Latest news with #contemporaryDance
The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘Bringer of joy' and choreographer Matthew Bourne earns City of London freedom
Choreographer and director Sir Matthew Bourne has been hailed as a 'bringer of joy', after being awarded the freedom of the City of London. The recognition was for his achievements in contemporary dance, during a career spanning more than four decades, which has seen him enliven productions of Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands and Nutcracker. At the ceremony at the Guildhall on Thursday, Sir Matthew, 65, said: 'As a born Londoner, I am particularly thrilled to be receiving the freedom today. 'As the proud son of two children of the Blitz, who lived just streets away from each other in Walthamstow E17, I have made London my home for my entire life. 'It has been my playground, my workplace and the inspiration for many of the works that I have made throughout my career, including Cinderella, Oliver!, Mary Poppins, and even Swan Lake. 'I am deeply honoured and grateful, and would like to thank Mark Lucraft and Fiona Adler for kindly nominating me for the freedom.' Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC, and honorary secondary of London Fiona Adler, from the Old Bailey, nominated Sir Matthew. Sir Matthew has been an artistic director of Adventures in Motion Pictures, and dance company New Adventures, which he founded in 2002 and which specialises in contemporary dance. His productions include The Car Man, a reinterpretation of composer Georges Bizet's 1875 opera Carmen, Romeo And Juliet, Cinderella, Play Without Words, and The Red Shoes. For about three decades he has worked with theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, and Sir Matthew has brought his flair to musicals such as Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady and Oliver! Deputy policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, James Thomson, said: 'As well as a major exporter of British dance to the rest of the world, Matthew is also the bringer of much joy, with the ability to leave people walking on air as they file out of the theatre. 'He is at the top of his game and is a very worthy recipient of the Freedom of the City of London, and I offer Matthew my warmest congratulations today, which will be echoed by his many millions of admirers.' Sir Matthew was named the individual with the most Olivier Awards in 2020, when he received a ninth win. He also has two Tony Awards, for directing and choreographing Swan Lake, and received a special Olivier Award in 2019. Mr Lucraft said: 'Matthew's consummate skill for reimagining storytelling through dance is evident, not just by how audiences are mesmerised, exhilarated and moved by his productions, featuring troupes of supremely gifted dancers, but also by his hugely impressive collection of national and international awards.' In 2001 Sir Matthew was made an OBE, and in 2016 was knighted in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year Honours, for services to dance. The tradition of the freedom of the city is believed to date back to 1237. Recent recipients include comedian Sir Lenny Henry, theatre owner and producer Sir Cameron, and Lady Mary Peters, who won an Olympic gold medal in the athletics pentathlon in 1972.
Forbes
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
This Feeling Reminds Me Of Dance: Bodytraffic At Avalon Hollywood June 5
June 5, 2025 Performance at the Avalon Hollywood by Bodytraffic On June 5th, Bodytraffic, the contemporary dance company, will end their 2024-2025 Los Angeles season at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood. The performance, This Feeling Reminds me of You, will feature three works commissioned for the company, renowned choreographer Trey McIntyre's Mayhem, which the company has been performing to enthusiastic audiences, and two new works by members of the company, Jordyn Santiago and Joan Rodriguez. For tickets, click here. 'I really pride myself in the work that we do at Body Traffic,' artistic director Tina Finkelman Berkett told me recently, 'at bringing people the best of what's happening in contemporary dance.' She is hoping audiences come to see these new works and new voices in choreography. 'if you want dance to survive, you have to help usher in that next generation of choreographers.' Burkett is coming to the end of an LA season in which the company, almost 20 years old, has matured and is experiencing great growth. Since Gillian Wynn joined as President in 2022, Bodytraffic's Board has grown. and is now filled with seasoned brand strategists, financial officers, content creators, as well as choreographer Trey McIntyre, plus a seasoned advisory board. Tina Finkelman Berkett, co-founder and artistic director of BODYTRAFFIC For much of Bodytraffic's history, Berkett served as artistic director as well as executive director. They have recently completed their search for an executive director (which they will announce soon). 'This is a tremendous next step for us to usher in the next chapter of the company because it will hopefully allow me to focus more on the art, on the dancers, on the choreographers.' With regard to the new works from company members Santiago and Rodriguez, Berkett was involved in many aspects of those works' development, from notes to suggesting how dancers might express a certain consciousness, to deciding on live music for one piece. Also, for the first time, Bodytraffic received a $1 Million grant from the Perenchio Foundation which Berkett cited as 'just another example of how Gillian's involvement has allowed the funding community to build trust in our company and the staying power of Bodytraffic.' Bodytraffic just complete a sold out week at The Joyce Theater in New York. Burkett's hopes that with an expanded board, and expanded outreach to the community of dancers and the dance community, Los Angeles will demonstrate the same passion for seeing dance. Also, this summer Bodytraffic will perform at Jacob's Pillow, in the Berkshires, July 2-6, 2025 As an artistic director, Burkett is also maturing her own vision for the company, she said, 'by finding the balance between commissioning works by really well established choreographers whose names are a draw for audiences, licensing works that exist that I know will do really well in our repertory; and then, making space for new choreographic voices, because my overarching commitment is to furthering the art form of dance.' Given the current funding climate, and the cuts to federal support of the arts, Burkett is concerned about the struggles of emerging dance artists looking for a job. Burkett is conversation on this subject with USC Kaufman, and with the Julliard School. Burkett does not know the answer. She knows she can't give them all jobs. But what Bodytraffic does, Berkett told me, is 'offer company class every morning that the company's in town completely for free And in addition, we've been bulking up our community offerings, which means offering classes that are not necessarily for professional dancers, but just giving people an opportunity to come in, and be in space with other people, [experiencing] shared dance, [and] feel the power of how dance can make you feel alive and get those endorphins going.' For more information, click here, and for tickets, here.
