East End Review

Tag: Adam Towndrow

  • Dance festival in Isle of Dogs to give platform to new choreographers

    Emerge 14
    Dancing days: Emerge 14 

    The world of dance is intensely competitive, leaving many non-established choreographers few opportunities to road test new work in front of an audience.

    Fortunately this is what Emerge Festival is all about, which returns this month to The Space Arts Centre in the Isle of Dogs for a three-week run.

    The success of last year’s festival, which saw premieres of pieces that have gone on to be performed at Secret Garden Party festival and large venues such as Hackney Empire, has led organisers to add an extra week to the programme.

    Festival producer Adam Towndrow of C-12 Dance Theatre is keen for age not to be a barrier to taking part in the festival.

    “Past 25 it’s very difficult for your work to be seen by anyone,” explains Towndrow, who will be presenting one of his own pieces at the festival. “Lots of people are – and rightly so – supporting young people but there’s a big gap where other people who are slightly older don’t have that exposure. For a lot of people it’s about finding the next young hot talent but actually that talent is ageless in our eyes.

    Demand to present work at the festival has been high, with applications coming from the young and inexperienced to older, more seasoned choreographers. Towndrow thinks this means there’s greater depth to the three-week programme than ever.

    Highlights from the programme include a piece by Gosia Mielech on art and vandalism, Julia Thornycroft’s satirical dance theatre comedy Crufts & Great British Menu and Luke Brown’s Love Is a Complex State Of Mind.

    One of the success stories of last year’s Emerge is John Ross, winner of the Matthew Bourne Choreography Award for 2014. His piece Wolfpack, which premiered at Emerge, was recently performed at Hackney Empire.

    “It was fantastic to see that in 12 months he’s now performing work in a 1000-seater auditorium in Hackney and to be part of his development and growth,” says Towndrow.

    “What the artists need and what we try to give them is that development – not just the platform but choreographic support, rehearsal space and contact with festivals that they wouldn’t normally have.”

    Emerge Festival 4 – 22 November The Space, 269 Westferry Road, E14 3RS www.space.org.uk

  • New choreographers emerge

    Falling for dance: work by Kimberly Clarke to be performed at Emerge 13
    Falling for dance: work by Kimberly Clarke to be performed at Emerge 13

    Opportunities for budding dance choreographers to try out work in front of an audience are limited, which is why dance producer Adam Towndrow founded Emerge, which returns to The Space this month.

    Emerge 13 will give choreographers a  five-night run at the Isle of Dogs theatre, allowing them to see their work brought to life on stage.

    “It’s a unique platform that really helps to grow the piece,” says Towndrow.

    “The work is seen by an audience each night which means the artist can say ‘oh right that’s interesting… I’ll do something different next time’. You can’t always do that if you’re touring.”

    The programme includes work by Lewis Major, a highly rated Australian choreographer and dancer, and the world premiere of Wolfpack, a new piece by John Ross, winner of the Matthew Bourne 2014 New Adventures Choreographer Award.

    “His particular piece is going to be filmed and taken to the V&A – to be preserved on on some dusty DVD probably,” jokes Towndrow.

    “There’s a lot of anticipation and I know it’ll be really dynamic.”

    Choreographers from all over the UK and beyond will take part in Emerge 13, which is run by the established C-12 Dance Theatre.

    However, Towndrow is keen for the project to make an impact on a local level.

    “Part of our ethos is to bring movement and dance to people who haven’t experienced it before,” he says.

    “Since we did the show last year [at The Space] there’s been loads of dance here that’s been well-received by local people so it goes to show that trying out something for the first time can have positive effects on the community.”

    Emerge 13 is at The Space, 269 Westferry Road, E14 3RS from 5-9 November/12-16 November