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Over the last 40 years the dance scene has changed out of all
recognition. In 1930s Britain there were two small ballet companies
and a six week season each year from the Russian ballet. There
are now dozens of dance performances throughout Britain every
week; from individual performers working at the cutting edge of
dance to large-scale traditional ballet companies; from dancers
in West End musicals to street dancing. Dance is now part of mainstream
education studied from GCSE to university degree course level.
Matthew Bourne, director of Adventures in Motion Pictures, has
given Swan Lake a new twist by re-choreographing it with
male swans. Lea Anderson’s companies, The Cholmondeleys and The
Featherstonehaughs explore new subjects and new ways of moving.
DV8 Physical Theatre breaks down the barriers between dance, theatre
and personal politics. Shobana Jeyasingh fuses British South Asian
dance with contemporary forms. Phoenix
Dance Company spotlights British Afro-Caribbean dancers.
Visiting companies proliferate. Michael Clark, Russell Maliphant,
Akram Khan, Wayne McGregor and Richochet Dance Company, Nigel
Charnock, Javier de Frutos; South Asian dance, Black Dance, Jiving
Lindy Hoppers, ethnic dance, tap, and jazz dance feature in many
musicals … the list goes on and there are far too many performers
to mention here.
Most companies now have their own website which details their
history, and productions. Try typing the name of the company you
are interested in into a search engine such as Google. Begin with
some of the companies above. Then try to get to see them in the
theatre …
Happy hunting.
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Modern Dance
