The Hawth

Award winning show Vertical Road by choreographer Akram Khan

returns to the UK for one performance only

 Thursday 23rd February 8pm, The Hawth Crawley

“The dance is beautiful and harrowing, and draws us into a strange, potent world of memory and self discovery”

 - The Guardian

Vertical Road, the award-winning dance work performed by Akram Khan Company, will have its only UK performance this year at the Hawth, 23rd February 2012. Recent accolades for the piece, which is currently on a world tour, include winning Critics’ Circle National Dance Award 2011, Best Modern Choreography. The performance will be the public’s only opportunity to see a performance by Akram Khan Company this year before Khan’s much-anticipated collaboration with Oscar winning director Danny Boyle for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Vertical Road is Akram Khan’s latest contemporary ensemble work realised by an eclectic cast drawn from across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. With a specially commissioned score by long-term collaborator, composer Nitin Sawhney, Vertical Road draws inspiration from the Sufi tradition and the Persian poet and philosopher Rumi.

Exploring man’s earthly nature, his rituals and the consequences of human actions, Vertical Road becomes a meditation on the journey from gravity to grace. Vertical Road explores these ideas in a ground-breaking work of contemporary dance, choreographed by Akram Khan and performed by eight hand-picked dancers from around the world.

Vertical Road sees Akram Khan returning to pure movement in his choreography, eliminating the text and dialogue that have featured in recent works such as DESH and zero degrees. Rooted in his classical kathak training, but informed by his experience and virtuosity in contemporary dance, Vertical Road has strong Middle Eastern influences, and continues Khan’s interest in exploring the interfaces between different cultures and creative disciplines.

Vertical Road is inspired by the idea of vertical ascension – a common motif in several different religions. Other key references to ascension take place in art and literature in terms of an ascetic ladder where one’s virtuous deeds on earth elevate the soul from earthly preoccupations to bring us closer to a spiritual realm. The second is the journey that the soul takes after death, climbing the heavens up to the light of God.

Vertical Road has been made possible through the generous sponsorship of COLAS, the international road construction company and the support of co-producers ADACH, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage. Curve, Leicester and DanceEast, Ipswich supported the project through residencies to create Vertical Road and Curve is also a co-producer and host of the new production’s world premiere. It is brought to The Hawth through the theatre’s Going Global programme supported by The National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Tickets: £19 (discounts: £15.50), Schools/Out:smart: £9.50. To book call The Hawth Box Office 01293 553636 and online at www.hawth.co.uk.

*********

Gordon Campbell Big Band 

Tribute to Tommy Dorsey

Sunday 26th February @ 15:00

 

Enjoy the best of Tommy Dorsey’s music played by the top big band players in the UK. Led by the BBC Big Band’s Gordon Campbell.

Tommy Dorsey (1905 – 1956) was a leading jazz trombonist and bandleader of the big band era. He was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, the younger brother of musician Jimmy Dorsey. Tommy’s own band had over a hundred U.S chart hits, including his best-known song, I’m Getting Sentimental Over You.

As well as his well know hit the programme will include Dorsey favourites such as Opus One, Chicago, Marie, Well Git It, Stardust, Blue Skies, Swanee River, On the Sunny Side of the Street..

The afternoon will be presented by Sheila Tracy with Guest Vocalists Eleanor Keenan from the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and Jeff Hooper who is known as ‘The best big band, swing and jazz singer of his generation’

Presiding over the whole show will be Gordon Campbell. Regarded as one of this country’s leading trombone players, he is currently lead-trombone in the ever popular BBC Big Band. His varied career has encompassed jazz, classical, musical theatre, film and pop and he has worked with many of the world’s leading performers including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles and Robbie Williams. He can regularly be heard with the BBC Big Band on Big Band Special and seen on many television shows including Strictly Come Dancing and Parkinson.

Don’t miss this big band treat!

Tickets priced £13 (discounts: £11.50) available from The Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636 or online at www.hawth.co.uk.

*********

Moscow City Ballet

Monday 27th February @ 19:30 - Giselle

Tuesday 28th February @ 19:30 - The Nutcracker

Wednesday 29th February @ 19:30 - Swan Lake

Brimming with some of Moscow’s best young dancers, outstanding principals, stunning soloists and a sublime corps de ballet, underpinned by the dynamic vitality of a live orchestra, MCB make a welcome return to Crawley.

Formed in 1988 the company owes its distinctive style to artistry of Victor Smirnov-Golovanov, distinguished Russian choreographer and former Bolshoi soloist who has inspired. new audiences to attend live ballet.

Tickets: £32.50 (discounts: £30.50), child/groups: £27.50.

Pre-Christmas Saver Offer: Book 2 ballets and receive an extra £5 off, book all 3 and save £8.25. Discount applied at checkout.

‘This was a beautiful production … I was truly mesmerized. The costumes were the best I have seen on stage… just breathtaking’ Swan Lake, Public Reviews

‘The dancers are elegant, superbly rehearsed and very savvy. The ensemble pieces are a delightful triumph for the company dancers. The principals finished with a dazzling flourish and brought the house down’ Nutcracker, Sunday Express

‘a beautiful spectacle’ Giselle, LeftLion Magazine

A Going Global event supported by The National Lottery through Arts Council England

Going Global is proudly sponsored by Africart

Tickets are available from The Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636 or online at www.hawth.co.uk.

*********