Dance in Leicester for 2012

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This page is all about the art of dance and dancing and dancers in Leicester and the East Midlands.

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On this page: | Karan Pangali | Let's Dance festival | Verve 12 Pointe to Pointe |

16th May

University Dance Festival

De Montfort University is home to some of the most innovative dance practice in the country. The University Dance Festival makes this new dance available to the wider public in the form of fresh, exuberant and challenging performances.

This annual event was held at Curve on 15th and 16th May and 2nd and 3rd undergraduate students presented their solo and ensemble performance and choreographic work.

The first set was Afrocussion, choreographed by Sedia Rogers with music by Dominic Barclay James. The dancers were Tacara Newton-Mcintosh, Johanna Taylor, Sean Seal and Kelly Jarrett. Captivating choreography brought out the flow, rhythm and fluidity of the movement. It was vibrant and dramatic.

In between the dance sets, Katie Hall took to the stage to perform her dance moves, accompanying her movements with her own vocal sounds effects. Not unlike a beat boxer, she animated her movements with a variety of vocal sounds.

The performance area of Curve's studio provided ample space for the dancers, who took advantage of it to move about either in ensemble groups or individually. Each performance also benefited from the superb production lighting and sound that is a great feature of this state of the art theatre.

With screen choreography by Charley Benns and music by Joseph Lofthouse and Anthony Milton-White, PAN was danced by Hannah Smith, Kristel Goring and Hester lucas.

One piece was a film with a darkly disturbing storyline of three girls in an empty derelict house. With of cunning editing techniques, it told an eerie story. Clever filming and dance moves made this an unusual but enthralling addition to the live dancing on stage.

A lot of the dancing was performed to electronic soundtracks, akin to radiophonic sounds. It was creative and vibrant, bringing a lot of modern dance ideas and concepts to the stage.

In De-construct, four girls began their set on tables, from which they moved off and then took apart. Using slow movements and iconic gestures, it was like a kinetic sculpture that told a story.

The show ended with Stepping, choreographed by Jo Beslin and danced by eight performers to the music of Soukoss Ta. His rhythmic drum and percussion tunes were particularly enjoyable and this gave a lot of scope for the dancers to move about the stage either in well synchronised ensemble groups or individually.

Altogether, it was an impressive and entertaining demonstration of what DMU and its students can achieve in modern dance.

See the DMU web site for details

Karan Pangali presents The Dance of Bollywood

Global dancing star, Karan Pangali's highly awaited dance theatre production is finally here! Being the sole UK representative to make the final of Hrithik Roshan's hit TV show Just Dance, Curve is pleased to present The Dance of Bollywood. Teamed up with the KSPARK dancers, Karan is set to take you on a journey celebrating the best music and dance from Bollywood. You will experience KSPARK's fusion of Indian Classical, Salsa, Hip Hop, Bhangra and Contemporary dance as well as being treated to a pure, traditional Kathak performance. Karan will also perform some signature routines from Just Dance and there will be surprise musical and vocal acts set to leave the whole family in awe!

More details on Facebook | Karan Live

Let's Dance - international festival

Running from 12th May to 27th May, the festival launches on 29th April with a free performance by FLAWLESS (Britain's Got Talent) and runs in May across a range of venues including Curve, Phoenix Square, The Peepul Centre and more. For the full programme see their web site. Dance events for all - from contemporary dance performances to mature movers and master classes with internationally-renowned dancers. Not only can you watch - you can join in with many events too. For all abilities: 12th to 20th May

Let's dance festival web site | Details of the programme of events are on the festival web site

17th February

Verve 12 - Dance at Peepul Centre

The postgraduate performance company of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Verve returns to the stage with an energetic and athletic programme shaped by five of Europe's most innovative choreographers.

Internationally renowned Akram Khan, a graduate of the school, presents a reworking of his critically acclaimed Vertical Road. The repertory also includes new works by Cholmondeleys and Featherstonehaugh's choreographer Lea Anderson.

Recent winner of Matthew Bourne's inaugural New Adventures Choreographer Award James Cousins; Slovakian choreographer Milan Kozanek; and budding young talent Jordan Massarella, a recent graduate of Northern School.

With dancers fresh from intensive technical training at some of Europe's leading conservatoires, Verve is well known for passionate, dynamic and engaging performances. The company presents invigorating work by leading international choreographersperformed by dancers who traditionally go on to work with some of the UK's most highly regarded dance companies.

Details are on the Peepul Centre's web site

26th January

Pointe2Pointe Academy Of Dance

Pointe2Pointe Academy Of Dance is a dance school based at Hamilton Community College in Leicester on weekday evenings in the Dance Studios.

They offer expert and professional dance training in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Freestyle, Lyrical, Street Dance and Musical Theatre for boys and girls aged three years and above. Their teachers are all professional dancers who have a wealth of experience in the industry.

As well as being professional dancers, all teachers obtain teaching qualifications with IDTA, ISTD, Trinity College professional dance diplomas and BA Honours Degrees in Dance, as well as being fully CRB Checked and First Aid trained.

They strive to provide the very best training possible for students as well as making sure their entire student intake enjoys learning to dance and having fun in a safe and friendly environment.

Pointe2Pointe's aim is to get children and adults dancing! Enabling students who wish to pursue a career in dance and the performing arts, the opportunities and training to help them fulfil their goals and aspirations.

Whether students attending just want to learn something new within dance, start exercising, build their confidence or even wanting to create new friendships whilst dancing, they will benefit from the experience.

Pointe2Pointe Academy of Dance Students will take part in an annual show and professional examinations under the IDTA and ISTD. Summer Schools and Workshops are also available.

Pointe2Pointe Academy of Dance will also be working very closely with Lilac Associate Academy which founded in 2011 by Jessica Allsop and Angel Brereton. The Academy auditioned students from all across Lincolnshire and Leicestershire in Sept 2011, and selected 20 talented individuals to be part of the Academy.

All successful applicants at Lilac Associate Academy are now working with dancing professionals from the West End, TV Stars, Established Choreographers and other industry professionals, once a month.

The teachers include Tomas Simon (Credits include Cherly Cole, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and also one of the X Factor Dancers), Kelly Price (Waterloo Road, Guys 'n' Dolls), Rebecca Grant (Holby City, Bombay Dreams) and Makiko Fakudo (Lion King, Phantom of the Opera) After a successful year at The Academy, it will now be running alongside Pointe2Pointe Dance Academy and auditions will now be taking for students aged 12-17yrs from the Leicester City Area as well as Pointe2Pointe Students wanting to audition.

Further information will be available soon from the Pointe 2 Point web site

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