This season Southbank Centre presents a diverse and vibrant programme of dance and performance from across the globe. From Kathak to Flamenco, Southbank Centre continues to be a leading platform for contemporary dance in all its diversity, supporting the work of the UK’s most exciting established and emerging artists with its Artists in Residence scheme and through its regular programme.
Highlights include Southbank Centre’s co-commission of internationally renowned choreographer Garry Stewart’s latest work G, a reworking of the ballet Giselle performed by the powerfully athletic Australian Dance Theatre (28 – 29 November). Artist in Residence Gauri Sharma Tripathi explores new dance techniques within the traditional repertoire of Kathak in The Moving Root, The Cusp (6 December) and b.young – b. supreme returns for a night of dynamic breaking battles from young female hip-hop talent. (18 October).
As dance increasingly crosses both physical and geographical boundaries, Southbank Centre is delighted to bring together 23 member states of the European Union for dancEUnion, a three day festival of European dance (19 – 21 September). Featuring home-grown talent Probe in a New Art Club work and award-winning Irish choreographer Liz Roche (19 September), dancEUnion is the celebration of dance as an international language and is a new platform revealing the incredible diversity of choreography developing in these countries. Launched by renowned choreographer and Festival patron Russell Maliphant, dancEUnion marks the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 and is one of a series of cultural platform events organised by the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC).
Between 4 – 9 October, Southbank Centre hosts seven events within the renowned contemporary dance festival, Dance Umbrella, now in its 30th year. This year’s programme includes triple-bills from Scottish Ballet (4 – 5 October) and Stephen Petronio Company (7 – 8 October). Featuring original music by Fischerspooner, Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed and Nico Muhly as well as live vocals from a children’s choir, Stephen Petronio continues to present work that integrates new music, visual art and high fashion to great effect.
South African born, London-based dancer and choreographer Jane Sekonya presents The Period Piece (3 – 4 December). Combining edgy contemporary dance with funky afro-fusion, spoken word and song, Jane Sekonya shares the provocative and hilarious tales of five irritated women.
The Balletboyz return after their hugely successful Gala in the Royal Festival Hall last year which was part of the reopening programme. This November Balletboyz William Trevitt and Michael Nunn perform their Greatest Hits, with works by Russell Maliphant, Liv Lorent and BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood. The autumn season closes with Lost and Found Orchestra, a new show from the creators of the international hit Stomp. Creating music from some of the most unlikely objects including bellows, vacuum cleaners, and a hairdryer, Lost and Found Orchestra turn cacophony into symphony. -- www.southbankcentre.co.uk
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