An important focus for Magpie Dance for sustainability and development of our artistic plans, is to create partnerships with a range of other dance and arts organisations.
As part of our ‘Linked’ partnership and thanks to funding from Arts Council England, Magpie Dance, Candoco Dance Company and Trinity Laban have been working together on an exciting new project this Easter.
Every two years Trinity Laban host Co Motion, an inclusive youth dance platform. This year youth dancers from Magpie Dance and Candoco Dance Company have come together in Trinity Laban’s studios for the creation of a headline piece for the platform.
Seven youth dancers from Magpie Dance and nine youth dancers from Cando2 (Candoco Dance Company’s youth group) have been working intensively for a week with choreographer Luke Brown to create their piece. This is the first time that Magpie Dance and Candoco Dance Company have undertaken a collaborative project of this nature.
“It’s challenged me with a lot of different things like lifts and working with different people from a different dance group” (Lauren, Magpie youth dancer)
“It’s been really lovely to see their response to Luke and how much they want to work and do their best for him” (Kimberley Harvey, Candoco Artist)
“I’ve had such an incredible time with the dancers. They’ve challenged me in a positive way and I’m absolutely blown away and astonished at the professionalism, work ethic and their support for one another and their support for me. I haven’t been in a process before that has been so unique, honest and raw” (Luke Brown, Choreographer)
Composer Nicholas Hewlett was commissioned to create a sound score especially for the new collaborative work. His cinematic soundscape draws together classic and contemporary styles fused with an electronic influence.
Luke works with contact improvisation as a starting point for creating movement. This method was new to some of our Magpie dancers and presented an exciting new learning opportunity for them. We also work primarily with live music and so having a music score written for a dance was also a great learning experience.
Co-Motion takes place at The Bonnie Bird Theatre at Trinity Laban on Sunday 12th May. If you are keen to see this exciting new collaboration for yourself, you can purchase tickets for Co-Motion now: https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/whats-on/co-motion