Here's the thing...
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The Lowry launched their previously mentioned 'first ever' dance season at an early evening event in The Lowry's Compass Room before the World Premiere of the Rambert Dance Company's Awakenings Tour last week. I was lucky enough to be invited. I think this was because I have been involved in a creative writing workshop for the Watching Dance Project, which also involved going to see the Rambert. It may also have been because I am a dance regular at The Lowry? I certainly felt slightly out of place, because everybody else seemed to know one another - or other people, at least - and most seemed to have connections with the 'dance industry', if once can call it that, or The Lowry itself. I don't. I'm just what would once have been called a 'balletomane'.
What we were presented with - along with some very nice sandwiches and drinks - was The Lowry's 'exciting new dance season for January - April 2011'. This season is comprised of eleven companies scheduled to appear early next year:
Upswing, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Michael Clarke Company, Flawless, Mobius Dance Theatre, Danish Dance Theatre, Alvin Ailey 2, Company Chameleon, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Richard Alston Dance Company, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and Midnight Tango, featuring Vincent and Flavia from Strictly.
Now, I'm not saying this isn't exciting. It is. I'm very excited at the prospect of seeing Michael Clarke and the Danish Dance Theatre have never performed in the UK before - that's exciting. What I am saying is that I have been seeing dance long enough that I have already seen five out of the eleven companies (and very happy to see all five again). What I am saying is that Flawless are playing two dates at the Palace Theatre in November with the same show so why the hell are they even playing The Lowry again in February (and does a popular street dance spin-off from BGT appeal to a dance audience anyway)? What I am saying is that roping a Strictly spin-off show (no matter how good their tango) in seems opportunistic somehow.
But what I'm really saying is that in 2010 in the same period (January - April) I saw eight dance companies at The Lowry - akram khan, Motionhouse, Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, Balletboyz, Scottish Dance Theatre, Los Vivancos, Birmingham Royal Ballet and David Toole & Lucy Hind. I also missed Ballet Central and CanDoCo, according to my diary, which would not record any street dance, or Indian dance, or any other dance show I was not vaguely interested in seeing. That's a minimum of ten dance shows or companies in the same period in 2010 compared to their dance season of eleven for 2011?
What I'm saying is, is this The Lowry's first ever dance season or just business as usual? Is this something genuine or just marketing spin?
Whatever the answer or whatever you think, just keep booking dance at The Lowry.And keep going to see it. It's never been more important to buy those tickets.![]()
What we were presented with - along with some very nice sandwiches and drinks - was The Lowry's 'exciting new dance season for January - April 2011'. This season is comprised of eleven companies scheduled to appear early next year:
Upswing, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Michael Clarke Company, Flawless, Mobius Dance Theatre, Danish Dance Theatre, Alvin Ailey 2, Company Chameleon, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Richard Alston Dance Company, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and Midnight Tango, featuring Vincent and Flavia from Strictly.
Now, I'm not saying this isn't exciting. It is. I'm very excited at the prospect of seeing Michael Clarke and the Danish Dance Theatre have never performed in the UK before - that's exciting. What I am saying is that I have been seeing dance long enough that I have already seen five out of the eleven companies (and very happy to see all five again). What I am saying is that Flawless are playing two dates at the Palace Theatre in November with the same show so why the hell are they even playing The Lowry again in February (and does a popular street dance spin-off from BGT appeal to a dance audience anyway)? What I am saying is that roping a Strictly spin-off show (no matter how good their tango) in seems opportunistic somehow.
But what I'm really saying is that in 2010 in the same period (January - April) I saw eight dance companies at The Lowry - akram khan, Motionhouse, Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, Balletboyz, Scottish Dance Theatre, Los Vivancos, Birmingham Royal Ballet and David Toole & Lucy Hind. I also missed Ballet Central and CanDoCo, according to my diary, which would not record any street dance, or Indian dance, or any other dance show I was not vaguely interested in seeing. That's a minimum of ten dance shows or companies in the same period in 2010 compared to their dance season of eleven for 2011?
What I'm saying is, is this The Lowry's first ever dance season or just business as usual? Is this something genuine or just marketing spin?
Whatever the answer or whatever you think, just keep booking dance at The Lowry.And keep going to see it. It's never been more important to buy those tickets.
