Dance Umbrella Festival 2015

The renowned annual international dance festival, Dance Umbrella, celebrates 21st century choreography and the 2015 line-up has something for everyone.

Even better, this year the dancers themselves are getting mobile. They will break free from the confines of theatres to tour the city, performing in audiences’ own neighbourhoods.

With displays on the roof of a multi-storey carpark, in parks, in a Shoreditch club and at several peripheral venues - and in prestigious central locations including The Place, Sadler’s Wells and the Barbican - there is simply no excuse for not experiencing the dance on offer.

Immersive hip hop, thought-provoking contemporary, family-friendly fun and opportunities to get moving yourself are just a few of the planned events.  

Claire Cunningham was inspired by the work of medieval Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch for her contribution Give Me A Reason To Live, running as part of a double bill at the Lilian Baylis Studio. This powerful solo explores issues of religion and religious art, raising questions regarding our judgement of bodies and quality of life.

Give Me A Reason To Live promises to be a mesmerising piece from the acclaimed disabled dancer and choreographer. As well as performing her own choreography, the multi-talented Glasgow-based artist will sing a haunting rendition of one of J.S. Bach’s cantatas.

International artist Idan Sharabi completes this double bill. The former dancer with Nederlands Dans Theater and Batsheva Dance Company will mark his first UK visit with award-winning duet Ours. Delving into the idea of ‘home’, Ours features Idan Sharabi with Dor Mamalia, a member of Sharabi’s own company.

Barcelona-based La Veronal unites players from the worlds of dance, film, photography and literature. Founder and choreographer Marcos Morau is considered one of the most intelligent dance makers to have emerged in Europe in recent years. Consequently, his latest work, Voronia, is highly-anticipated.

Voronia marks La Veronal's Sadler's Wells debut. The piece is an exploration of evil, stimulated by the deepest cave in the world: ‘Krubera Voronia’ in the western Caucasus region of Georgia. Expect the unexpected from La Veronal; this is a dynamic young company like no other.

Dance Umbrella 2015 is packed full of choreographic delights and the dance on offer is being distributed further afield than ever before. Peruse the Sidebar for a complete breakdown of the programme.