IF YOU want to mix it up a bit during Black History Month this year, Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Freddie Opoku-Addaie would like you to consider checking out Dance Umbrella, London’s annual international dance festival.

The new twin-track programme of live and digital work reflects the festival’s ongoing aspirations

Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Freddie Opoku-Addaie

Last month it was revealed that the festival would return this October with a number of live, in-person performances for the first time since 2019, alongside a collection of digital events aimed at sparking conversations, inspiring creativity and celebrating choreographic talent.

In his first year as Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Opoku-Addaie, who started in March this year, said: “This is very much a transitional year for Dance Umbrella.

“As a freelance creative practitioner, and in my new role as Artistic Director/Chief Executive, I know and see the inequities that have been exacerbated during the past 18 months.

“Working with its partners, DU has a vital role to play in continuing to widen the offer of diverse work and championing artists to find new ways of working collaboratively.

“The new twin-track programme of live and digital work reflects the festival’s ongoing aspirations, but also indicates a new direction and some fresh perspective, with Dance Umbrella debuts from any independent artists.

“DU welcomes audiences from across and beyond London to enjoy many different forms of dance and share the excitement in our global city.”

The live programme includes performances from the extraordinary visual artist and theatre-maker Dimitris Papaioannou, and a Dance Umbrella Festival debut from Japanese artist Takeshi Matsumoto with a new sensory show for under 5’s.

Dance Umbrella continues to expand the reach of its work in outer London Boroughs as it travels to Bell Square in Hounslow to present an exhilarating live outdoor work created by performance-maker Ahilan Ratnamohan and a brand new piece from Dance Umbrella’s Assemble project with West Thames College by Becky Namgauds and tyroneisaacstuart.

The live work continues with a takeover of Watermans Arts Centre in Brentford with two action-packed days of live performances including a double-bill from Dani Harris-Walters and Kesha Raithatha, an International Dance Short Film programme curated by Omari ‘Motion’ Carter and join host Jennifer Irons for a live dancesploration of where contemporary dance came from, where it is now and how we got here in DanceStory.

Dance Umbrella’s online programme will bring audiences closer to choreographers and how they create in Choreographer’s Cut, celebrate pioneers in their fields in intimate conversations between established artists and those they have inspired to dance, as well as give audiences exclusive access to a curated film programme and streamed performances, thought-provoking articles and topical panel discussions and workshops.

2021 is a transitional year for Dance Umbrella as it emerges from the pandemic and its leadership moves between Emma Gladstone OBE and Opoku-Addaie ahead of his 2022 inaugural festival.

LISTINGS

Takeshi Matsumoto
Club Origami
Presented by Little Big Dance
Co-commissioned by Dance Umbrella
Tour Venues – Stanley Arts (8th), Albany (9 Oct), The Place (10th), Waterman’s Arts Centre (17 Oct),
Arts Depot (24 Oct)
Recommended age: Five and under
Duration 40 mins + 10 mins stay & play
Free front of house craft activities

Dance Umbrella @BellSquareLDN
Bell Square Saturday 9th October

Dimitris Papaioannou – Transverse Orientation
Co-commissioned by Dance Umbrella and Sadler’s Wells
21st – 23rd October, 7.30pm, Sadler’s Wells

Dance Umbrella Watermans Takeover
16th & 17th October
Saturday 16th October
Double Bill, 7.30pm

Happy Father’s Day
Dani Harris-Walters
Presented by Dance Umbrella, supported by Artists4Artists

Traces
Kesha Raithatha
Presented by Dance Umbrella, supported by Akademi Dance
Co-Produced by Curve Theatre Leicester. Initial Commision by Akademi and Esmée Fairbairn

More info here: https://www.danceumbrella.co.uk/