STREET DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA!

2FaCeD DaNcE Company is linking up with the UK breakdancing champions the Untamed Spirits in July and is putting on a performance at The Courtyard, Centre for the Arts in Hereford. Banksy, a member of the group has undertaken work with George Michael, Mark Morrison, Freestylers and most recently has worked alongside Deborah Bull (principal dancer for the Royal Ballet) on a documentary series broadcast on Channel 4 over the Christmas holidays. The Untamed Spirits are leading figures on the breakdancing circuit and have performed nationally and internationally.
The evening will be a culmination of highly successful youth dance classes run jointly by 2FaCeD and The Courtyard. The evening will involve 30 local young children who have been taking part in breakdancing classes, taught by a leading figure on the UK breakdancing circuit, Fei Lung. The evening will include work by The Untamed Spirits, 2FaCeD DaNcE Company, and local children. It will also include displays by rappers, beat boxers, DJs,graffiti artists and fire jugglers! This will be the first performance of its kind in Hereford and is sure to captivate local young audiences. Lighting and set design will come from James Mackenzie, 2FaCeD’s technical manager.

LOCAL BUSINESSES
2FaCeD are working alongside local businesses which are taking an active role in supporting the event. Toni and Guy hairdressers are doing the hair for the performance and local retailers Flipped are providing some of the clothes. 2FaCeD are also currently trying to get other local businesses involved in the project.
The performance will take place in the main house of The Courtyard, Hereford, which will be especially flat floored for the event. Seating will be limited as the event will take place in the round and the audience will be encouraged to stand in a circle and watch the dance taking place in the middle. The evening will commence at 7.30pm and there will be a party afterwards, with music being provided by the DJs.

Tickets cost £6.50 for adults and £4.00 for concessions and friends of the company. Tickets can be obtained by ringing The Courtyard’s Box office on 01432 359252.

EDUCATION UPDATE

SPECIAL NEEDS
Last November 2FaCeD DaNcE Company ran a special needs project in conjunction with the LEA and the Music Pool in Hereford. The project was undertaken in three schools and was highly successful with another project being planned for the summer term. Children from the age of 6 - 16 with varying degrees of disabilities took part in the dance workshops creating their own work. Live music was provided by percussionist Manu whose musical influences stem from Brazil where he used to live. The children had lots to say about the project and provided the company with pictures and feedback about the experience.

BOY’S PROJECT
2FaCeD DaNcE Company is soon to be working with St. Marys R.C. High School and Whitecross High School on a project aimed at under achieving boys. Fei Lung from the Untamed Spirits will be working alongside the company and the project will culminate in a performance. The aim of the project is to try to establish what impact dance can have on both the social and educational life of the participants.

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL
Due to the success of last yeasrs PALS summer school, 2FaCeD have been invited back by the Cathedral School to work alongside children who attend the preparatory school. 2FaCeD DaNcE Company will be providing regular workshops for both boys and girls who would like to attend the sessions. Classes are due to start in May.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
In September The Courtyard presents the smash hit musical Little Shop of Horrors. The musical will be directed by Estelle van Warmelo and musical direction will come from Rab Handleigh. 2FaCeD DaNcE Company have been asked to choreograph the production and Tamsin Fitzgerald will begin rehearsals for the performance in August.
The company are delighted to have been asked to choreograph for this musical and look forward to more projects of this kind with The Courtyard.

BREAK DANCING CLASSES
In February 2FaCeD began break dancing classes at The Courtyard. Demand for the classes has been so high that a second class is due to start after Easter.

COLLABORATON
2FaCeD have been working alongside the Music Pool to manage a dance and music project, which took place at Herefordshire College of Art and Design on Thursday April 26. The evening consisted of demonstrations by the professional breakdancers and local hip-hop band Dubmerge. It also gave local young people the opportunity to try their hands at scratching, rapping, mixing and break dancing. The evening was also filmed by the regionally acclaimed local media organisation, The Rural Media Company. The evening attracted a large crowd and was a great success.

TOURING
In our last newsletter, we said that we would be doing a national tour in the autumn. We have decided to postpone the tour until the spring 2002. This will give the company an opportunity to concentrate on our July performance and to gain funding for the tour. The tour will comprise of a number of new pieces and the company will be working alongside some of Britain’s top contemporary dance choreographers. Anyone who has any suggestions for ways of funding the tour should contact us at the address below.

EQUUS
Congratulations to our technical manager, James Mackenzie. James has recently directed a superb production of Equus at The Courtyard Hereford.

2FaCeD DaNcE Company would like to thank all its friends and supporters and hope that you continue to enjoy the work of the company. If anyone has any suggestions or comments for the company please email us or ring Tamsin