Dance Umbrella, London’s flagship festival of international dance celebrates its 40th anniversary this autumn and announces its full 2018 programme today 1st May 2018.
Dance Umbrella will take place from 26 September – 21 October 2018.
- Dance Umbrella 2018 opens with Big Dance Theater’s UK debut at The Old Vic with 17c, a romp through the bracingly frank diaries of Samuel Pepys co-directed by Annie-B Parson and Paul Lazar.
- Sasha Milavic Davies’ everything that rises must dance is a compelling celebration of female movement created with more than 200 women from across London.
- Guest programmer Freddie Opoku-Addaie curates his second Out of the System – a festival-within-a-festival at Shoreditch Town Hall which features three vibrant nights of international dance and music.
- Ivan Blackstock will present CRXSS PLATFXRM as part of Out of the System, with new artists bringing fresh perspectives to street culture and dance.
- In Red at Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room Beijing-based choreographer Wen Hui invites audiences to look again at a famous Chinese ballet from the period of the Cultural Revolution as part of Southbank Centre’s China Changing Festival.
- Armed with a turntable, portable speakers and sheets of flooring, the Olivier-nominated Colin Dunne takes on the ‘undanceable’ music of the enigmatic Tommie Potts in Concert at The Pit, Barbican Centre.
- Dimitris Papaioannou returns to Dance Umbrella with his enigmatic exploration of life in the internationally acclaimed The Great Tamer, making his debut at Sadler’s Wells.
- A plethora of cardboard tubes, playful choreography and percussive sound combine to form KoKERS a show for 3+ years by Dutch company Dadodans.
- The effortlessly engaging Le Patin Libre defy every convention of figure skating to evolve a new dance form – on ice. The Montreal-based company return to Dance Umbrella with the UK premiere of Threshold at Alexandra Palace Ice Rink.
- · Dance and theatre dramaturg Ruth Little will speak at the National Theatre as part of the Dance Umbrella Lecture series, followed by a Q&A led by Royal Court Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone. Plus a multitude of extra events, talks and screenings throughout festival 2018.
Emma Gladstone, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Dance Umbrella, introduces the programme:
“Each Dance Umbrella festival has its own flavour, and this year is no exception. In our 40th year, it is a tribute to founder Val Bourne CBE that the strength of the foundations she laid in 1978 enable us to still stand here today. I’m thrilled that we’ll be kicking off DU 2018 with our first ever performance at The Old Vic, introducing London audiences to the remarkable Big Dance Theater, and closing the festival at the Alexandra Palace Ice Rink with the highly anticipated return of Le Patin Libre.
Dance Umbrella 2018 festival trailer
Looking back at the pioneering role Dance Umbrella has played in London’s cultural landscape, I am extremely proud that we remain an independent organisation, with performances happening in more locations than ever before. World class, international artists from twelve countries are heading our way this year in a programme of unpredictable variety and celebration of dance like no other.”
LISTINGS
17c – BIG DANCE THEATER UK PREMIERE
The Old Vic, SE1
Wednesday 26 – Saturday 29 September 7.00pm
Saturday 29 September 2.30pm
Press performance: Thursday 27 September 7.00pm
EVERYTHING THAT RISES MUST DANCE – SASHA MILAVIC DAVIES
WORLD PREMIERE
Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula SE10: Saturday 29 September 2pm & 4pm
BOXPARK Croydon CR0 1LD: Sunday 7 October 12.30pm & 2pm
DANCE UMBRELLA LECTURE – RUTH LITTLE – FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE
National Theatre, Cottesloe Room: Tuesday 2 October 5.30pm – 7pm
Tickets: £10
RED – WEN HUI LONDON PREMIERE
Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room: Thursday 4 – Friday 5 October 7.45pm
Part of Southbank Centre’s China Changing Festival
Press performance: Thursday 4 October 7.45pm
CONCERT – COLIN DUNNE LONDON PREMIERE
The Pit, Barbican Centre: Wednesday 17 – Saturday 20 October 7.45pm
VIA KANANA – VIA KATLEHONG UK PREMIERE
Part of OUT OF THE SYSTEM
Featuring Via Katlehong and choreographed by Gregory Maqoma
Shoreditch Town Hall: Wednesday 10 – Thursday 11 October 7.30pm
CRXSS PLXTFXRM FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE
Part of OUT OF THE SYSTEM
Curated by Ivan Blackstock
Shoreditch Town Hall: Friday 12 October 6pm
THE GREAT TAMER – DIMITRIS PAPAIOANNOU – UK PREMIERE
Sadler’s Wells: Tuesday 16 – Wednesday 17 October 7.30pm
KoKERS – DADODANS LONDON PREMIERE
Stratford Circus Arts Centre: Saturday 29 September 11am
Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions)
The Place: Saturday 6 October 10.30am & 2pm
Watermans: Sunday 7 October 11.30am
THRESHOLD – LE PATIN LIBRE UK PREMIERE
Alexandra Palace Ice Rink: Thursday 18 October 8.30pm,
Friday 19 – Sunday 21 October 6.15pm & 8.45pm
Press performance: Thursday 18 October 8.30pm
HOW TO BOOK
ONLINE: danceumbrella.co.uk
PHONE: Dance Umbrella on 020 7257 9384
Or through the venues, where applicable. Booking fees may apply.
