Film

Dance previews from across the region

2Faced Dance Company: EVERYTHING (but the girl)

Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sat 10 & Sun 11 September

As part of the journey towards their stated aim of becoming ‘a worldwide leader in the production of breathtaking, physical and inspirational dance’, Herefordshire-based 2Faced Dance Company here present a highenergy triple bill... The Qualies brings to life writer David Foster Wallace’s ground-breaking study of American tennis player Michael Joyce... Hollow In A World Too Full is a solo work featuring a score from Cannes awardwinning composer Alex Baranowski... 7.0 explores how people respond when everything they thought they knew is taken away from them. A highly physical presentation, the piece is one of 2Faced Dance’s most popular productions.

Dance

Rambert Dance In Peaky Blinders 2022

Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 27 September - Sun 2 October

If you’re not only a fan of Birmingham-based television drama Peaky Blinders but also an admirer of long-established and critically acclaimed dance company Rambert, then this brand-new show - here receiving its world premiere - will definitely see you in seventh heaven. Co-produced by Rambert and Birmingham Hippodrome, written by Steven Knight - the creator of the global-hit television series - and boasting an eclectic Peaky Blinders soundtrack, the production takes a deep dive into the backstory of lead character Tommy Shelby. “Peaky Blinders has always had music and movement at its heart,” says Steven, “and now the beating heart of the show will be transferred to the stage: an interpretation of Tommy’s story, performed by Rambert, one of the leading dance companies in the world. This is dance for people who don’t usually watch dance, and what I’ve written has been transformed into something startling by consummate dancers and choreographers. “If the concept of a Peaky Blinders dance seems strange, reserve judgement and reserve a ticket.” The show is being presented as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival.

Kantha Katha-K

Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 20 & Wed 21 September

Local stories originated during the Covid pandemic lie at the heart of this unique performance/installation, presented in the Hippodrome’s Patrick Centre by the wellestablished Amina Khayyam Dance Company. Making use of WhatsApp and Zoom, the highly regarded ensemble engaged Birmingham women with the creative activity of Kantha - a traditional south Asian form of embroidery - via which the participants told their Covid experiences and stories. They were assisted in the initiative by artists Abeda Begum and Bhajan Hunjan. The final part of the project sees Amina Khayyam kinetically progress the Kanthas to Kathak. The music score used for the presentation, Borodin’s Nocturne, has been specially adapted by Jonathan Mayer to Indian instrumentation.

English Youth Ballet: Swan Lake

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 23 & Sat 24 September

Performing full-length versions of classics such as The Nutcracker, Giselle, Coppelia and The Sleeping Beauty, English Youth Ballet utilises professional principal dancers in its productions’ leading roles while also providing young dancers with the opportunity to perform within a professional setting. Their ‘powerful new adaptation of one of the world’s most cherished classical ballets’ features 100 talented young performers from the local area.

Vincent Simone: Tango Passions

Albany Theatre, Coventry, Wed 14 September; Stourbridge Town Hall, Wed 28 September; Swan Theatre, Worcester, Sun 9 October; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 10 October; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Thurs 13 October; Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 20 October

Vincent Simone is certainly not a man to let the grass grow under his everdancing feet. The Argentine Tango King and Strictly Come Dancing legend has been much in evidence at venues across the country of late, starring alongside fellow Strictly favourite Ian Waite in The Ballroom Boys. Now he’s back with this brand-new show, stopping off at theatres across the region with a production that’s being publicised as ‘a sexy, steamy, passionate night not to be missed!’. Featuring music from Astor Piazzolla and Gotan Project, the show stars Paula Duarte as Vincent’s leading lady.