New Production – La Lutte
LA LUTTE is a new duet created by choreographer Filip Van Huffel and is the return to his favourite choreographic format and the one that initiated the inception of his Retina Dance Company.
LA LUTTE deals with the struggle to communicate to oneself, one another and the outside world in an aggressive and playful environment and is performed by Matthew Slater and Steven Martin.
LA LUTTE (French for The Wrestle) is set in a theatrical environment, with floodlights reminiscent of a boxing arena or sport stadium; an intense space for 2 men, wrestling with themselves, one another and the world around them. A physical and emotionally charged work that uses Filip’s signature complex movement style layered with psychological intensity.
The movement is generated from two sources – firstly, from a collaboration in a day centre for children with disabilities. Filip, Matt and Steven observed and inhabited the movement content as the children wrestle to communicate, move and express their emotions. And secondly, a return for Filip to the ancient martial art of Jiu-Jitsu, in which he gained his black belt at the age of 15. This fighting technique looks at neutralizing an enemy by using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it. As a choreographic tool Jiu-Jitsu presents unusual material that is dramatic in its physicality.
LA LUTTE is a highly physical, extreme work, where the seemingly uncontrollable limbs are constructed into a tight framework. The setting is bold and bright with powerful, playful, and competitive movement content.
LA LUTTE will tour alongside a 40-minute version of Antipode from autumn 2010 with the UK premiere taking place at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe from the 15th - 30th August at Zoo Roxy's The Sanctuary (a beautiful 200-seat venue).
Jobs open for application
Retina Dance Company, have established themselves as innovative and dynamic voices in both the British and European contemporary dance scene. Founded in 1995, Retina has created eighteen company works to date and has toured throughout the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland and Venezuela. With an office base in Nottingham and Antwerp, Retina is currently creating a new production La Lutte for a premiere in Edinburgh Festival this summer. Retina is planning an ambitious future and is looking for two new staff members to help take the company to the next level with a dynamic approach.
Retina has two jobs available.
Part-time Company Manager on a temporary basis from August 2010 to April 2011. Depending on funding and suitability, post may continue full-time from April 2011.
The role will focus on tour booking, networking, education programme, company liaison, project management and UK profile. Candidates must have experience in company management and tour booking, have excellent communication skills, be able to work independently, be computer literate, and have a good knowledge of the UK touring network and contemporary dance circuit. Additional tasks including some fundraising and finance will be added to the full-time post.
Approximately £22,000 pro rata, dependent on experience. Salary will increase for full-time post.
Part-time marketing assistant
The role will focus on all marketing activities of the company, including website, facebook, twitter, flickr and YouTube updates, marketing packs, databases, statistics, press relations and venue liaison. Candidates should be able to work independently and have excellent computer literacy with a thorough understanding of facebook, twitter, YouTube and website updating, excellent communication skills, preferably apple mac experience, and a good understanding of the contemporary dance world.
Self employed contract at £8 per hour for approximately 12 hours per week.
Interviews for both jobs will be on Monday 21st June in Nottingham
Deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 11th June
Download an information pack and application form here:
Company Manager information pack in pdf
Marketing Assistant information pack in pdf
Company Manager application form in word
Marketing Assistant application form in word
Or email admin@retinadance.com
or call 0115 947 6202 (225)
Antipode reviewed
Over at the Ballet.co.uk site Graham Watts has posted a review of the Antipode performance at The Place in London.
From the review:
an effective and impactful work with lots of interesting ideas to maintain its non-narrative flow
Head over to the ballet.co.uk site for the full review, which is well worth a read.
Youth Dance residency and audition for Retina Youth Dance Company
21, 22, 23 December 2009 College Street Centre, Nottingham For East Midlands dancers from age 15 to 20
Retina Dance Company is searching for the 2010 Retina Youth Dance Company through a Christmas residency and audition led by Filip Van Huffel and Matthew Slater!
As everyone prepares for settling down for Christmas, Retina invites all 15 to 20 year old East Midlands dancers to come and get motivated and inspired instead. For 3 days Retina will lead the group through a dance residency that will culminate in the production of a new performance piece. Within the 3 days Retina will also be searching for the best dancers to be members of the new 2010 Retina Youth Dance Company.
Retina Youth meet in Nottingham on Saturdays and exists to contribute to improving the technical, performance and creative standards of dancers in the East Midlands. The group meet weekly for technique class and rehearsals and occasionally meet for weekend intensives with company members for the creation of new performance pieces. Retina also actively seek performance opportunities for the company as regularly as possible.
The residency is on December 21st and 22nd from 10 to 4pm and 23rd from 10 to 1pm. Cost is £30. The course will be based in College Street Centre, Nottingham. For registration email admin@retinadance.com or call Joanna Smuga-Lumatz on 0115 947 6202 (225)
Places are limited so book now!
Bartenieff Fundamentals Dans.Art workshop in Antwerp
Bartenieff Fundamentals workshop with Natalie Gordon
29 November 2009
24 January 2010
Dans.art is an initiative by Passerelle vzw in partnership with Retina Dance Company, Cultuurcentrum Hasselt and Wisper Gent. Retina's next Dans.art is an intensive workshop opportunity for dancers and choreographers to work with Retina's Laban Bartenieff specialist Natalie Gordon.
Natalie will teach a workshop that utilises Bartenieff Fundamentals as a choreographic tool. Bartenieff Fundamentals are a set of concepts, principles and exercises that focus on internal body connectivity to enable efficiency in movement and finding pathways of flow through the body to aid functionality and attain full bodied, fluid and released movement. Natalie will use these theories for creative choreographic exploration.
Dancers new to Bartenieff and those that wish to deepen their understanding are both welcome.
The courses are for dancers that want to discover more in contemporary dance. Each day costs €29 and runs from 10.00 to 15.00 at ccbe, Antwerp-Berchem.
Dans.Art workshop in Antwerp with Filip Van Huffel
28 March 2010
Filip's workshop consists of an idiosyncratic warm-up focussed on fluidity, breath, continuity and stamina. The class will be followed by taught material, structured improvisation and learning of choreographic devises that can be useful during a choreographic process.
More information and booking contact natalie@retinadance.com
