Preview: The Band at ARC Stockton

Middlesbrough-born choreographer and dancer Nathan Johnston brings captivating show The Band to ARC, Stockton.

Levantes Dance Theatre presents

The Band

ARC, Stockton Arts Centre

Wednesday 29th March 2017     

A glittering tale of love, failure and illusion: one-hit wonders Sandy and Bruno have a last chance for fame in The Band - a captivating show blending dance, physical comedy and aerial movement.

Nathan Johnston and

Eleni Edipidi in The Band.

Photo: Foteini Christofilopoulou

A striking new production by Levantes Dance Theatre, The Band is the tragi-comic story of faded pop duo Sandy and Bruno, a couple united by desperate ambition and blind affection. Middlesbrough-born choreographer and dancer Nathan Johnston teams up with Eleni Edipidi to devise and perform this humorous show, told using an alchemic mix of original choreography, physical comedy, acrobatics and striking aesthetics.

Nathan Johnston in The Band.

Photo: Foteini Christofilopoulou

Sandy and Bruno met in the seventies and formed a band: she was fame hungry, he was doomed to follow her. But like so many one-hit wonders, through time they’ve been cruelly forgotten; washed up on the scrap heap. Now, they are opening the skeleton cupboard, dusting off old costumes and preparing for a comeback. Is this their last chance for fame? This is a story about love, failure, illusion, drama, glitter and tenderness. 

For The Band, Levantes Dance Theatre’s joint artistic director Eleni Edipidi collaborates for the first time on a full-scale touring production with charismatic performer Nathan Johnston. Each brings their own unique physicality to a captivating performance that sets original choreography, theatre, circus and the company’s bold visual style to a rousing soundtrack.  The vibrant multi-disciplinary work brings together new and long-term collaborators including Tina Koch, joint artistic director of Ockham’s Razor, and multimedia artist Gopan Iyadurai. 

The Band -Photo: Foteini Christofilopoulou

Nathan Johnston attended Middlesbrough College and Janice Wilson’s School of dance, before training at London Contemporary Dance School. Graduating in 2010, he started his professional career working with Punchdrunk, and has since choreographed and performed internationally in Norway, Spain, Jordan and Canada. He works continuously with Jorge Crecis, Rhiannon Faith, C-12 Dance theatre, Upswing and SPILL, choreographed by Shaun Parker, produced by DanceXchange. Nathan debuted his first solo project as a choreographer, Sleight Of Hands, last year, returning home to premiere the show at Arc.

Levantes Dance Theatre consists of key practitioners Bethanie Harrison and Eleni Edipidi, who formed the company in 2005 to create bold, innovative work that tells human stories with flare and gusto. Its trademark visuals and stylistic choreography ensures a thrilling collision of physical theatre, dance and circus performance. Levantes Dance Theatre are Associate Artists at Greenwich Dance.

 

Originally from Greece, Eleni Edipidi has collaborated and performed internationally with choreographers such as Company Victoria (Belgium), Interkunst (Germany), Marie-Gabrielle Rotie (UK), Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company (UK), Protein Dance (UK), and Retina Dance (Belgium). She trained at Laban and her professional practice includes European Dance Theatre Practice, Dance and Live Art Practices, Visual Art and Circus Arts. Her recent work as a choreographer includes SOHO (Stufish Productions), Dancing Bear (Jamie Fletcher) and Suitcases (Matthew Eames). Eleni has performed for the Olympic and Paralympics Ceremonies in Athens 2004 and London 2012. She is currently working with t-mesis theatre (physical theatre) and everyBODYDance (aerial harness dance).

Production trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkT2h237et4

Company website: http://levantesdancetheatre.org/

Creative credits: 

Artistic Direction: Eleni Edipidi

Devising & Performing: Eleni Edipidi & Nathan Johnston

Circus Consultant & Artistic Advisor: Tina Koch/ Ockham's Razor

Visuals: Gopan Iyadurai

Dramaturg: Lisa - Marie Bowler

Lighting Designer: Lucy Hansom

Sound: Rob Spaull & Garry Scott James

Costume & Props Design: Levantes Dance Theatre

Costume & Props Assistant : Stella - Jane Odoemelam

Rehearsal Assistants: Bethanie Harrison & Andrew Gardiner

Stage Manager: Kleoniki Edipidi

Production: Jenny Sullivan

Tickets:

29th March ARC, Stockton Arts Centre, Stockton on Tees; 7pm, pay what you decide. To reserve tickets telephone: 01642 525199 or online at www.arconline.co.uk