Serendipity present:
Hidden Movement: Contemporary Voices of Black British Dance Book Launch event with preview of Silent Aria.
Wednesday 30 October 2013
7.00pm
The Guildhall, Leicester
On 30 October 2013 at 7.00pm in Leicester at the Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, Leicester LE1 5FQ there will be music and dance to celebrate the launch of an exciting new book entitled, Hidden Movement with guest speakers Brenda Edwards MBE and David Bryan. This book is the result of a unique two day conference, held as part of the Let’s Dance International Festival 2013. This book, developed and produced by Serendipity Arts Movement, aims to relate the untold history of Black Dance in the UK, through the stories of leading professionals and experts in the field. It features contributions from Dr Patrick Acogny, David Bryan, Hilary Carty, Brenda Edwards MBE, Keisha Grant, Jackie Guy MBE, Sue Harrison, Namron, Henri Oguike, Lee Payne, Dr Bob Rhamdhanie, Dwayn Simms, Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp OBE, Djoee Tomakloe and Sharon Watson, and is introduced by Pawlet Brookes. The narrative of Hidden Movement explores the changing politics, policies and terminology, through the personal journeys of those who have shaped the social history of Black British Dance.
To celebrate the launch, the evening will feature a preview of Silent Aria, an inspired new collaboration between acclaimed choreographer and contributor Henri Oguike, established composer Philip Herbert and emerging dancer Tara Lopez. Featuring an uplifting musical score and theatrical choreography, this piece embodies the artists’ own stories through invigorating dance. Philip White (Oboe) with Philip Herbert (piano) will perform in this uplifting musical score, which will be coupled with theatrical choreography, where this piece embodies the artists’ own stories through invigorating dance performed by Tara Lopez.
The first section of the musical score starts in A minor, Silent Aria’s where the influences combine hypnotic and expressive melismas in the melodic line supported by the accompaniment supplied by the piano; which draws on the influence of minimalism and chordal figuration that is to be found in some of the keyboard preludes of JS Bach. A more soulful and dramatic section ensues in Eb Major, modulating through C major and on to A major. A chord played with sforzando, announces the dramatic section in A minor where the oboe’s melodic line sings out over an accompaniment that is punctuated by chords played in staccato fashion: which moves through to a much more relaxed episode, where the tempo is rubato. The music eventually resumes strict tempo and returns to the section in Eb Major, before a recapitulation of the opening cantilena in A minor returns, with some delicate ornamentation that finally ends with a coda of repeated elegant and florid phrases.
Ballare: To Dance
Composed by Philip Herbert
With Timescale Ensemble and Lee Payne
Touring from 6 October – 13 October 2012
Ballare: To Dance captures the magic and spirit of the Cultural Olympiad. It’s about the coming together of cultures from across the world to create something unique where world music meets classical music as equals. The excitement of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has grown and people from around the world have come together to celebrate these global athletic competitions. Ballare: To Dance is inspired by this union with music that reflects the cosmopolitan nature of the games and the diverse peoples of the UK. It allows an opportunity to taste, sample and share in cultural experiences of the richest kind, through artistic and creative projects, designed to bring people together, harmoniously.
Ballare: To Dance
is part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad in the East Midlands and is supported by Igniting Ambition. Igniting Ambition invests in projects and people that take the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as their inspiration to create once-in-a-lifetime cultural opportunities for audiences and communities right here on our doorstep. Igniting Ambition is a programme for the East Midlands, funded by Legacy Trust UK, the European Regional Development Fund and the East Midlands Development Agency, with the support of Arts Council England and many others