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STUDENTS across Wales are being introduced to Wales’ greatest poet through dance. |
STUDENTS across Wales are being introduced to Wales’ greatest poet through dance.National Dance Company Wales is providing an education resource to all schools following the publication of a survey that found a quarter of young people in Thomas’ home country have not even heard of him. In the survey, conducted by the organisers of the University of Wales Dylan Thomas Prize, more than 80 per cent questioned could not name a single piece of work. It is a dance commissioned by NDCWales from an American choreographer By Singing Light that is bringing the poet’s work to hundreds of children across the nation, including workshops in Llandudno this week. NDCWales is currently touring the new dance by Stephen Petronio that is based on the work of Dylan Thomas in a double bill with Romance Inverse by Itzik Galili. The show has already played venues in Newport, Hereford, Newtown and is at Venue Cymru on Thursday (NOV 4) before going on to Brecon. Then in the spring the dance will be performed in venues across Wales from Clwyd Theatre Cymru and Aberystwyth Arts Centre to Wales Millennium Centre. Throughout the Company’s touring circuit workshops are held in schools and colleges and there are also some special matinees at theatres where school pupils see an introduced, interactive show. So far workshops have been held in more than 20 schools across Wales. Hundreds of students have also been taking part in workshops on the English leg of the company’s tour. The spring tour will also include venues across Ireland, more venues in England as well as more Welsh dates. The Company has put the poem that the dance is based on, In My Craft or Sullen Art, in its programme which is given free to every person who comes to the dance. Now t an education resource pack including the poem and an introduction to why the choreographer chose Dylan Thomas is being made available to all schools. The new dance is also significant in that one of the world’s hippest young composers, Son Lux, has been commissioned to create a new score for the dance which includes the poem In My Craft or Sullen Art sung by the composer. It also uses Welsh songs from Mansel Thomas. Stephen Petronio created the new work at the Dance House at Wales Millennium Centre. “Originally I thought, ‘There’s no way I could go to Wales and possibly do Dylan Thomas’! But Dylan Thomas kept coming back to me. “My composer loved the idea and so we read Dylan Thomas as if we were studying it at college. We narrowed it down to one complete poem ‘In My Craft or Sullen Art’ and a brief exert from Lament. The beauty of Dylan’s work is that it doesn’t really force a narrative on you but it gives a literary, poetic reference that will flavour how you look at the work.” Artistic Director Ann Sholem said, "When we go to schools and colleges to give workshops the participants not only have a fun and entertaining time with an activity that is part of their curriculum but they then have the unique opportunity of seeing the same professional dancers performing what they have been learning and taking part in on the theatre stage. "As the national dance company, we are particularly pleased that by touring a dance that has been inspired by the work of Dylan Thomas, and actually includes his poetry, we are introducing participants to our greatest poet.” The next interactive matinee is at Theatre Brycheiniog, Brecon on November 19, following the evening performance the previous day. Participation Officer Meg Merrett said, “In the interactive audience members can volunteer to take part in class and rehearsals on stage with our dancers. There is then a full performance of Petronio’s By Singing Light and an opportunity to ask the dancers questions after the show. It’s a great introduction to contemporary dance and a chance to experience the work in a relaxed and open environment.” There is limited availability for workshops around the Brecon performances which are at 7.45pm on November 18 and the interactive matinee on the 19th at 1pm. The spring tour begins in January at Aberystwyth Arts Centre and includes Milford Haven, Swansea, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold and Wales Millennium Centre. Workshops can be booked by contacting Megan Merrett or Kate Montefiore on 029 2063 5612 For Brecon interactive matinee tickets contact the venue on 01874 611622 For the free Dylan Thomas resource pack email participation@ndcwales.co.uk |
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| e-mail: participation@ndcwales.co.uk |
Wednesday, November 3, 2010 |
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