BLKDOG, Far From the Norm. Photo by Camilla Greenwell.
DanceEast will finally be able to welcome audiences back to its Studio Theatre in Autumn 2021 – with a staggering Season that, after over a year of closure, promises to be well worth the wait. DanceEast will showcase an exciting collection of truly brilliant artists and their companies, who have all performed at the Jerwood DanceHouse before – some returning with crowd favourites, others with exciting new works.
The doors will open in September with Botis Seva’s BLKDOG, performed by his powerhouse company Far From the Norm. The company visited the Jerwood DanceHouse and performed BLKDOG to DanceEast’s last sold-out audience, just before the doors closed in Spring 2020 – so it feels particularly fitting that it should be the curtain raiser for a new season.
BLKDOG is Botis Seva’s haunting commentary on surviving adulthood as a childlike artist. A blend of hip hop dance and free form antics, the performance explores the inner battlefield of an ageing artist trying to retain his youth.
“Amazing performance from Far From the Norm last night at DanceEast. Really struck something in me, still feeling it today. Botis Seva you are incredible!” – Audience member, February 2020
DanceEast will be finishing the year on a high with a returning family classic, Pinocchio, directed and choreographed by Jasmin Vardimon. Based on the original book by Collodi and performed by Jasmin Vardimon’s multi-talented dancers, Pinocchio will bring to life the famous marionette as he embarks on a fantastic journey to become a human boy. This performance will combine physical theatre, quirky characterisation, innovative technologies, text, and dance to examine the idea of what it means to be human.
Pinocchio, Jasmin Vardimon Company. Photo by Tristram Kenton.
DanceEast has always been proud of its December programme for children and young people and coming to the Jerwood DanceHouse has become a Christmas family tradition for many. After Covid meant this was sadly missed last year, it felt particularly important to bring back something extra special – the organisation is therefore thrilled to be welcoming Pinocchio, a gem that first delighted their festive audiences in December 2016.
Brendan Keaney OBE, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of DanceEast said ‘I am so delighted to be able to welcome people back to the Jerwood DanceHouse this Autumn, and once again fill the building with the live audiences that have been so keenly missed over the past year. It feels only right that when we are finally able to come together again and enjoy shared experiences, it should be for something pretty special. I think this reopening season is just that – with so many incredible artists and shows, and something for all ages and interests. Watch this space for more details of the other treats in store.’
Tickets will be on sale soon, keep a close eye on the DanceEast social media channels and website. If you would like to have the chance of booking your tickets early, join DanceEast as a Friend – you will be given a week of priority booking for all events.
