South East Dance kicks off its online autumn 2020 season

South East Dance, the arts charity behind Brighton & Hove’s new home for dance, The Dance Space, has launched a free programme of international dance films as part of its autumn season of online dance events and activities. Cath James, artistic director of South East Dance, said: “From a programme of dance works made specially for the screen to a new digital commission that allows us to step inside an extensive research project exploring the history and possible futures of the almost 180-year-old ballet Giselle, this is a season designed to be experienced online on South East Dance’s exciting new-look website.” Highlights include: • 2020 Vision: new films released every month Sept-Dec 2020 Selected by the 20 artists who will feature in the very first programme when The Dance Space opens next year, as well as a steering group made up of local Brighton residents, 2020 Vision is a programme of more than 20 international screen dance shorts representing dance on screen from the 1930s onwards, made by filmmakers from around the world. One of the first to be screened is Tanzerishe Pantominen, dating back to the 1930s and featuring pioneering German cabaret performer Valeska Gert, who is said to have laid the foundations and paved the way for the punk movement. Selected by Brighton-based performance artist Liz Aggiss, the archive film is presented in collaboration with the Centre National de la Danse. • Glitch/Giselle: premiering at online event and discussion, 4pm, Oct 22 Choreography, technology, history and philosophy collide with South East Dance’s new digital commission Glitch/Giselle, a multidisciplinary research project responding to the almost 180-year-old ballet Giselle. By digging deep into the archives, reading widely and interviewing notable dance scholars, Glitch Projects has created a series of original films and a digital tarot deck, which will premiere at an online event and discussion at 4pm on Oct 22. Together they provide a way of travelling in time and space, to look back to the origins of Giselle in myth and forward to its potential futures. • Vincent Dance Theatre’s In Loco Parentis Online: 6pm, October 7-midnight October 11 2020. Critically acclaimed for translating real-life testimonies into beautifully crafted performance work, Vincent’s In Loco Parentis sheds light on the extraordinary resilience of care-experienced young people, demanding that their stories be seen and heard. Three adult and two extraordinary young performers combine movement, strong visual imagery and spoken word to explore the cycles of rupture and repair that drive children into care. To accompany this screening, South East Dance will be hosting an online discussion with the Artistic Director of Vincent Dance Theatre, Charlotte Vincent, about her work with care-experienced young people. Cath added: “Like many arts organisations we’ve had to rethink and adapt how we present our dance programme during the pandemic. So this Autumn we’re returning to our roots to bring you a really interesting and diverse selection of dance created specifically for the screen. “South East Dance began life as a Screen Dance Agency back in the 1990s, creating original short films with the likes of Channel 4 and the British Council and since then we’ve always been fascinated with what happens when choreography and technology meets and our Autumn programme reflects that. “From filmic studies of the epic landscape of Aboriginal land in Australia, to shorts exploring the objectification of Black women and their bodies, this is a selection that offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of dance on film. Log in and explore! “Those already familiar with South East Dance will notice a new look when they access the Autumn programme via the organisation’s new website. South East Dance has been working with two local agencies, Baxter & Bailey and Grandad Digital to create a new look that they feel better reflects the charity’s personality and desire to welcome the whole community into The Dance Space when it opens next year.” Cath added: “South East Dance is an arts charity dedicated to challenging perceptions of what dance is, who it’s for and what it can achieve. We are the driving force behind The Dance Space, the south east’s brand new home for dance in Brighton & Hove, opening in 2021. “We want to create lasting artistic and social change in and with dance. To do that we will support bold, diverse dance experiences that reflect the world we live in and impact positively on people’s lives; and we will support people committed to taking artistic risks and pushing the artform forward. “In 2019/20 we presented 132 performances created by 60 artists; offered more than 3,000 classes or workshops with and for our communities; reached live and digital audiences of over 15,000 people and supported 408 artists to develop their practice, their business, expand their networks or undertake residencies, performances or artist advisories.” http://www.southeastdance.org.uk Steps announce Brighton date and new album West Sussex man reveals "truth" about his sister's murder in 10 Rillington Place Why pre-booking might be here to stay at Weald & Downland Living Museum Loxwood Drive-In Movies set for 2021 return IN PICTURES: Eastbourne Pier turns film star! IN PICTURES: Images of lockdown across Brighton and Hastings • Talk is increasing of further lockdowns in the UK. What do you think of the situation? Join the Big Conversation and have your say on everything from healthcare to how the pandemic has affected you personally and how we make our communities stronger: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/bc-worthing