Phoenix Dance Theatre May 23, 2007

Javier De Frutos: Untitled 1

Javier De Frutos premieres new choreography, featuring the dramatic music of Stravinsky’s Les Noces (The Wedding). This iconic choral work for dance has been reimagined as a male quartet especially for Phoenix. Javier celebrates the strength of the male company members - introducing our new dancers to the audience.

“De Frutos’ choreography is filled with such ravishingly sensual rhythms that he makes even death sexy.” The Times

Henrique Rodovalho: Untitled

Brazilian Henrique Rodovalho’s choreography has been performed all over the world but he makes his UK debut with a Phoenix commission. He creates sinuous movement, laced with humour, emotion and an influence from capoeira martial arts. The dancers perform in a shifting world created by film projections to a soundtrack of traditional South American beats.

“Explosive physicality, its speed, and attacks echoing capoeira and other martial arts’ proved to be the most engaging attribute.” Dance Magazine
Jane Dudley: Harmonica Breakdown

Phoenix are privileged to have been given permission to stage a rare revival of Jane Dudley’s 1938 masterpiece, Harmonica Breakdown. This uplifting solo to Sonny Terry’s Blues, sees a female dancer pit her irrepressible positivity against the Great American Depression. Against almost impossible odds her indignation blooms, giving birth to a radiant soul.

"a tour de force... images of American black life and art flow by in the solo's brief and tumultuous unfolding." New York Times
Didy Veldman: See Blue Through

In See Blue Through, Didy Veldman (NBT’s Carmen) is inspired by the mysteries of underwater life. Veldman challenges the limitations of the human body with a fluidity that transform seven dancers into undulating creatures suspended in water.

“The dancers turn themselves into strange creatures of the deep…Movements are sinewy and mysterious.” The Stage

Official Website: http://www.phoenixdancetheatre.co.uk