I sometimes feel like a bit of a lone voice on this theme but I am still willing to agitate on the subject of Manchester's perceived (in)significance as a player on the national dance landscape.
Clearly some companies have long-standing arrangements that sees them return to the city again and again - Birmingham Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet, English National Ballet, Rambert, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Hofesh Shechter Company.
This creates the impression for many that the city is a rich with dance and a key player of national significance.
But I would argue that too many companies either don't see Manchester as a priority or - and this may be the really significant issue - venues in Manchester don't see dance as a priority or aren't prepared to make bold or not so bold programming decisions if they can't guarantee ticket sales in the way that they can for [gulp] musical theatre. (I think this is bleeding through into a growing presence for 'family-friendly' cirque or new circus.) Pure dance is perceived as 'difficult'. Audiences are arguably lazy and reluctant to try anything 'different' unless told it is 'must-see'.
This is the real issue in Manchester (and for Manchester also read Salford): unless it is a major and familiar company (i.e. the ones listed above) dance does not sell in Manchester. And that needs challenging and addressing.
There are other exceptions that apparently contradict this long-growing impression - the success of Wayne McGregor's Tree of Codes at MIF15, for example. But I would point out that pretty much everything at MIF sells strongly and this was the first significant dance commission in the festival's history: hopefully not the last.
I believe there is a multi-pronged attack on Manchester as a dance city. (Attack may be a strong word. Weakness may be a better one.)
A word about HOME. HOME has always expressed an intention to programme dance and has made some efforts to fulfil that promise. They have established a good co-production relationship with Hofesh Shechter Company already and programmed one or two other dance / physical theatre events. It is early days for the venue - still less than a year old, still establishing itself (especially the theatres). Watch this space.
Companies touring in 2016 but not playing Manchester [this list will be updated regularly]
Clearly some companies have long-standing arrangements that sees them return to the city again and again - Birmingham Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet, English National Ballet, Rambert, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Hofesh Shechter Company.
This creates the impression for many that the city is a rich with dance and a key player of national significance.
But I would argue that too many companies either don't see Manchester as a priority or - and this may be the really significant issue - venues in Manchester don't see dance as a priority or aren't prepared to make bold or not so bold programming decisions if they can't guarantee ticket sales in the way that they can for [gulp] musical theatre. (I think this is bleeding through into a growing presence for 'family-friendly' cirque or new circus.) Pure dance is perceived as 'difficult'. Audiences are arguably lazy and reluctant to try anything 'different' unless told it is 'must-see'.
This is the real issue in Manchester (and for Manchester also read Salford): unless it is a major and familiar company (i.e. the ones listed above) dance does not sell in Manchester. And that needs challenging and addressing.
There are other exceptions that apparently contradict this long-growing impression - the success of Wayne McGregor's Tree of Codes at MIF15, for example. But I would point out that pretty much everything at MIF sells strongly and this was the first significant dance commission in the festival's history: hopefully not the last.
I believe there is a multi-pronged attack on Manchester as a dance city. (Attack may be a strong word. Weakness may be a better one.)
- Manchester lacks a local dance advocacy organisation with a focus on promoting touring theatre-based dance, let alone a dedicated dance venue to put it in.
- Manchester is rich with independent dance artists but lacks any significant companies with the probable exception of Company Chameleon; with few significant companies, no dance centre, no dedicated dance theatre and no dance organisation with the resources or focus or bolshiness to advocate for real change, the wealth of grassroots dance activity remains mostly invisible to audiences.
- The Lowry has clearly experienced a noticeable shift in programming focus from creativity to commerciality in recent years. I believe this is due to the changed post-Tory arts economy and significant changes in personnel within the organisation.
- The Palace Theatre and the Opera House are not producing or artistically-directed theatres, simply vessels for the ATG touring machine (with the exception of major MIF theatre-based shows).
- The Royal Exchange Studio does (very occasionally) programme dance but has no pro-dance programming agenda.
- Contact and Z-Arts both programme dance but both venues have a specific focus - youth, community etc. Both are great venues but neither are truly mainstream and both are effectively off the radar for 'lazy' audiences who might need to walk 20-30 minutes or catch a bus. Often, interesting dance programming doesn't translate to people sitting in the theatre to watch it.
- In a world where touring is expensive and companies are expected to self-subsidise their activities and split ticket revenues with venues etc., companies are happy to skip Manchester because it doesn't have a sufficiently robust and developed dance audience and there is no venue booker encouraging (or able to encourage for reasons of cost) confidence.
- There is also an issue with zoning. Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Huddersfield etc. are sufficiently geographically clustered that if tours visit one city they skip the others. Even the major companies will alternate Manchester and Liverpool for different blocks of touring. Companies such as Phoenix Dance Theatre and National Dance Company Wales appear to have 'good relationships' with non-Manchester venues (or poor/non-relationships with Manchester venues) so they rarely visit or have stopped visiting.
A word about HOME. HOME has always expressed an intention to programme dance and has made some efforts to fulfil that promise. They have established a good co-production relationship with Hofesh Shechter Company already and programmed one or two other dance / physical theatre events. It is early days for the venue - still less than a year old, still establishing itself (especially the theatres). Watch this space.
Companies touring in 2016 but not playing Manchester [this list will be updated regularly]
- Aracaladanza Spanish dance company touring the UK in May-June. Visiting Birmingham, Bracknell, Ipswich, Edinburgh, Corby, Nottingham, Peterborough and Sadler's Wells. Not Manchester.
- Balletboyz (Balletboyz also completely missed Manchester in 2015. This is unusual. Is it significant?) Playing The Atkinson in Southport in Spring 2016. Are they diversifying their touring and giving different regional audiences the opportunity to see them or have they broken from The Lowry? Autumn dates now announced. Still missing/avoiding Manchester/Salford. BalletBoyz return to The Lowry in March 2017.
- Ballet Central. This postgraduate touring company are not visiting The Lowry in 2016.
- Best of BE Festival
- Gary Clarke Company. I have never been lucky enough to see any of Gary Clarke's work (that I'm aware of). His current work COAL is a major new work touring the UK to critical acclaim. Autumn tour dates will be announced soon. Will Manchester/Salford be on the schedule? Although Gary is a proud Yorkshireman, the Manchester area has a now-lost coal mining heritage. Doesn't the city deserve to see this important work? And Autumn dates have now been announced and it's a double winner that smashes some of my programming theories - which is great. COAL will be appearing at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield in October and Contact in December.
- Jasmin Vardimon Company new production Pinocchio touring the UK in 2016, but not Manchester. Maybe next wave in 2017?
- Mark Bruce Company (first wave of touring for new show The Odyssey announced. May announce Manchester in subsequent touring. Their previous (award-winning) show Dracula appeared at Contact)
- National Dance Company Wales (not seen in Manchester since 2011)
- Phoenix Dance Theatre. Celebrating their 35th anniversary with a tour that doesn't visit Manchester. Or Liverpool.
- Richard Alston Dance Company (usually play The Lowry; will be announcing autumn dates soon, so wait and see). Are also playing The Atkinson in Southport [see Balletboyz above]. RADC's Autumn 2016 tour dates have now been announced and do not include Manchester/Salford. RADC return to The Lowry in February 2017.
- 2Faced Dance Company - toured Dreaming In Code in 2015. Not visiting Manchester in 2016 Spring Tour. 2Faced are toruing a new triple bill in autumn 2016 Run. Not currently scheduled to visit
- Transitions Dance Company (Trinity Laban touring company)
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