07 May 2014
Dancers from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are taking up a unique challenge to create portable dance works performed inside a box.
Launched on International Dance Day (Tuesday 29 April), the first stage of the project will involve 14 dancers taking part in a three day workshop in Auckland to develop pieces that can be performed in a 2 metre box.
The works will be filmed and put online for others to join the conversation. The best works will be part of the Touch Compass Dance Company’s Acquisitions ‘14 season in August.
Touch Compass artistic director Catherine Chappell says DanceBox brings diverse dancers together to exchange and share stories in a creative and physical way.
The project uses dance, performance and film to shine light on “those profound moments when life reveals itself to the person living it – often changing everything from that point on”.
Ms Chappell said launching the project to tie in with International Dance Day worked alongside Touch Compass Dance Company’s philosophy of questioning who can dance and bringing dance out of the theatre and into people’s lives.
“We want people to join in the conversation and comment on the different works.”
The workshops include young dancers from Touch Compass Dance Company’s community class working with Touch Compass professional dancers and themes for the dance works are around ‘something that changed my life’.
The DanceBox Challenge project is an extension of Touch Compass Dance Company’s successful Hotbox season in 2013, a season of short performances on the streets of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch which was experienced by more than 5000 people.
“So often dance takes place on stage in a theatre, but last year we took it to the street," Ms Chappell said. "This year, we’re taking that one step further and taking it online to engage with as many people as possible."
The first stage of the DanceBox Challenge will be uploaded online over the coming months. The Wellington and Christchurch workshops will take place in May and June.
The Touch Compass DanceBox Challenge is supported by the Ministry of Social Development Make a Difference Campaign.
Find out more about the Touch Compass DanceBox Challenge at www.touchcompass.org.nz or visit the Facebook page.
CATEGORIES: International Latest news and blog
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