Stories from Women across the
North Inspire New Dance Show
The Sense of an Ending
Dance City on Saturday 15th November
Washington Arts Centre on Thursday 27th
November
A new dance production based on the real life
stories of women across the north has been created by North East based company
Red Road Dance Theatre and will premier at Dance City on 15 November before visiting Washington later in the month.
The Sense of an Ending is a love letter to women everywhere who have
survival stories that may never have been told and is a celebration of their
strength, intuition and courage.
 |
| Dancer: Nadia Iftkhar Photographer: James Froment |
The end of a love
affair, a career, childhood, the loss of a child or husband, fertility, a
friendship and mortality - the performance lifts the lid on the impact these
moments can have on how women conduct their future, and the knowledge their
stories hold that could aid the next generation.
Through honest, exposing
and poignant dance theatre the production positively represents women by
sharing the ways in which they choose to survive life changing moments. Newcastle based, Artistic Director Nadia Iftkhar, was
originally inspired by her grandmother’s untold story of love and life.
Nadia says: “In today’s world we are surrounded by stories in
the media of successful women leading celebrity lifestyles. Yet the biggest
role models in our lives are in actual fact often the people closest to us;
grandmothers, mothers, sisters, children and friends. These stories often go
untold, even though there are so many lessons in those experiences that would
be more productive to share with the next generation of women. The Sense of
Ending is my way of readdressing the balance and sharing stories of the real
heroes hidden away in our communitie”’.
As part of the research for the piece Nadia asked
women in the north to send her their stories of love, loss, life and
friendship. She received an overwhelming response from ordinary people who
wanted to share some of their most joyful and challenging life experiences. “I was touched when these women contacted me,
with complete honesty in their words and I feel an incredible responsibility to
represent their stories with care and empathy. I want women from all walks of
life to see themselves reflected in the show, to share with us a celebration of
the great things women can achieve and their resilience to overcoming the
impossible”.
The Sense
of an Ending is Red Road Dance
Theatre’s first full length production in collaboration with Sound Designer Al
Orange, Film Maker Jamie Korn, and Dancers Caroline Reece, Kate Jackson and
Molly Hodkinson. The piece is
commissioned by Dance City with support from Gem Arts, Arts Council England and Spin Arts
Management.
Artistic Director, Nadia Iftkhar, has been working
with communities in the North East for over 10 years. Earlier this year she was
selected as one of 10 artists for ‘This Way Up’ an initiative led by The Empty
Space and Dance City, which paired artists in the North East with Producers to develop
high quality work that could tour nationally.
‘This Way Up’, a programme funded by Arts Council
England and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, is set to run through to the end of
2016 where it is hoped the selected independent artists will be well on their
way to forging out a successful career as a maker.
Artistic Director and Joint CEO of Dance City, Anthony Baker, shares with us the importance of supporting,
commissioning and presenting emerging talent such as Nadia. He said: “We’re
delighted to be working with Nadia and Red Road Dance Theatre to have
commissioned their first full length piece. Commissioning new work and
providing support to artists like Nadia is a really important part of our work
at Dance City and is just one of the ways our work contributes towards a healthy
and vibrant dance ecology in the North East. We very much look forward to
seeing the performance.”
On The
Web:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/redroaddancetheatre
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedRoadDT
Tickets:
The Sense
of an Ending will be presented at Dance City on 15 November, 8pm. Tickets £5. Age: 14+
On Tour:
Premiere Performance
Dance City
Newcastle
Fri 15th Nov, 8.00pm
Box Office 0191 261 0505
or www.dancecity.co.uk
Washington Arts Centre
Washington
Thurs 27th
Nov, 7.30pm
Box Office 0191 219 3455
or www.artscentrewashington.co.uk
Robin Howard Dance Theatre – The Place
London
Fri 13th Feb.
Box Office 020 7121 1100
or www.theplace.org.uk
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