Watch US Dance goes virtual

Choreographers Keira Martin and Josh Hawkins have come together for a first-time collaboration and a brand-new commission for year two and three Dance@Salford students.  

Take it or Leave It is a new piece of highly physical dance theatre inspired by Hobsons Choice which was based and filmed in Salford. In collaboration with the students, Take it or Leave it explores people, places, the role of individuals in a transient city and focuses on ideas of unity and bringing people together. This relevant film work looks at personal choice, respecting others choices and belonging.  

Other new works to be shown include: 

Natural Right

Inspired by Pina Bauch’s Nelken Line, Natural Right is a choreographed promenade through Peel Park evoking the park’s connection with Nature, Chartism and Suffrage. The work is a collaboration between MA Dance Students and Debbie Milner. 

Here N’ There

A collaboration between First Year Dance@Salford students and Programme Leader Lisa Cullen, exploring themes of arriving, connecting and belonging. 

This event is part of the Peel Park 2020 Engagement programme, supported by the #NationalLotteryHeritageFund

Lisa Cullen, Programme Leader: Dance, said: “Our Dance teams are delighted to be back in the studio, though this brings huge challenges to all the creatives working in the space. Choreographing ensemble work whilst adhering to social distancing has its limitations, nonetheless, the artists and students have risen to this challenge to bring (to the screen) Watch US Dance.

“Usually this festival would be live and in our wonderful theatre at New Adelphi, but for health and safety reasons, this hasn’t been possible. So, we’ve worked and filmed in the studio and Peel Park to consider notions of Arrivals and Belongings, and themes related to our (re)connection with local nature. We’ve braved the Salford elements and engaged with our local environment with new eyes (and feet)!

“We are so proud of all our students who have shown remarkable resilience and professionalism on returning to University. We’re looking forward to sharing our work with you online on 13 November at 7pm.”

Third year dance student Faith Hiles added: “We are all so elated that we have a filmed dance project capturing Salford and our own stories embedded throughout. The piece is relatable and relevant to our reality today and I believe it’s a performance that no one will want to miss. Josh Hawkins and Keira Martin have done an incredible job to creative such a meaningful and emotional piece of work. Being part of this process has really developed my performance skills as well as teaching all the students involved how to learn and creative under difficult circumstances. Take it or Leave it has demonstrated how the arts can strive through any situation and creative something so beautiful and powerful even through under all the stress of today.”

Book your tickets. 

Admission: Pay what you can.