MÓTUS 2021 - The Universe & Me
Festival of Dance
Middleton Hall in the centre mk and The Venue MK, Fyfield Barrow,
Walnut Tree, MK7 7WH
MÓTUS has been in lockdown - just like everyone else during 2020 - 2021. But, we have been busy beavering away behind the scenes providing more content on our web-site to include educational resources for schools, dance on film projects with Inverted, we have been doing some documentary style interviews with choreographers looking at process and approach when making new shows and really trying to find new ways to present dance for all.
We have kept our youth dance programme going - MYDC - every week and the company have worked with a range of choreographers during this time to include Jean Abreu, Julia Cheng, John Darvell, Urban Strides, Hannah Pickett Dance and Vincent Dance Theatre. The youth company is just £5 per week so if you are between 13 - 19 years of age and want to give it a try email: schools@motusdance.co.uk
So - we have curated a public programme to celebrate all things about being together called ‘The Universe & Me’ and it’s about how we look at the world, how we place ourselves within it and how we react when the world around us changes.
The festival this year takes place in both Middleton Hall and The Venue MK and there is something for everyone. Please do come and support the arts during this time - as the sector really needs audiences to come and support its great and vital work. The work in Middleton Hall is free to come and watch and MÓTUS has kept prices to a minimum for the theatre shows so that price is no barrier.
Universe & Me Two Day Free Dance Festival in Middleton Hall - centre:mk on 19th and 27th June. Featuring some of the best of British Dance to include James Wilton, Vanhulle Dance Theatre, Autin Dance Theatre, Richard Chappell Dance and Highly Sprung.
Festival of Dance, Middleton Hall , Midsummer Blvd
The centre:MK
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Mark Bruce Company will not be performing on the 19th of June due to health and safety reasons and will be being replaced by Vanhulle Dance Theatre with 'Moo Shim'. They will however be appearing on the 27th of June.
The Band by Levantes Dance Theatre
4 June - 8pm
The Venue MK
Direct Ticket Link: https://www.thevenuemk.com/event/the-band-presented-by-levantes-theatre/
Tickets: £10/£12
A circus, dance and theatre production where blind devotion meets desperate ambition.
It’s their final gig.
Sandy and Bruno met in the seventies to form a band. She was fame hungry; he was doomed to follow her to the ends of the earth. A one-hit wonder, they’re now washed up, cruelly forgotten. For one night only, they are dusting off their old costumes and preparing for one last gig. Is this their last chance of fame? What will the audience decide?
THE BAND is a quirky and humourous production with striking visuals and a rousing soundtrack from Levantes Dance Theatre, a company which blends circus, dance and theatre with vibrant aesthetics. Working in collaboration with Ockham Razor’s Tina Koch, the performers are Levantes’ artistic director and designer Eleni Edipidi and Nathan Johnston who each bring their unique physicality to the show.
To view the trailer for The Band please click the following link: https://vimeo.com/210405052
mapdance - presented by The University of Chichester
2 June - 7:30pm
The Venue MK
Direct Ticket Link: https://www.thevenuemk.com/event/mapdance-2021/
Tickets: £10/£12
Presented by MOTÚS
mapdance 2021 offers an enticingly varied set of exciting new works by renowned and upcoming international contemporary choreographers, plus the revival of AYIN by Ceyda Tanc from the 2020 tour. The gratifying roster of new artists this year includes Robert Clark, Joseph Toonga and Yael Flexer. The University of Chichester’s MA touring company is an established group of dynamic young dancers recruited nationally and internationally. Their diverse repertoire offers audiences a refreshing mixture of gritty dance-theatre, wry humour, and both intricate and questioning choreography.
Please visit www.mapdance.org for more information
Jumpstart
5 June - 7:30pm
The Venue MK
Direct Ticket Link: https://www.thevenuemk.com/event/jump-start-2021/
Tickets: £10/£12
Presented and produced by MÓTUS.
JUMP START 2021 – a celebration of all things youth dance.
It’s been an unprecedented year. The dance though has continued in all sorts of unusual spaces. Lounges and kitchens have become dance studios when spaces were shut down – green open spaces became a place where people could be physical. This year has taught us a lot about isolation and our need to connect with others. Come celebrate these young peoples’ achievements and discipline to continue to create, craft, learn and perform dance.
The show will be a mixture of live and digital dance.
Image by Jane Russell of Ceyda Tanc Youth.
IF: Milton Keynes International Festival has announced its programme, extended to 21 days this year, from Saturday 10 to Friday 30 July.
Having had to cancel in 2020, the Festival has been adapted for the extraordinary times we are now living through, with a longer run to give more time and space to enjoy events in the city’s green spaces and parks, public squares and larger indoor spaces, as well as online.
There’s a focus on free and family events, performances and art installations, pop-ups and digital work including a series of ‘virtually live’ concerts and talks online.
