Programme
Millennium Place
DO IT 13.00 Quiet Riot
VIEW IT 13:20 Bicyle Ballet
VIEW IT 13:40 Rapper Dance
VIEW IT 14:20 A Flavour of Flamenco
DO IT 14:35 Maypole Anarchy!
VIEW IT 14:45 Tango with a twist!
VIEW IT 15:00 Kathak
VIEW IT/DO IT 15:15 THE BIG DANCE OFF - Qualifying rounds and final
16:00 End
Walkergate
DO IT 12.15 The Big Moving Story
DO IT 14:00 Kids Can Dance
MORE DETAIL
The Big Moving Story
A creative movement workshop exploring the wonderful children's story 'Giraffes can't dance.' A chance for parents and younger children to jump, bump and slide in the outdoor sun with a storyteller and professional dancer. At the end of the physical session, why not pull up a blanket and enjoy further Giraffe-based stories in the company of Ingrid Sylvestre from www.giraffeworld.com
Then catch a light lunch in one of the local restaurants on Walkergate and we will provide the children with arts materials so that they can make their own giraffe ready for a second movement session at 2.00pm called 'Kids Can Dance!'
Quiet Riot
Last year's Quiet Riot saw people of all ages come together from across Durham to dance together, and this year's event is going to be even bigger! This is no ordinary disco- watch everyone else dance to their own beat while you enjoy your own tunes. Classical, pop, reggae, R&B or jazz- whatever music you're into you can dance along to it while enjoy everyone else's movement at the same time. Why not swap with your neighbour, try to dance as a couple but using different tunes, or even start a multi-musical conga?! Don't forget to take photos of the event too- we'd love to see them on our Facebook page!
Bicycle Ballet
Weaving through traffic and meandering pedestrians, bicycles dance to the pulse of the city in a show that captures the joyous world of cycling. Inspired by personal stories, "the dance of cycling" celebrates the playful, chaotic and sometimes treacherous world of cycling, with a fast paced contemporary choreography of striking imagery, visual spectacle and comedy.
'the dance of cycling' is choreographed by Janine Fletcher and the cast, and is an internationally recognised show that has a growing reputation and an international following.
Karen Poley is the Creative Producer with a particular interest in creating dynamic relationships between artists and communities, site specific and dance performances.
Bicycle Ballet was conceived one summer during a bike ride on Shoreham Beach, where the retreating low tide leaves a vast sandy shoreline. 'the dance of cycling' is BB's second manifestation and Karen plans to continue evolving the project.
Rapper Dance
Newcastle Kingsmen bring their own unique brand of sword-dancing to the Streets as five people connected by short, two-handled, flexible swords (rappers) form an unbroken chain. Without breaking this chain the dancers weave in and out of one another twisting the swords to form locks and breastplates, sometimes even jumping or somersaulting over the swords.
The Kingsmen are an English traditional dance team founded in 1949 by Prof Bill Cassie of King's College Durham (hence the name), since 1963 a university in its own right, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (hence the other bit of the name).
The words English and traditional may have you reaching for your bells and hankies, or for a shotgun, but desist! The English traditions involved here are not that effete southern hanky-waving known as "Morris dancing" but honest hard-working traditions from the northern industrial heartland, represented in the Kingsmen performances by the Rapper sword dance (from the coal-mining communities of Northumberland and Durham), the Grenoside Longsword dance (Yorkshire) and the Royton northwest dance (Lancashire).
Originally a student team, we maintain strong links with the University, although the team has a good mixture of students, non-students and some ageing life members (some are even over 30!).
Kids Can Dance
Following on from the earlier session when there was a chance to move to 'Giraffes can't dance,' arts materials will be available from over lunchtime in Walkergate to help children and young people make their own Giraffe masks and t-shirts in preparation for a second chance for parents and younger children to have a go and work with artists from TIN Arts who will bring the Giraffes to life as they jump, bump and slide!
A Flavour of Flamenco
Witness a traditional juerga which is an informal, spontaneous gathering that will include dancing, singing, palmas (hand clapping), and simply pounding rhythm. Flamenco, at its best, simply organic and dynamic: adapting to the size and mood of the audience. Performed by Flamenco Pasion, one of the countries leading Flamenco groups who perform nationally and internationally.
Sandra, La Espuelita trained extensively in both England and in Spain, studying in Jerez, Seville and Córdoba. Among her teachers she can cite the legendary Mario Maya, Maria Angeles Gabaldón, Angelita Gomez and Carmen de Torres. She performs across London and the UK with top Flamenco artistes, including her own groups, Sonido Flamenco and Flamenco Pasión, and works closely with the UK-based flamenco guitarists Francisco Antonio and Ramón Contreras, and the flamenco singers Manuel de Cádiz and Fernando de Seville.
She has appeared as lead dancer at the Commonwealth Institute, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Battersea Evolution, the Hilton Hotel Park Lane, the Savoy Hotel and numerous regional UK theatres (including the legendary Phoenix Artist Club in London's Soho). In addition, she has worked as guest principal dancer with the Javier Hernandes group in Seville and Málaga and performs with the leading Kathak/Flamenco fusion group worldwide. Television credits include BBC TV's "Strictly Come Dancing", "Cash in the Attic", "Ready, Steady, Cook!", Channel 4 and Spanish television, as well as with Maureen Lipman in her television series "About Face".
Maypole Anarchy!
A scratch group is being brought together specially to create a new form of maypole dance. Come and see how the colour and vibrance of a maypole mixes with the rage and anarchy of punk music, as dancers pogo, stomp and dance themselves around!
Tango with a twist!
A mesmerising Latin dance duet as Tanya and Valentino transport you to Latin America and make you want to dance! Yes they are smooth, athletic and passionate about their dancing... So what would you like them to dance for you, bolero, cumbia, salsa or tango?
Artistic director Tanya Cusan-Espinosa has consistently developed the profile of the company and works with her brother Sergio, continually creating and inventing new productions that are suitable for a variety of venues including theatres, outdoor events, festivals and schools.
The company works closely with other artists such as puppeteers, designers, musicians and costume makers to create a unique repertoire. They are constantly developing knew skills and bringing new ideas into their work.
"Totally absorbing and magical. Wonderful for children and adults alike...you must not miss this!!". (Jim Doody, artists educator)
Kathak
Kathak is the major classical dance form of northern India and the word "Kathak" means "to tell a story". It is derived from the dance dramas of ancient India and in modern times is now more of an abstract exploration of rhythm and movement
BIG DANCE OFF
The grand finale for the Streets of Dance day this year will be a unique 'Dance-Off!' The 'Dance-off' is intended as a fun celebratory event that closes the day. Any group can register to take part in the qualifying round from 3.15pm - 3.45pm.
Each group is given 2 minutes to impress where they get to dance to their own music for 1 minute and then try to improvise to a 'random choice' for 1 minute.
Judges will select the top four groups to go through to the final where they compete to be crowned 'Durham Streets of Dance 2010' Champions and collect at cash prize of £200!
