
Contemporary Dance (NSCD). dance, drama, performing arts,
• 2009 is the company’s third year so will contemporary music, wardrobe/textiles,
build on he audience developed during stage and technical management.
the past two tours. • NSCD applicants.
• The dance works performed by Verve • Youth groups, especially those
were created by some of the leading interested in dance and performance
choreographers working across arts.
Europe. Their work will generate much
interest amongst audiences and critics.
• Verve will present a mixed bill
consisting of very different styles and
exploring different subject matter. As
such, a rich and varied experience is
offered to the audience.
• The company comprises of recently
graduated dance artists who have had
very successful academic dance
careers, many receiving first degrees
and being recognised with university
prizes.
page 6
MARKETING BROCHURE
RESOURCES COPY
• 2 identical banner stands - 800mm Word count: 120
wide X 2000mm tall (Verve will bring
these with them) Verve, the award winning postgraduate
• A5 leaflets performance company of the Northern
• A3 posters School of Contemporary Dance returns in
• High quality photographic images of 2009 with a mixed bill of new dance works
dance works specially commissioned from international
• Press release template choreographers Filip Van Huffel (Belgium),
• National UK press support Glenn Wilkinson (UK) and Milan Kozánek
• Mini site from the school website - (Slovakia).
www.nscd.ac.uk/verve
• E-bulletins sent from School website— In addition, a number of dance artists
sign up facility on www.nscd.ac.uk emerging from the north of England have
• Films on www.youtube.com/ also created ‘shorts’ for the Verve 09
northernschool including short repertoire; they include Jennifer-Lynn
documentary style films about the Crawford, Katie Baldwin and Leanne Pike.
creation of some of the works
• Facebook group available at http:// This exciting programme brings together the
www.facebook.com/home.php?#/ best in European and British contemporary
group.php?gid=34670661300 dance and is performed with ‘verve’ by the
• Research for audience feedback equally international line-up of dancers who
• Free programmes for distribution by comprise the company. The dancers,
theatre staff (Verve will bring these with originating from the UK, South Korea,
them) Belgium and Sweden, are selected
graduates from leading conservatoires and
universities.
Verve-tual links:
• www.nscd.ac.uk/verve
• www.youtube.com/northernschool for
interviews with the choreographers and
sneak previews of the work
• Join Verve on facebook - http://
www.facebook.com/group.php?
gid=34670661300
page 7
Northern School of Contemporary Dance ©
PHOTOS
1 2 3
5 6
7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18
19 20 21
page 8
DETAILED
REPERTOIRE NOTES
MAJOR COMMISSIONS
Choreographer Glenn Wilkinson
Title of piece Niners
Commission New commission
Created September 2008
Music Nine Times Two. composed by Darius Kedros (specially commissioned)
Lighting Mark Baker
Set/costumes Sarah Pinnell
Dancers 11
Duration 20 mins
The piece Divided into nine equal sections the choreography derives its inspiration from the
‘Family of Essences’. Each section of the sound score corresponds with a colour; the
movement is a direct response to the sound and the colour it represents. This gives
each segment its own particular mood, lending the whole an almost disjointed yet
united structure.
page 9
DETAILED
REPERTOIRE NOTES
SHORT COMMISSIONS
Choreographer Jennifer-Lynn Crawford
Title of piece softly, suddenly
Commission New Commission
Created October 2008
Music Hard Fairy composed by Graham Fitkin
Lighting Jackie Shemesh
Set/costumes Sarah Pinnell
Dancers 3
Duration 11:37 mins
The piece “softly, suddenly is a work for three dancers in four sections. These sections
correspond roughly to sections I hear in the score, with each - apart from the last -
dominated by a different individual and calibrated by a different tone. At the heart of
the work lies a passion for the individual, the self, and the existential decisions that
define us as such.”
Most performances will feature three major commissions and one short commission.
Expected running order—Niners, Click INTERVAL short commission, This is not a love song
Running time: approximately 95 minutes including a 20 minute interval
page 10
VERVE 09
BOX OFFICE NOTES
What is Verve? Who will enjoy it?
Verve is the postgraduate performance company of the The wide variety of works offers something for
Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) and everyone. The length of the pieces and the wide range
is now in its third year. Members and repertoire change of styles make it particularly suitable for those new to
annually and in 2009 the company comprises eleven contemporary dance. The high standard of dance and
dancers who will perform 20+ shows in the UK and choreography will delight dance fans.
