From ballet to Bollywood, street performance to installation, International Dance Festival Birmingham 2008 has programmed a month-long festival of dance across the city’s major venues to engage audiences and inspire performers in a truly international celebration of dance.
Opening with Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan and their spellbinding Moon Water, International Dance Festival Birmingham will showcase the work of internationally renowned dance companies and choreographers - including The Kirov Ballet and a unique chance to see Japanese choreographer Saburo Teshigawara & KARAS in the UK - alongside national and locally-produced works. Other festival highlights include a stunning collaboration
between Akram Khan Company and National Ballet of China in bahok, and South Africa’s Robyn Orlin & City Theater and Dance Group with their moving comment on the struggle against HIV/AIDS in Africa, We must eat our lollipops with the wrappers on.
Such inspired and inspiring works can only compel audiences to get involved in the festival themselves, and with numerous youth workshops and performance master classes, there really is no excuse not to! From Flamenco taster sessions for all abilities, to a Social Ballroom Dancing evening and a show designed to appeal to babies by Spain’s Aracaladanza, Birmingham will take the lead in getting the city dancing! And the fun doesn’t stop there!
Away from traditional venue spaces, Italian choreographer Luca Silvestrini brings a series of specially commissioned dance pieces to top high street stores. From The Mailbox through to New Street, dancers will be delighting shoppers with free performances literally bringing the shop windows to life! The climax of the Festival will be the spectacular Salsa at Sunset finale taking place at the heart of the city, when over 500 people will take part in a specially-choreographed, synchronised salsa routine!
Stuart Griffiths, Chief Executive of Birmingham Hippodrome and Festival Co-Artistic Director comments: “By attracting internationally-renowned dance companies, dancers and choreographers of the calibre of The Kirov Ballet, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan and Akram Khan Company, we’re confident that all eyes will be on Birmingham for the month long Dance Festival with a truly international programme.”
Artistic Director of DanceXchange and Festival Co-Artistic Director David Massingham agrees: “Taking place across venues throughout the city, from Birmingham Hippodrome, to Birmingham Repertory Theatre, to Ikon Eastside, we expect International Dance Festival Birmingham to unite the local community and inspire the nation to join with us in celebrating the myriad cultures of the world, through dance.”
International Dance Festival Birmingham is generously supported by Birmingham City Council, Advantage West Midlands, and Arts Council England West Midlands.
+ Permalink