Free tickets—limited capacity, so advance booking is recommended—for ten performances Thursday 3 to Saturday 5 April 2014 of choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh’s dance piece for churches, TooMortal, at St Mary the Virgin Church, Bathwick, Bath.
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance brings TooMortal to the historic St Mary the Virgin Church. Dancing within the pews, six women dressed in flame-red costumes weave a story that moves between power and quiet reflection. Are they charting a journey from cradle to grave? Or cast adrift on a wooden sea?
Building on the idea of the church as a place of enquiry as well as solace, TooMortal is respite to the city streets outside. Jeyasingh contrasts and complements the rhythms, shapes and intentions of her choreography with those of the space, exploiting the inherent theatricality of the church.
The almost filmic soundtrack by sound artist Cassiel remixes Tenebrae Responsories by James MacMillan to create an atmosphere of calm solemnity cut with a sometimes ominous tension.
Shobana will also take part in a discussion on the relationship between Site, Sound and Place with fellow artists Louisa Fairclough and Liminal on Saturday 5 April from 2 to 4:30PM at Bath’s The Little Theatre Cinema.
The dancers are Vanessa Abreu, Avatâra Ayuso, Sunbee Han, Noora Kela, Alejandra Lucrecia Baño Pelegrin and Audrey Rogero.