Barbican Theatre in Plymouth has announced three new members of its FUSE team, Kay Crook, Daisy Harrison and Emma Pendle, who will work with Suzie West to deliver the second year of the FUSE Diverse Dance project.
Crook is the founder and Director of Chhaya Youth Dance Company and has taught in collaboration with State of Emergency, Take Art InspirED, The Point Eastleigh, Earthfall, Exeter Phoenix, HFC Master Series, Bridgwater College, Exeter College, Tacchi Morris, Dartington Arts and Cygnet Theatre in the UK and Attakkalari, Shoonya and Lshva in India. She is also a member of the Heather Walrond Company, performing in The Rising nationally and internationally.
Harrison, a freelance dancer, choreographer and teacher currently creating work for her company The Prism Project trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, and graduating in 2014 and completed a Masters degree as part of Transitions Dance Company, dancing in work choreographed by Bawren Tavaziva, Zoi Dimitriou and Miguel Pereira in an international tour.
Pendle graduated from Plymouth University in 2011 then worked as a lead practitioner for Exim Dance Company. She has performed nationally and internationally in work by Adam Benjamin for Exim Dance Company and has recently taught dance full time for both primary and secondary aged children at Plymouth School of Creative Arts.
West said, "I’m so excited about the direction of this year’s programme. We have a quartet of women taking on the FUSE delivery and a superb cast of associate dancers from all styles and experiences. Engaging and showcasing hidden voices as the Movers and Shakers of this city will be our focus.
"Last year was an epic leap into all sorts of dance styles, rhythms and choreographic approaches. We reached 341 participants through 33 hours of CPD, 122 hours of community outreach, four performances, three social events, two networking evenings and five shows. Phew! Avant Garde were amazing at welcoming Plymouth into their hip hop theatre world. Illuminate and Plymouth Athenaeum offered us exciting new ways to parade, promenade and socialise with the audience as we danced.
"This year, the party continues. Parades and ongoing cultural exchanges through the city for Respect Festival. Inviting new groups of people into the rich diverse world of dance with performance opportunities and social events. Refining our choreographic ideas and expanding the creative voices represented to blend styles and exchange stories with commissions. As the year progresses there will be plenty of opportunities to move, make and develop your creative ideas. The residencies will feature two strong and wild companies of women."
“Alleyne Dance will be offering international prowess for professionals and ground level community performance in September and February. Chhaya Collective will be curating a programme of performances for women at the Athenaeum which will feature their powerful Dance Theatre piece Khaos. Anyone can get involved at any time, in any way. I can't wait to meet and move with more people this year.”
The FUSE Team is currently looking for members to join two FUSE Diverse Dance groups: Movers & Shakers, a company of 10 locally trained dancers aged 23+ (paid positions), and Young Rebels, a team of dancers aged 16–25.
If you want to be part of FUSE, or have any questions about the current positions available, contact Suzie at [email protected]