Big Idea Winners 2017
July 3, 2017
DanceXchange is thrilled to announce the winning commissions for The Big Idea 2017, midlands strand – Modern Warrior by Rosie Kay Dance Company and Moon by 2Faced Dance Company.
These new productions will take to the streets at Birmingham Weekender 22-24 Sept 2017 prior to being developed for the International Dance Festival Birmingham 1-24 June 2018.
The Big Idea commissioning strand, first developed for IDFB 2016, creates work in outdoor places and unusual spaces that will excite, enthral and enliven the city, building and reaching diverse audiences. The two new productions are co-commissions between Birmingham Weekender and IDFB, which is produced by DanceXchange.
Eleni Kyriacou, Producer for IDFB & DanceXchange says:
We are extremely excited to be developing outdoor performance in the region and working with two exciting artists to extend their current practice, working in new innovative ways. We believe outdoor arts has the power to take the ordinary and make them extraordinary transforming our everyday cities and streets with emotive stories and experiences.
Festival Directors, Graham Callister (Birmingham Hippodrome) and Piali Ray (Sampad) added:
These new commissions are hugely exciting for both Birmingham Weekender and International Dance Festival Birmingham 2018. Both pieces will inhabit spaces and places across the city bringing them to life with amazing new dance performances. We are delighted that these new commissions will premiere at Birmingham Weekender, before being further developed for IDFB 2018, cementing the West Midlands reputation for creating extraordinary outdoor dance.
- Modern Warrior by Rosie Kay Dance Company (Birmingham)
Expect to be thrilled and moved by this stunning new outdoor action work. Pick a side and join either the Mods or the Trads as Kung Fu meets dance. Modern Warrior is a fast-paced street take-over with exciting and dramatic sequences, as two opposing groups move across the city and meet in an epic stand-off. Spanning Birmingham’s Chinatown, audiences have the chance to join in, be trained, and become part of the action or simply watch the tale unfold. Members of the public interested in joining in should visit at fb.me/RKDCModernWarrior
Rosie Kay is best known for the critically acclaimed performance 5 SOLDIERS and as choreographer to the hit film Sunshine on Leith.
Rosie Kay Artistic Director says:
RKDC are delighted to be commissioned to create Modern Warrior. Modern Warrior is inspired by vintage martial arts films and feels deeply connected to our home city’s geography and heritage, asking what does it mean to be a modern warrior in an urban landscape. This commission helps RKDC to continue its programme of outdoor works, engaging new audiences in brave, thrilling and exciting ways.
- MOON by 2Faced Dance Company (Hereford)
A spectacular outdoor dance and circus production for families. Follow Jack as he meets The Moon and together they embark on an amazing adventure; what secrets and surprises will they discover in their quest? Watch Jack’s world come to life with giant quilts, an aerial hoop, breath-taking dance and a whole host of mess and mayhem.
Choreographer Tamsin Fitzgerald created Cubes which thrilled audiences at Birmingham Weekender 2015.
Tamsin Fitzgerald says:
2Faced Dance is thrilled to be commissioned once again by our friends at Birmingham Weekender and IDFB to produce this magical outdoor journey for Birmingham. 2Faced Dance has an outstanding reputation for producing high-quality outdoor dance work and MOON will be no exception.
Visit here for the full programme for Birmingham Weekender, which will be published in the next few weeks.
Birmingham Weekender runs from 22-24 September 2017 promising a packed weekend of free outdoor theatre, music, art installations and performance from Broad Street to Eastside with something to entertain and delight all the family.
Birmingham Weekender is brought to the city by Culture Central, the cultural development agency for Birmingham. Event Sponsors: Birmingham Retail BID, Colmore BID, Bullring, Mailbox, Bull Ring Markets and BCU. Funding support: Birmingham City Council, Arts Council England and Birmingham Dance Hub. Business Partner: Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. Travel Partner: Midland Metro. Media Partner: What’s On. Birmingham Weekender 2017 is proud to be part of Utsav, Birmingham’s Year of South Asian Culture.
