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 But Beautiful  -  TOURING  2007-09

Arts Council England Southeast

Inspired by the life and music of jazz legend, Art Pepper (1925 - 1982), a new fusion of signdance, jazz, voice and improvisation, exploring how an extraordinary legacy of music grew from a painful and chaotic period of his life.

'SDC and jazz go together like silk and pearls ' Mellissa Motsyn DAO 07

Alongside performers David Bower and Isolte Avila, the show features talented  jazz musicians Luke Barlow and Mark Holub, winner of the 2005 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award for his group, Led Bib.  Making up the artists for the full programme are musicians Alex Ward and Santiago Horro

Concept and Original Direction- Garry Robson

Intitial movement  training & development- Ornella D'Agostino

Further Development  Luke Barlow , David Bower , Isolte Avila

Music- Luke Barlow (Music Director) Mark Holub   & The Luke Barlow Band

Signdance performers & Signdance  -David Bower  Isolte Avila 

Film - David Bower 

 

                                                     New Work!

                "Three Films"  'TRACES- LISTEN - HERE'  Plus One

                                       Arts Council England South East

This brand new  Intenational signdance-film  work is to  be developed in Turkey, London , Bucks, and  Sardenia April - June 2008 .

Preview tour at selected venues during  2008 . The work is available to perform at :galleries , open spaces , theatres ,  street theatre , cinemas, and dance festivals.

Premiere at  Holton Lee,  Dorset  late  June  2008 . Please email us for booking details

Artist- Collaborators

Ornella D'agostino    Mark Holub

Caglar Kimyoncu   Sarana Merha

David Bower    Alex Ward

Luke Barlow    Liran Donin

Isolte Avila      Jon Adams

Vicky Heathcock     Primoz Bayzyak

Short Films

These are films by SDC's Artistic Director David Bower  in collaboration with several individuals and organizations that can be shown in small demonstrations or as part of a film Festival . Also Available from Roaring Girl Productions www.roaringgirl.com  is Liz Crow's 'Frida Kahlo's Corsett' which stars Isolte Avila (SDC's dance director) as Frida Kahlo, and the 'But Beautiful Documentary' by Sarana Merha available from filmpro sdc@filmpro.net

Secret Signs - 2005

A Signdance Theatre film in collaboration with BBC Birmingham and Ruby Rocks. contact

Firesign - 2005 

A film collaboration with Mindy Brown, Talking Hands, Denhague, NL,  Caglar Kimyoncu and Frederiq Spigt and Band.

Relics - 2003

Two 18th Century robots are found in the streets of Soho, London, and are brought back to life at Beat Wax.

A Signdance film and installation in collaboration with Adam Reynolds, Ruby Rocks, DaDa South, Beat Wax, Soho, and Picture Productions.

Prices and information available at filmpro: sdc@filmpro.net

 

Past Work

Named Space  - 2003/04

Based on the writings of Brandon Astor Jones, a prisoner on Death Row in America  for a crime he did not commit.  The dance theatre flows between real life and dreams - being in prison does not stop us from dreaming.  the songs are original Black American children's songs from 1940's New York.

Dramateurgy: Goro Osojnik
Research: Garry Robson and  Bill Barlow
Dance  dramateurgy: Ornella D'Agostino
Music: Luke Barlow
Research: Garry Robson

Supported by the Barlow Family and Rodriguez Foundation

You hide and I'll go blow up the Generator - 2002/03

A Signdance romance in space using  beautiful imagers of our planet, signdance and  new dance work from the Mediterranean.

Concept and film: David Bower
Direction: Goro Osojnik
Choreographic dramateurgy: Ornella D'Agostino

Aisha Rising - 2001/02

Based on David and Isolte's travels in Southern India.  A comparison between Mudras and sign language, a journey into the heart of a beautiful land, contrasting and surprising.

Director: Garry Robson
Choreography and film: David Bower
Music: Sih Aly Jalciner

Caliban and Miranda - 1999

The prequel to Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', depicting the childhood of Caliban and Miranda . The piece includes giant puppets, Turkish / Anatolian music, and  haunting sign theatre.

"The play Shakespeare almost wrote", DAIL

Direction and concept: Garry Robson
Choreography: Isolte Avila
Film: David Bower
Music: Sih Aly Jalciner

 

The signdance repertoire from 1987 is available from Signdance Collective.

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