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Wales Dance Platform
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More than 50 events cross three days are scheduled events are being held this weekend in the first Wales Dance Platform in Cardiff.
It brings dancers, choreographer, photographers and video makers, designers and writers from across the country to share their work and experience of dance in Wales.
Supported by arts and media organisations including Welsh National Opera, Creu Cymru Dance Consortium, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Sherman Theatre, Dawns i Bawb and Media Wales, the platform takes place at Chapter Arts Centre, Wales Millennium Centre and the Dance House at WMC, home of NDCWales.
Here choreographer and dancer Angharad Harrop discussed the importance of the Platform to dance in Wales.

"What is particularly great about the Wales Dance Platform is that there is the opportunity to show dance from choreographers at all stages of their career, and to show work that has been made with all sizes of budgets, ensuring that the platform truly reflects the entirety of professional dance that is happening across Wales. I feel it is important for recent graduates to have the opportunity to show their work in the professional arena and to get feedback on their practice from experienced industry professionals so we are able to continually develop and reflect on our practice which will intern increase the strength and presence of Welsh dance on an international scene.
I have grown up through dance in North Wales and I am particularly excited to be presenting my work at the Wales Dance Platform alongside many other artists who have supported my development in dance over the past few years. Diversions Dance Company was my first experience of contemporary dance when they gave a workshop in my secondary school, I had seen nothing like it, the dancers moved in a way I had never seen before and instantly wanted to learn more. The following year I did my work experience at the Tyndall studio with the company and joined Dawns i Bawb’s Youth Dance. I was fortunate enough get some fantastic experience with many renowned choreographers during my time with Youth Dance, like Marc Rees and Suzie Firth who are also presenting at the Platform.
I graduated with an MA in Dance and Professional Practice from De Montfort University in 2010 and returned to North Wales to work as an independent dance artist. I am very lucky to be supported in the early stages of my career by organizations such as Dawns i Bawb, the Dance Collective and the Arts Council. Since returning to North Wales I have been performing with small companies, creating my own work to show at festivals across the UK and creating a dance film piece Cynefin which will be shown at the ‘Danca em Foco Dance Film Festival’ in Rio de Janeiro this August. I also work within the community and lecture at Edge Hill University.
I am presenting Ty Bach Twt, a piece commissioned by Dawns i Bawb for their showcase event last weekend. It is great that we will have a second opportunity to perform at the Wales Dance Platform. It is fantastic that we are being supported by Dawns i Bawb to show the piece again, this time in Cardiff. Ty Bach Twt is a series of duets that explores the simple ideas that arise from this Welsh nursery rhyme. Ty Bach Twt draws upon welsh folklore to spark new thought on this age old tune and so is particularly fitting to be presented at the Wales Dance Platform. The dancers give brief glimpses into their ‘ty bach twt’ set to the musical accompaniment of North Walian Folk Band Brigyn and the improvisations of a live cellist.
I am excited to present my work alongside other dance companies from Wales and to represent the North and the work we are producing up here. There are few opportunities for North Walian dancers and choreographers to present their work in the south and the logistics of the A470 make the drive down (though beautiful) in excess of 4 hours. The Wales Dance Platform has put in a lot of work to ensure we can present our work at the festival for which we are very grateful.
I hope that by presenting my work (along with other dancers and choreographers from the North) at the Platform that we will put North Wales back on the map for contemporary dance and inspire others from the north to submit work for similar events in the future. We are a dedicated bunch up here and often juggle many community projects as well as creating our own work and developing our choreographic voice. The Wales Dance Platform is a great opportunity to have our work shown at a national level and to see what the rest of Wales is up to!"
Angharad Harrop and Dawns i Bawb, Wales Dance Platform, Sunday, Chapter, 4pm
Wales Dance Platform runs until July 1 and 3 at Chapter and Dance House, Weston Studio and Glanfa at Wales Millennium Centre with a combination of free events and ticketed events. Full details of Chapter events and how to book tickets at Chapter visit www.chapter.org or call 02920 304400, for Wales Millennium Centre events and how to book tickets at Wales Millennium Centre visit www.wmc.org.uk or call 02920 636464. For a weekend pass call National Dance Company Wales on 02920 635609.
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Sunday, July 3, 2011 |
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