Feature - Overture 2012
Over the last three decades Dance Umbrella has gained an international reputation for producing unique dance events, with its declared mission to “bring dance to people and people to dance.” This November, they will bring 120 young Londoners to the stage of the legendary Royal Albert Hall, in its most ambitious project to date.
The 8 to 17 year olds are drawn from 31 of the capital’s 33 boroughs, with a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with a world-class choreographer and a world-renowned orchestra. In a matter of a few weeks under the tutelage of Royston Maldoom and his creative team, the youngsters will have become a cohesive, disciplined dance company ready to deliver two remarkable performances on the vast stage of the UK’s most iconic venue.
The piece is set to Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony, a complex 50 minute work exploring the composer’s turbulent relationship with Stalin and the Soviet State, performed live by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Maldoom is considered one of the founders of community dance in the UK.
Anyone in doubt of Maldoom’s ability to turn such a challenge into an overwhelming success should look at the inspiring documentary Rhythm Is It!.
The film documented his work with Sir Simon Rattle – another artist well known for his passionate and successful community outreach work –, the Berlin Philharmonic and 250 young people in Berlin. The individual transformative journeys of the young people taking part are astounding to watch, as is their final performance of The Rite of Spring.
His perception of ‘community dance’ is “to dance with anyone, anywhere, at any time” regardless of their experience, age, gender or social or ethnic background. He particularly enjoys working with groups that are intercultural, differently-abled, and inter-generational.
Of Overture 2012 he says, “It’s great to be working in London again. Dance Umbrella and Youth Dance England have between them created an extraordinary project, which allows me to do what I enjoy most: create challenging, serious dance for young people. It’s not easy. I am extremely demanding. But I also have an unshakeable belief in the potential of every young person and they never let me down.”
With support ranging from the City of London to over one hundred individual donors, this world premiere event has been especially commissioned by Dance Umbrella as part of the festival’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Dance Umbrella’s Artistic Director Betsy Gregory is emphasising the role of dance in London’s Games and their legacy: “In the year that the Olympic flag passed from Beijing to London, Overture 2012 will make a major statement about the impact dance can have on the lives of young people, providing them with a physically demanding, rigorous, non-competitive alternative to sport. Dance Umbrella received almost 500 applications for the 120 available places and I want to congratulate London’s youth for their commitment, enthusiasm and dedication in coming forward.”
OVERTURE 2012
Sat 1 Nov 2008 @ 7.30pm and Sun 2 Nov 2008 @ 3pm
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7
Dance Umbrella Ticket Line: 0844 412 4312
Tickets: £5 - 35