An internationally acclaimed contemporary dance troupe is due to perform at Durham’s Gala Theatre. On Tuesday 7th March, Phoenix Dance Theatre will be showcasing three exciting pieces that will exhibit the company’s athletic prowess, emotional intensity and dynamism of movement.
The company will first perform Calyx, which is a new commission from Phoenix Dance Theatre’s choreographer and dancer Sandrine Monin and composer Roberto Rusconi.
In nature, calyx are the green parts of a flower that surround, protect and support the bloom. Calyx, which is based on the French poet Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal, explores the themes of beauty, decadence and desire.
Beast, the second piece of the evening, is by the choreographer and ex-company dancer Douglas Thorpe. Beast “immerses the audience in the darkest reaches of the mind, using six dancers in a performance that is as powerful and brutal as it is beautiful.”
To fully demonstrate the darker side of human nature, Beast demands extreme strength and articulation from its dancers, which results in the piece often having a disjointed and fragmented feel.
Beast is described as intimidating and uncompromising, captivating and unforgettable.
The final piece Phoenix Dance Theatre will present is entitled Maybe Yes Maybe, Maybe No Maybe. Using a live microphone, this piece – by Aletta Collins – will see five dancers blending their movements and voices to create an unusual, witty piece of work with plenty of attitude.
Maybe Yes Maybe, Maybe No Maybe is set to a score by composers Street Furniture. This score, it is promised, will transform “the dancers’ voices into the beats and accents of a pulsing soundtrack.”
During its 36-year history, Phoenix Dance Theatre has grown to become one of the UK’s leading contemporary dance companies.
The company takes its inspiration from a wide range of sources including current affairs, popular culture and classical art. Phoenix Dance Theatre has performed its original and vibrant work to audiences all around the world.
Tickets are priced at £15 (£13 concessions). They can be bought by phoning 03000 266 600 or by going to www.galadurham.co.uk. Tickets can also be purchased in person from the box office of the Gala Theatre.
