This was the second time I had seen the Richard Alston Dance Company on stage at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow and this time I took my mum with me.
As expected, the music really made the dance, starting with 4 movements from Prokofiev's 6th Piano Sonata. 'Out of the Strong' featured most of the company and lead me through different emotions, from anger to apathy, joy and excitement. Each movement was different and the dancers' movements expressed every feeling with a fabulous synchronicity during the company piece.
'Lie of the Land' 's movement to Rorem's 4th String Quartet was a lovely contrast to the first piece, sweet and sassy with lots of surprise encounters between dancers, keeping me on my toes and not knowing who to watch next.
Finally 'Roughcut' ended this diverse show, a lovely selection for the final piece by the Theatre Royal. With a wealth of dancers, increased stage size and subtle lighting, I felt like I was a fly on the wall of a theatre, getting a sneak-peek of a private movement conversation or rehearsal. The exuberance of the dancers portrayed the 'young performers' roles perfectly, as Alston describes in the programme as youthful and articulate raw talent.
Richard Alston filled the theatre with promise and hope for the future, giving off an ideally accessible form of contemporary dance that I'm sure everyone could relate to.
Monday, 4 July 2011
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Dance HQ Summer Night 2011 and FLASHMOB
Dance HQ flashmob was a great success, we took Buchanan Street by storm after a morning of rehearsals to Primal Scream's Rocks and Dance to the Music. I particularly loved dancing with my friends and dance family, including Nicole Foster, Dani Shivers, Jen Watt, Rhona Ashwood, Elizabeth Freer and Nikki McLachlan.
What a brilliant, tiring day!!!
The same weekend, I performed in Dance HQ's summer night with the resident performance group Blaze and the night included 3 performances by ourselves as well as some other great dance acts from across Scotland.
Dance HQ Summer night was a success, Blaze performed fantastically and we loved being joined by great dance companies, choreographers and dancers from across the country.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Dance HQ
I've been terrible at writing this blog so thought I'd pop online to let you know what I've been up to dance-wise. In the last few weeks I've started taking class at the newest studios in town, Dance HQ.
Dance HQ opened in 2010 and was founded by Susan Elena, dancer and choreographer. There are two studios with lovely floors, barres and mirrors and, with huge windows, a lovely New York loft feel about them. They are situated by Glasgow Green and there's plenty of parking as well as being 5minutes from the centre so handy for everyone.
The range of classes is great and they offer a better range of class levels than other Glasgow studios. Classes I'd particularly like to try are advanced contemporary and pilates (strengthen that old back of mine) but unfortunately at the moment the evenings they are on don't suit me.You can try classes from beginners to professional in tap, ballet, street, hip hop, break, jazz, mtv, yoga and many more! Each class runs a block of 6-8weeks or it's around £6.50 for each class as a drop in.
These studios have something to offer everyone, what I'd like to see in Glasgow now is an advanced technical jazz class, advanced tap, body conditioning for dance and daytime classes....I wish there was a buzz for dance here as much as in London, Dance HQ is a much nicer place to be than pineapple!
Dance HQ opened in 2010 and was founded by Susan Elena, dancer and choreographer. There are two studios with lovely floors, barres and mirrors and, with huge windows, a lovely New York loft feel about them. They are situated by Glasgow Green and there's plenty of parking as well as being 5minutes from the centre so handy for everyone.
The range of classes is great and they offer a better range of class levels than other Glasgow studios. Classes I'd particularly like to try are advanced contemporary and pilates (strengthen that old back of mine) but unfortunately at the moment the evenings they are on don't suit me.You can try classes from beginners to professional in tap, ballet, street, hip hop, break, jazz, mtv, yoga and many more! Each class runs a block of 6-8weeks or it's around £6.50 for each class as a drop in.
These studios have something to offer everyone, what I'd like to see in Glasgow now is an advanced technical jazz class, advanced tap, body conditioning for dance and daytime classes....I wish there was a buzz for dance here as much as in London, Dance HQ is a much nicer place to be than pineapple!
Monday, 29 November 2010
Dancing in the Snow
Today I created my own version of Singing in the Rain....Dancing in the Snow! Nothing makes me feel happier to be alive than dancing along the street singing and listening to the crunch of the untouched snow under my feet!
I stopped occasionally to take a breath of the cool fresh air and let a snow flake fall onto my tongue.
I LOVE winter, I hope everyone is keeping safe and warm in the snow. Try dancing along the pavement next time you're out, I promise you, it will make you feel free and fall back in love with the white stuff!
