Annual choreography festival Dance Umbrella 2016 includes three new commissions, two world premières, one European première, three UK premières and two London premières.
Unknown Pleasures, co-commissioned with Sadler’s Wells and CCN—Ballet de Lorraine, in which five choreographers will present work anonymously, opens the festival.
Jérôme Bel brings Gala, a city-specific commission, features 20 Londoners from all walks of life at three locations in the city, including The Tanks at Tate Modern. Leading Indian dance makers Aditi Mangaldas will make her first appearance at The Barbican with Inter_rupted.
Two shows for children are Erik Kaiel’s Tetris / O Snap / No Man is an Island, which will be touring around London, and Netherlands-based De Dansers’ Dream City, which will be at The Unicorn Theatre.
Greek Olympic choreographer Dimitris Papaioannou's Primal Matter comes to The Old Truman Brewery and, at The Place, Hege Haagenrud looks at our obsession with youth featuring four dancers aged from 65–79 in Use My Body While It’s Still Young.
The Secret Slowness of Movement by Laura Dannequin at David Roberts Art Gallery is an installation which invites audiences to indulge in fresh green grass. New British dance provocateur Jamila Johnson-Small will present i ride in colour and soft focus, no longer anywhere at Rich Mix. Manchester-based Quarantine's Wallflower, which explores memories of the dances that run through our lives from school disco to wedding waltz, will be performed at Battersea Arts Centre.
Emma Gladstone, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Dance Umbrella, said, "2016 will see Dance Umbrella mixing some truly extraordinary international choreographers with rich, home-grown talent. In addition to the choreographic and geographic range, the festival performances include live music, fresh grass and a completely anonymous programme. With work from six different countries on show I am particularly proud of the three made possible by our Commission Fund."