Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff
Tues 7 June
With a clear desire to support emerging artists, welcome new and somewhat experimental ideas and widen the dance network internationally, Coreo Cymru hosted the last one of the Dance Roads performance platforms in Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre on the 7th and 8th of June.
The evening brought together five works, very different in nature, yet related in their ambition to be innovative and challenge the understanding of dance and performance. Each of the artists attempted to address a personal matter through sharing their interests, values and expectations with the audience. However brave and unusual some of the approaches seemed to be, especially for those less familiar with experimental contemporary art, some works felt unfinished and still in progress lacking the maturity in their expression and structure.
One of the works presented on the night was the well-recognised Welsh artist’s Gwyn Emberton’s choreography Of the Earth, from where I came. Having seen it performed by a female dancer once before, it was interesting to observe the differences a moving male body brought into it. The dancing, still detailed and articulate, felt more grounded and rooted to the narrative whilst the connection to the earth explored in a more masculine manner.
I believe it is important for any emerging artist to have a space to test and showcase new ideas – it provides room to grow and learn from and equally gives the audience a little insight into the artist’s thinking. Thanks to The Dance Roads European Network, these five selected artists were given the valued opportunity to present themselves on an international level.
words GUNDIJA ZANDERSONA