I stopped occasionally to take a breath of the cool fresh air and let a snow flake fall onto my tongue.
I LOVE winter, I hope everyone is keeping safe and warm in the snow. Try dancing along the pavement next time you're out, I promise you, it will make you feel free and fall back in love with the white stuff!
Friday, 19 November 2010
Everybody cut FOOTLOOSE!
Pantheon is a club I have been eager to join for years after being a member of the other big Glasgow am-dram club, The Apollo Players. They always deliver a great show and footloose didn't disappoint!
I have to say I could be bias here as my boyfriend was playing guitar in the band and one of my best girls Faye Wiggins was a comedy character and dancer.
Faye belted out "Been working so hard!" to open the show and already won me over! I loved every minute of her performance and was so happy to be genuinely ecstatic about a friend's performance! She was full of enthusiasm, her facial expressions, attention to detail and strong dance ability making her easily one of the strongest cast members.
Donna Douglas, playing the character of Urleen shone out from the others in the main dance sequences, her accuracy of footwork coupled by natural charisma drew my attention to her everytime she came on stage.
The cast were overall really professional, the odd technical hitch with microphones hardly affected the powerful voice of Ariel and every one of the young male singers were matched in ability to the lead. As is usual for an amateur group, there is always one male lead that sticks out by having little dance ability. This was a little awkward to start but once he got into the show a bit more, his character took over and the movement flowed better.
I was so energised by Pantheon's production I left feeling really excited and desperate to get back into musicals myself! The club is going from strength to strength and I am seriously considering auditioning for their next production, High School Musical.
I have to say I could be bias here as my boyfriend was playing guitar in the band and one of my best girls Faye Wiggins was a comedy character and dancer.
Faye belted out "Been working so hard!" to open the show and already won me over! I loved every minute of her performance and was so happy to be genuinely ecstatic about a friend's performance! She was full of enthusiasm, her facial expressions, attention to detail and strong dance ability making her easily one of the strongest cast members.
Donna Douglas, playing the character of Urleen shone out from the others in the main dance sequences, her accuracy of footwork coupled by natural charisma drew my attention to her everytime she came on stage.
The cast were overall really professional, the odd technical hitch with microphones hardly affected the powerful voice of Ariel and every one of the young male singers were matched in ability to the lead. As is usual for an amateur group, there is always one male lead that sticks out by having little dance ability. This was a little awkward to start but once he got into the show a bit more, his character took over and the movement flowed better.
I was so energised by Pantheon's production I left feeling really excited and desperate to get back into musicals myself! The club is going from strength to strength and I am seriously considering auditioning for their next production, High School Musical.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
STOMP!
Wow! After seeing Strictly Tap Dance Fever, Tap Dogs and now Stomp, I really have had the best year at the theatre!
Stomp was a fast=paced, energetic 1 hour 40 minute straight-through show. The musicality of each performer was used to the highest level and the characters developed during each section were intriguing and funny.
My favourite sequence was the newspapers. The ways they were used to create sound and rhythm was inventive and original, each new sequence delivered with astounding accuracy.
The cast looked at all time like they were having the time of their lives, and so they should! I would kill to perform in this show!
This is definitely a show for all the family and I'm not one to use that phrase! Usually it describes shows for me that are for couples with children but Stomp was honestly the most fun performance I have seen in a long time, enjoyed by the small child in front of me as much as the elderly couple behind.
I am feeling very spoiled after a very rhythmical 2010 so far!
Stomp was a fast=paced, energetic 1 hour 40 minute straight-through show. The musicality of each performer was used to the highest level and the characters developed during each section were intriguing and funny.
My favourite sequence was the newspapers. The ways they were used to create sound and rhythm was inventive and original, each new sequence delivered with astounding accuracy.
The cast looked at all time like they were having the time of their lives, and so they should! I would kill to perform in this show!
This is definitely a show for all the family and I'm not one to use that phrase! Usually it describes shows for me that are for couples with children but Stomp was honestly the most fun performance I have seen in a long time, enjoyed by the small child in front of me as much as the elderly couple behind.
I am feeling very spoiled after a very rhythmical 2010 so far!
Friday, 5 November 2010
My rejection...
I got a wonderful rejection letter from a theatre company today. The man said that he prefers to work alone due to the current financial climate (not due to the fact that he cleary has social problems!) and along with many other narrow-minded statements about dance came out with this:
"The world doesn't need another dancer"
I wonder how he thinks he knows what the world needs. Moving on.... :)
"The world doesn't need another dancer"
I wonder how he thinks he knows what the world needs. Moving on.... :)
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