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20 Oct 2009 14:32:21
Six of the best dance students from the University are creating their own piece of history this week.
They will showcase a new contemporary dance and hip-hop performance, called ‘A Widening Field’, at the Black History Festival in London this Friday afternoon. There will be two performances at 2pm and 5pm on the main stage.
The chosen few are Luke Jessop, Bonu Ncube, Colleyna Feely, Alida Simons, Chloe Harcourt and Lois Devlin.
The successful six were chosen after demanding auditions which attracted 40 of the leading dance students at the University.
Helen Bailey, the University’s Head of Performing Arts and English, said: “The students were all very excited about the opportunity to audition for the festival. It was really competitive and our X Factor moment!
“We had to take the best of the best and we had to make a final selection. It was tough and there were some hard choices. Many of them could have performed at the festival and been a credit to the University.
“The six chosen have worked intensely over the weekend rehearsing, meaning they’ve worked like a professional would and responded quickly to a situation.”
A new lecturer at the University, Diccon Hogger, created the new piece of work specifically for the event.
He said: “The students have come from all three years, including three first years. It’s a very intensive process but it has definitely focused the mind!
“They’re not only six of the best but also six of the most enthusiastic students. They’ve given everything in the last few days.”
Diccon, who was a visiting lecturer in the last academic year, is a performer and choreographer in his own right and runs a company, base dance, in Ely in Cambridgeshire.
He said: “It’s going to be a great opportunity to showcase what the performers can do. It also shows we are an accessible University for new and aspiring students.”
The festival weekend, which runs from Friday to Sunday (23-25 October), is at Potters Fields Park which lies on the southern side of the Thames between Tower Bridge and City Hall.
It is the biggest festival of its kind being held in the UK, with hundreds of thousands expected over the three days, and will feature a combination of dance, music and theatre.
And it is the highlight of a whole month of art and sport events which mark the impact of black culture and history on contemporary life.
Black History Month recognises the contributions of Africa to the economic, cultural and political life of London and the country as a whole.
Latest news» 2009» October» Dancers movin' on up at Black History Festival