Europe. The School is one of the UK’s leading
conservatoire dance schools and offers full time Suitability?
courses in contemporary dance at foundation, degree Verve’s 2009 repertoire is suitable for all ages,
and graduate diploma levels. although it will be of most interest to those aged 13+.
Niners Nine Times Two. 11 Divided into nine equal sections the 20
-Glenn Wilkinson composed by choreography derives its inspiration from the
Darius Kedros ‘Family of Essences’. Each section of the sound
(specially score corresponds with a colour; the movement
commissioned) is a direct response to the sound and the colour it
represents. This gives each segment its own
particular mood, lending the whole an almost
disjointed yet united structure.
Click kern.rund and 10 “This work has been made in collaboration with 24
-Milan Kozánek funkbugfx by Alva the dancers. I was exploring the development of
Noto, data.matrix by a defined quality of movement from the dancers,
Ryoji Ikeda creating certain presence on the stage. Click is
an abstract piece recording the energy and
changes.”
Interval 20
One of the Short One of the following works will be performed 10
Commissions softly, suddenly—Jennifer-Lynn Crawford
Across The Gap—Leanne Pike
Six on a Diagonal—Katie Baldwin
This is not a love Jules Maxwell 11 In This is not a love song eleven dancers meet, 20
song (specially interact, play and struggle. They are assembled
-Filip Van Huffel commissioned) on a physical playground, performing abstract
movement material layered with theatrical
intention and extreme physicality.
page 11
BIOGRAPHIES:
DANCERS
- Christina Robinson - Judith Clijsters
Christina began dancing at a Judith studied dance and
dance school in Lancashire. She gymnastics in Belgium before
went on to study at Northern moving to the UK to study at NSCD.
School of Contemporary Dance, She graduated from the BPA
firstly at foundation level then on (Hons) in Contemporary Dance in
the BPA degree, achieving a first 2008 achieving her degree with first
class honours in 2008. She class honours and also received the
presented her own solo at NSCD’s Outstanding Achievement Award.
graduation performance and Her choreography has been shown
during her studies worked with at student platforms in Leeds and
choreographers Debbi Purtill, Hagit Bar and London as well as NSCD’s Graduation Show in
Vanessa Haska. 2008.
page 12
BIOGRAPHIES: BIOGRAPHIES:
DANCERS CHOREOGRAPHERS
- Nicholas Keegan MAJOR COMMISSIONS
Nicholas took ballet classes from a
young age, becoming a Senior - Filip Van Huffel
Associate of the Royal Ballet Filip trained
School. He graduated from with a range of
Rambert School in 2008 with a BA contemporary
(Hons) in Ballet and Contemporary dance teachers
Dance having worked with Kerry around Europe.
Nicholls. He also performed in He danced for
Robert Cohan’s ‘Forest’ which was Claudio
recorded for a DVD celebrating his Bernardo, Air
work. He has twice been involved with Leeds- de C and
based project RODA. Company Thor
in Belgium, Frey Faust in Germany and Random
- Peri Warren Dance Company in London before co-founding
Peri has performed across the UK Retina in 1995. Retina has produced fifteen
with Devon Youth Dance, 4D, and company works that have toured internationally
House of Boing for whom she has and since 2000 Filip has worked as the sole
also modelled. She achieved a Artistic Director. Filip is also regularly
BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre from commissioned to create works for other
Laban in 2008 where she had the companies, which have included several
opportunity to work with Eva commissions for the South Bank Centre London,
Karczag, Zoi Dimitriou and Odette EDge, Higher Institute for Dance in Belgium,
Hughes, whose work she Akademi, Tardis, Shobana Jeyasingh, StopGap,
performed at the closure Ludus and X:ida Dance Companies. He has also
celebrations of the Eurostar at Waterloo Station, created a Dance for the Camera production
London. Freeze for BBC/ACE.
Images: Northern School of Contemporary Dance ©, Brian Slater © & Coterie Photos ©
page 14
VERVE 09
TOUR SCHEDULE
12 February Telford 29 April. London
Special preview – Telford Dance Festival Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House
01952 382382 020 7304 4000
www.telfordculturezone.com www.roh.org.uk
page 15
KEY
CONTACTS
The key contact for enquiries relating to Verve’s touring plans is
How to contact us
Verve
Northern School of
Contemporary Dance
98 Chapeltown Road
Leeds LS7 4BH
West Yorkshire
United Kingdom
page 16