Dance Umbrella 2008: 30 September to 8 November

Welcome to Dance Umbrella 2008

Dance Umbrella turns 30 this year. When we began in 1978, the contemporary dance landscape looked very different, but the excitement, innovation and energy that marked the first festival remains at the heart of what we do. We are delighted to welcome back to this anniversary festival several artists whose Dance Umbrella appearances have contributed enormously to the vibrancy of the UK dance scene over the years. Richard Alston celebrates his 60th birthday with two world premieres, Jonathan Burrows revives his seminal work from 1996 The Stop Quartet and Rosemary Butcher, Merce Cunningham, Mark Morris and Stephen Petronio all present new work.

As well as old friends, the 2008 festival is full of ‘firsts’. Look out for Argentinean Rodrigo Pardo’s Toilet Tango, performed in the window of Bathstore on Baker Street. Tiago Guedes, one of the most talked-about young artists on the European scene, makes his festival debut with two works - his signature solo, Various Materials, and Matrioska, a piece created for young audiences but loved in equal measure by grown-ups.

Two astonishing French soloists, Julie Guibert and Jean-Baptiste André, come to Dance Umbrella for the first time in a shared evening, and Letizia Renzini, working with Marina Giovannini, brings La Bambola di Carne, fresh from its premiere at the Venice Biennale. These two programmes are part of a series we’ve labelled Out There: fascinating, genre-defying performances which challenge accepted notions of contemporary dance.

In another ‘first’, the 2008 festival is moving East and West with the return of Transports Exceptionnels in five locations in outer London. If you missed this wondrous duet between man and digger in 2007, don’t make the same mistake again! Our new partnership with East London Dance takes the festival to Stratford Circus for the first time, as well as bringing work from ELD’s Two’s A Company to the Purcell Room as one of this year’s Brief Encounters.

Perhaps the most exciting development, however, is our large-scale commission for 2008, Overture 2012, a new work by Royston Maldoom, performed by 120 young Londoners aged 8-17, set to Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, played live by the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. This is sure to be one of the most uplifting and powerful dance events of the year and there are two performances only – put the date in your diary now.

I would like to extend my thanks to all our supporters, without whose generosity this festival would not be possible.

We look forward to seeing you at performances at festival venues all across London . Why not try something new at a venue you’ve never to been before? Remember, you can book all your tickets in a single phone call to the Dance Umbrella ticket line on 0844 412 4312 or you can book online.

Betsy Gregory
Artistic Director

Dance Umbrella 2008 is supported by:

		channel 267