Factfile: Phoenix Dance Theatre
Ahead of their performances in the Linbury, we take a look at the Leeds-based company.
Phoenix Dance Theatre are to present a programme of four contrasting works in the Linbury Studio Theatre this month.
The Leeds-based company present Ana Luján Sánchez new work, Catch, inspired by René Magritte’s iconic painting The Son of Man. Kwesi Johnson’s SoundClash, the second premiere on the bill, is based on the complex patterns created by soundwaves made visible. Henri Oguike returns with Signal - a piece accompanied by the stirring sounds of Japanese Taiko drums - and Sharon Watson (Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance) presents Melt, a breathtaking mix of aerial dance and contemporary choreography by.
The performances are the latest example of ROH2 working with other companies to further the art forms of opera and ballet, and share skills through collaboration. Previous visiting companies include English Touring Opera, Opera East, Music Theatre Wales, The Opera Group and Ballet Black.
Phoenix Dance Theatre have been performing works - in their home city, nationally and internationally - for the past thirty years. Following their foundation in 1981 as Phoenix Dance Company, the company initially performed work created in-house, primarily in educational settings. Since then, the company has embraced contemporary dance and built a following outside their Yorkshire origins. They were rebranded with their current name in 2002 and when Javier De Frutos joined as Artistic Director in 2006 they shifted focus to the work of major American choreographers. Current Director Sharon Watson took over in 2009 and the following year, the company moved to a purpose-built facility alongside Northern Ballet.
Watch Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Autumn 2012 Season trailer:
I enjoyed all of last nights performance enormously.
Of particular interest to me as a deafened person who has now lost all normal hearing was Soundclash.
Wonderfully interpreted and executed