I’m delighted to welcome you to this season’s EDge tour, introducing an international ensemble of 12 exceptional performers. Every year the company performs throughout the UK and Europe: 12 dancers launching into the profession as they perform a programme of four choreographies. As always, this year’s show offers a variety of dance styles and creative approaches and includes a restaging of BANK by Siobhan Davies, a leading force in contemporary dance since 1967 and a London Contemporary Dance School alumnae. Two specially commissioned UK choreographers have created works for the company: Robert Clark, himself a former EDge dancer developed The Greeting Game and Sky Arts Academy artist Eleesha Drennan created Treasure. The programme is completed with The Singles, by Netherlands based Israeli choreographer Itamar Serussi, House Choreographer of Scapino Ballet. Throughout the creation and rehearsal period the choreographers work intensively with EDge; this ranges from sharing ideas, directing movement and teaching steps, to co-creating movement material with the dancers. A wide range of choreographic styles is vital in developing the dancers as individual artists, and I select each choreographer to provide a broad experience for the dancers and for you, the audience to enjoy. Jeanne Yasko EDge Artistic & Rehearsal Director
DANCERS
CHOREOGRAPHERS Robert Clark studied at the Laban Centre before completing his training at London Contemporary Dance School as a dancer with EDge. An established performer, collaborator and teacher, he has worked across Europe and North America. As a choreographer his work has been supported by a number of organisations and performed at several international festivals and venues. Recent commissions include works for Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance, London Contemporary Dance School, University of Bedfordshire, Dance and with the pan-European Commission programme Beyond Front@ 2013/14. robert-clark.org.uk
Siobhan Davies is a renowned British choreographer, having created over 60 works to critical acclaim: twice-winning an Olivier Award, and others including Digital Dance Awards and a South Bank Show Award. Founding Siobhan Davies Dance in 1988, she has worked closely with collaborating dance artists to ensure that their own artistic enquiry was part of the creative process. In 2006 the Siobhan Davies Studios opened realising Davies’ long-standing goal of establishing a permanent base for her organisation and independent dance artists. Her recent works have been presented at some of the most prestigious institutions in the UK and Europe. siobhandavies.com
RICHARD VAN KRUYSDIJK IS Composer
Eleesha Drennan is a multi-award winning choreographer based in London. She graduated from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2004. Drennan joined National Dance Company Wales from 2004-2013 and became house choreographer in 2011. She was awarded first prize for performance of her choreography Whiskers at the International Solo Dance Theatre Festival Stuttgart 2012. Currently Eleesha is recipient of the prestigious Sky Academy Arts Scholarship receiving mentorship from Wayne McGregor. eleeshadrennan.com
Itamar Serussi studied at the Israeli Dance Academy before performing with Batsheva Dance Company and developing his own personal style. He experiments with physical boundaries, by using humour and improvisation he tries to break through traditional dance. His work is playful, light and elegant. He was the house choreographer for the Netherlands based Danshuis Station Zuid, for two years. During this time he created several productions and was nominated for a Swan for Best Dance Production at the Nederlandse Dansdagen in Maastricht. He is house choreographer for Scapino Ballet. itamarserussi.org
E G D E
(The Singles)
Richard van Kruysdijk is a percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer. Most notable are his works with Phallus Dei, Sonar Lodge and Strange Attractor. He is also a founding member of Daisy Bell, an indietronics group with Dyane Donck and Evelien van den Broek. van Kruysdijk is an experienced producer with a distinct style, known for his electronica and sound design skills, he creates music for films, documentaries and contemporary dance, working intensively with choreographer Itamar Serussi. Isabel Álvarez BA in Classical Dance, Centro Profesional de danza Mari Cruz Alcalá, Spain
Eriketi Andreadaki BA in Dance and Teaching, Rallou Manou Professional Dance School, Greece
Amerigo Delli Bove BA in Contemporary Dance, Accademia Susanna Beltrami, Italy
Joshua Boyle BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, UK
Iris Chan BA (Hons) in Dance & Culture, University of Surrey, UK
Emily Cook BA (Hons) in Dance with Aerial Performance, Edge Hill University, UK
LUCY HANSOM Lighting Design & Production Manager
Lucy Hansom trained at Central St Martins in Theatre Design, specialising in lighting design and scenography for dance. She has toured with Scottish Dance Theatre, Rambert and Protein Dance and in 2014 collaborated as lighting designer with Michael Mannion on Athletes by Riccardo Buscarini, which won The Place Prize for dance. In 2015 Lucy is developing a piece with Freddie Opoku-Addaie.
SHARON COLEMAN Head of Costume & Design
Sharon Coleman teaches on the Design for Dance programme at London Contemporary Dance School. Sharon has worked as a freelance designer and maker for various choreographers and has a PGCE from the Institute of Education. Tiffany Desplanques BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, UK
Michaela Ellingson BFA in Dance with Arts Management, State University of New York at Purchase, USA
Lilly Nguyen BFA in Dance, San Jose State University, USA
Clare Schweitzer BA cum laude in Dance and Mathematics, Mount Holyoke College, USA
Sade Risku BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance, London Contemporary Dance School, UK
Sophia Sednova BFA in Dance, The University of Iowa, USA
JEANNE YASKO EDge Artistic & Rehearsal Director Jeanne Yasko, a choreographer, dancer and dance educator from New York City, has worked from bases in London and Stockholm since 1979. She performed and presented her work internationally and also toured with a one-woman show. A sought-after teacher, Jeanne has taught extensively in acclaimed schools, companies and festivals around the world. She was the founding artistic director/choreographer of the Swedish regional dance company Norrdans from 1995 - 2005 and has worked with EDge since 2010.
LONDON CONTEMPORARY DANCE SCHOOL
Based at The Place, a creative powerhouse for dance development, London Contemporary Dance School has been preparing young artists for a physically rigorous and highly creative profession for over 45 years. The school ensures that its students are versed in the skills and knowledge that will enable them to achieve success within the professional dance industry, in whatever shape that may take in the future. An education at London Contemporary Dance School is grounded in a culture that celebrates the young emergent artistic voice, which gives it space, acknowledgment and above all works to develop its uniqueness. lcds.ac.uk
SARA RIGDEN Lecturer in Design, Senior Costume Assistant
Sara Rigden works in the costume department at London Contemporary Dance School. Sara also works freelance, designing and making for various choreographers.
FRANCES MORRIS Costume Assistant
Frances Morris has worked on a number of theatre and television productions including Doctor Who, before joining the costume department at London Contemporary Dance School.
Principal Professor Veronica Lewis MBE Vice Principal and Director of Studies David Steele Head of Postgraduate Studies Dr Mary Evelyn Head of Student Services and International Development Mark Tyler
To help support London Contemporary Dance School visit theplace.org.uk/support theplace.org.uk/edge
/EDgeDanceCo
#EDgeDC15
Images: Ivar Sviestins
Design: Hot Pepper Design
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