Watch out for monumental Earth and Moon sculptures exhibited together in a UK city for the very first time, intriguing pop-up robotic woodpeckers, a ‘breathing’ walk-through sculpture, a sea of silk flags made in Milton Keynes, births and deaths commemorated in a public artwork, an immersive dance show performed on the back of a haulage truck, a music and nature trail, plus comedy, concerts and a weekend of free outdoor family events.
For more information, go to the Festival’s website: ifmiltonkeynes.org
Live link: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org/
Festival Social media:
Twitter/Facebook: @IFMKfest
Instagram: ifmkfest
Hashtag: #IFMKfest
The Festival aims to be as accessible as possible and welcomes people with disabilities. For any specific access enquiries, please email the Box Office via access@stables.org or call 01908 280800.
Covid-19 Safety
The safety of Festival audiences, artists, volunteers and staff is our highest priority. As well as following all government and industry guidelines, we’re working closely with specialist safety advisors to ensure all our event locations are Covid-safe and secure for everyone. We will update more information between now and the Festival.
Festival Stewards, First Aiders and other services will be across all Festival sites to assist.
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Grow is a lively, energetic and vibrant dance theatre duet by Kapow.
In a playful and touching celebration of nature’s power to rejuvenate itself, take over spaces and grow through the cracks, Kapow combine humanity an a comedic gardening show in their lively duet Grow.
Through order and chaos, humans transforming into weed, seeds and beautiful sunflowers, Grow looks at the relationships we form with one another and the natural world and explores what we all need to thrive.
This show leaves the audience feeling uplifted and inspired to get out and enjoy nature. It speaks about our relationship to one another, to the natural world and of what we all need to thrive.
MÓTUS is financially supporting through Arts Council England Kapow Dance Circus Theatre’s show ‘Grow’ at the IF Festival in Milton Keynes on 17th and 18th July 2021 at: 12:20 pm and 15:35 pm
The performance will take place in City Gardens - in the Campbell Park performance area.
For more information, go to the Festival’s website: ifmiltonkeynes.org
Live link: Festival Social media: Twitter/Facebook:
@IFMKfest
Instagram: ifmkfest Hashtag: #IFMKfest
Choreography | Eithne Kane and Beth Powlesland
Performed by | Alice Bonazzi and Yeu Ying Ho Dramaturgy | Alex Marshall Parsons
Sound Production | Sion Orgon
Trailer | Roger Graham
Voice Over | Eddie Ladd
Poetry | William Blake and Patricia Kane
Design and Costume | Eithne Kane and Beth Powlesland
Photo Credit | Jamie Morgans, Phil rees and Paul Sampson
Commissioning Partners | Articulture and Wales Outdoor Arts Consortium (WOAC)
“We were utterly entranced. The mesmerising movements of Kapow to this beautiful rich music stopped us in our steps at Levy Market today.” Audience Member, Levenshulme Fringe Festival
“Old and young alike were enthralled by the mix of dance, circus and theatre that was performed in a light hearted and enjoyable way. I was really impressed by your slick and professional set-up from the outset and throughout, thank you for your hard work” National Theatre Team
“The dancers were amazing, their faces, their flexibility, it was wonderful to watch. I loved the storyline and the deeper hidden message. It was wonderful I’d happily come back at 2 o’clock and watch it again.” Audience Member RHS Wisley
WAKE
TAMZEN MOULDING
Wake is a short film, commissioned by MÓTUS, about living with all the different versions of ourselves. Created by Inverted with original music by Aelfyn Shipton, directed by James Bonas, with filming and edit by Simon Becket, this is an original film created specifically for filming during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Narratively, Wake follows the same character (Tamzen Moulding) over time - habituating the same space, alone. Wake reflects on the past ‘versions’ of ourselves and the deeply engrained memories that habituate our physicality.
To see more of Tamzen's fantastic work please
click here
Thank You Culture Recovery Fund
MÓTUS are delighted to have received money from the Culture Recovery Fund and are busy putting the
money to create opportunities and jobs. Culture creates jobs, supports livelihoods, and brings joy to everyone. The UK leads the world in the creative industries and we can all feel pride in that.
Now, in these challenging times, it’s our turn to show our support for culture. With an unprecedented
investment through the £1.57bn Cultural Recovery Fund, the government is #HereForCulture so it can
weather the storm of coronavirus and come back stronger.
And we are #HereForCulture too.
#HereForCulture is a movement that unites the public, government and cultural organisations in support of our fantastic cinemas, theatres, music venues, museums, galleries and heritage.
With more and more culture being curated online, there is no better time to support and enjoy all the new and exciting ways culture is available to us.
By being #HereForCulture, we aren’t just supporting the people in the industry, we’re also supporting
communities across the country.
Our mission is to see our theatres and arts scenes bustling with life from every age group and from every sector of the community - everyone is welcome here. - Helen Parlor (Artistic Director) and the MÓTUS team
- Schools and workshops: schools@motusdance.co.uk
- General enquries: info@motusdance.co.uk
- Professional programme: helen@motusdance.co.uk
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
We are so lucky that the dedicated team at MOTUS work so hard to enhance the dance culture in Milton Keynes.
Workshop Participant