About Retina
Retina is an ambitious contemporary dance company artistically led by Filip Van Huffel, producing dance performances of differing scales; from theatre performances to large-scale site-specific events, multi-media projects and a wide range of accessibility and educational projects.
Working from both Belgium and the UK, Filip Van Huffel has established a particular working methodology that emphasises his investigation of pure movement that affects the viewer theatrically through a physically vibrant movement quality that is uniquely Retina.
Collaborations with a movement analyst, composers, musicians, visual artists, film directors, lighting, set and costume designers shape the work in a particular framework that is stark in its setting with an edge of beauty and humanity.
The unique dual nationality of the company has resulted in extensive support and influence from both Belgium and England and has resulted in an approach and look that is truly European.
Filip works closely with producer/movement analyst Natalie Gordon, who is a trained Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst. Natalie's work with Retina incorporates training for the dancers as well as an analytical eye on the choreography. Laban/Bartenieff training aids dancers functionality, efficiency and expressivity and encourages a full range of dynamics.
Filip's adoption of Laban/Bartenieff principles within his work adds depth, clarity and theatricality to his productions.
Filip Van Huffel
Filip Van Huffel trained with a range of contemporary dance teachers around Europe. He danced for Claudio Bernardo, Air de C and Company Thor in Belgium, Frey Faust in Germany and Random Dance Company in London before co-founding Retina in 1995. Retina has produced fifteen company works that have toured internationally and since 2000 Filip has worked as the sole artistic director. Independently, Filip is also regularly commissioned to create works for other companies, which have included several commissions for the South Bank Centre London, Higher Institute for Dance in Belgium, Akademi, Iudanza in Venezuela, Shobana Jeyasingh, StopGap, Ludus, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, X:ida Dance in Austria, EDge, the post-graduate company from London Contemporary Dance School and The Curve Foundation. He is regularly invited to teach workshops internationally and has also created a Dance for the Camera production Freeze for BBC/ACE.
Natalie Gordon
Natalie Gordon trained in dance and business studies at the University of Roehampton in London, which initiated her interest in Laban theories. She continued her advanced notator training at the Labanotation Institute which inspired her to explore the full realm of Laban�s theories in the Integrated Movement Studies programme in America. Since her certification she has specialised in teaching Labananalysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals worldwide as well as being the Producer of Retina Dance Company. Previously she managed Random and Physical Recall Dance Companies and taught at the University of Roehampton for several years. She now leads numerous Laban and Bartenieff courses internationally and collaborates with Retina Dance Company as their movement analyst.
Artistic Statement
How can I comment on society through an abstract art form and express an honest, insightful and sometimes satirical response to the world around me? Can I create characters through the observation and investigation of people, their physical quirks, movement and spatial behaviour, and can I shape this into a form that emotionally affects the viewer?
I believe that dance has a strong, powerful ability to effect people's emotions and senses and I want to be able to trigger these. I want to create a movement language that is unique, contemporary and human, a language that makes sense both for the dancer and for the viewer, full of body intelligence and physical expression.
I want to attain clarity in my dance productions, asking myself clear questions that I can explore with both complexity and simplicity, constantly searching for something new, pushing the choreography in different directions that are a challenge physically, emotionally and visually.
My aim is not to tell a literal story but to take the audience on a journey that begins and ends in movement.
Filip Van Huffel
