Skip to main content

Top dance talent comes to South East London this Spring

Thu 16 January 2020

From fresh new dance works to returning classics, the Laban Theatre’s first season of 2020 has something for everyone.

This spring we welcome five high-profile professional dance companies to the Laban Theatre stage, bringing a variety of top talent to south-east London’s doorstep. 

Opening the season is the sleek and athletic Company Wayne McGregor, who return to us with Autobiography (2017) on 23 and 24 January. Choreographed by the multi-award-winning Wayne McGregor, Professor of Choreography and Trinity Laban, the work is derived from McGregor’s own genome sequencing. This is a fantastic chance to see this “mind-boggling mix of science and sorcery” (Guardian) up close.

On 28 and 29 February, world-leading Candoco Dance Company brings two radical works to Trinity Laban performed by seven disabled and non-disabled dancers. Face In by Israeli choreographer Yasmeen Godder is a sensual and disturbing ode to intimacy and imagination, expressed through striking images interwoven with daring and uninhibited dance and Set to an urban indie score.  Hot Mess by internationally renowned choreographer and designer Theo Clinkard is an unpredictable and anarchic performance set to an eclectic score by the award-winning Joe Newman of Alt-J. This is the first time Joe Newman of alt-J has written music for the stage.

In four highly personal short works curated by Freddie Opoku-Addaie for Dance Umbrella 2019, artists THĒO INARTBecky NamgaudsFfion Campbell-Davies/ tyroneisaacstuart and hip hop theatre legend Jonzi D turn their gaze on society in a powerful combination of physicality, lyricism, surreal visuals and experimental sound. Catch the SystemsLAB Mixed Bill on 12 and 13 March. 

Also in March, Jane Mason with David Williams perform their duet Night Flying (17 and 18 March). Drawing on ideas related to deep time, the night sky and landscapes of being, the work combines movement, music, text, and objects to create images that unfold fluidly like dreams and exploring a constellation of associations related to memory, change and wonder. Seated on-stage rather than in the auditorium, audience members will inhabit the same space as the dancer, making this a truly intimate experience.

Rounding off an incredible season of visiting companies, BalletBoyz are back on 20 March with Deluxe – a feast of mesmerising and sublime dance cleverly fused with the Company’s trademark use of film and behind the scenes footage. This brand-new show celebrates their 20th anniversary and just happens to be an amazing collaboration between some of Trinity Laban’s most exciting and innovative alumni including former Transitions Dance Company member Maxine Doyle (now of Punchdrunk) and composition graduate Cassie Kinoshi of the Mercury-nominated SEED Ensemble.

We’re also delighted to be celebrating Lin Hwai-min this season. One of the world’s pre-eminent choreographers, he is the founder of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan as well as an alum of Trinity Laban. He’ll be sharing thoughts on his life as a maker of dance, in conversation with prominent dance writer Judith Mackrell, in a special event on 20 February.

The season wouldn’t be complete without exciting opportunities to see tomorrow’s dance stars as well as today’s. Our alumni performance platform Bite Size Pieces gives graduates the space to showcase new work in development in a safe and constructive environment (22 February), whilst our final year dance students get a taste of working at the vanguard of the industry as they present an exciting programme of new works in their Mixed Bill on 25 February.

For more information on all performances, please visit our What’s On page

Image: Candoco Dance Company – Face In by Yasmeen Godder (credit Hugo Glendinning)