- About SoundMoves
- About Tap Rhythm Project
- About Mixed Movements
- About the SoundMoves artists
SoundMoves is a collaboration between Manchester’s two most established dance-music improvisation collectives Tap Rhythm Project (Band on the Wall) and Mixed Movement (Contact).
Funded by The Arts Council, this project explores the possibilities of improvised conversation between dance artists and musicians and encourages collaboration between the two art forms.
Six exceptional, professional dance artists and musicians from across the world have joined together to experiment with this concept, which will be shared with you in two performances in Manchester in 2013. The first will be at the Band on the Wall, Manchester Tap Jam on Monday 25th March 2013 at 7.30pm. The second will follow the Turn Dance Performance at Contact Theatre, Manchester on Saturday 20th April 2013.
The dance artists involved are Karen Wood, DawN Crandell, Dora Cruz and Jess Murray – all experts in their respective fields which include percussion, tap, contemporary, afro-brazilian and more.
The musicians on board are Myke Wilson – percussion and Al MacSween – keys; both exceptional musicians who are pivotal to the jazz scene in Manchester.
We will be regularly updating you with news of how the collective of artists are progressing through the project – sharing their ideas, opinions and discoveries.
As part of the project the artists are offering other dancers and musicians the chance to experiment and learn with them about dance-music improvisation in courses designed to give practical experience of live improvisation across a range of music styles. This is your opportunity to ask all those questions about music and dance that will build your understanding of movement and musicality.
About Tap Rhythm Project
Tap Rhythm Project is a not-for-profit social enterprise working to raise the profile of rhythm tap dance in the UK. We hold tap activities and events, and provide a forum for people to develop, discuss and share ideas and research and access information about rhythm tap dance in the UK.
Our activities range from regular drop in tap dance classes to tap jams, talks, film screenings and workshops with tap masters from all over the world combining creativity, fitness and cultural heritage. We aim to make tap dance activities accessible to communities and create opportunities for beginners to professionals to learn, perform, and share ideas.
For further details see www.tapproject.com
About Mixed Movement
Mixed Movement is an open stage for dancers to improvise with live music, a multigenerational night of incredible joy and improvisation. It is an event where as an audience member you witness the beauty of dancers discovering movement, and even get the opportunity to possibly jump on stage during the wild card round, and definitely jam after the performance portion is over, as Mixed Movement turns into an inspired dance party.
DawN Crandell founded Mixed Movement in February 2009 in order to bring the different dance communities together on equal ground, where it wasn’t about competition, by providing a night of improvisation with live music and movement.
The first Mixed Movement took place in February 2009 at the legendary St. Mark’s Church located in the East Village, NYC. The event ran every month through May and our attendance grew from fifteen people to fifty in the span of three months. In July 2009, Mixed Movement went international with the departure of Baba Israel, Musical Director for Mixed Movement, and DawN Crandell, Founder for Mixed Movement to Manchester, England. It has since been a great successful monthly event at Contact Theatre, drawing over a hundred people in attendance some months. Mixed Movement New York has found a home at Brooklyn Ballet School where the event runs quarterly. Mixed Movement has been a part of the Improvisation Festival in Bristol, England in October 2009. ADAD and East London Dance brought Mixed Movement to the Stratford Circus in East London in April 2010. Mixed Movement was invited back by East London Dance to do a special event in the Dancer’s Bubble in June 2010. June 2 – 5, 2011 Contact hosted Mixed Movement – The Festival. Three days of workshops, performances and discussions, networking celebrating dance.
DawN wanted to create an event that brings the different dance communities together. The dancers get to sharpen and share their skills and the audience gets to experience dancers and musicians connecting, creating and sharing the moment. Our audience is usually so inspired to move that we had added the Wild Card section to the event. Wild Card is for those who are inspired by the end of the program and want to share their movement in front of an audience as well. The night is wrapped up by a dance party for everyone.
For further details see www.contactmcr.com/whats-on/891-mixed-movement/
About the SoundMoves Artists
Jess Murray – specializes in rhythm tap, which focuses upon musicality
and improvisation or ‘Hoofing’and has trained in New York, Berlin and
Barcelona with many of the leading exponents of rhythm tap around today.
She has been a member of UK rhythm tap company AboutTime since 2006
performing at venues accross London and the UK such as O2 Arena and
Tristan Bates Theatre in the West End. As a soloist, Jess has performed as
a guest artist with Heather Cornell in Finding Synaesthesia at the Purcell
Rooms at London’s Southbank Centre and also with Junior Laniyan and the
Michelle Drees Trio at Ronnie Scotts. Jess’s work is very ecclectic and
she has performed and collaborated with jazz musicians, turntablists and
electronic musicians.
Dora Cruz is an exciting artist and engaging workshop leader whose interdisciplinary talents span dance, drama, physical theatre and music. Dora originates from the Cape Verde Islands, with a diverse background of African, Latin and Northern European. Cultural diversity plays a key role in her work and her approach and she has contributed to a wide range of projects supporting and celebrating African, Brazilian and Latin cultures. She is a dancer with French company Les Commandos Percu whom recently performed for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad at the Northwest opening ceremony at Lake Windermere and also at the Preston Guild. Dora also is part of all-female experimental Manchester performance group Eggs Collective as well as regular host of Mixed Movement at Contact Theatre
Myke Wilson – is something of a legend in the Manchester music scene and has played with just about everyone you can think of plus a few you hadn’t heard of yet! His playing experience spans straight-ahead, jazz, reggae, hip-hop, fusion, Latin and electronica. He has toured and recorded with Mike Walker, The Dust Junkies, Lamb, 808 State, Texas, Swing Out Sister, The Owl Ensemble as well as leading a number of his own innovative music projects.
Al MacSween – is one to watch, a talented and versatile pianist who’s playing takes him everywhere from Afro-Cuban free jazz to Latin, funk and classical Indian music. As well as leading his own Afro-Cuban Quartet, Al plays with the Boogaloo Foundation, Omar Puente and jazz-Irish crossover project Rototrad.
Karen Wood is currently a dance practitioner/researcher/educator. She is currently working on artistic projects, supported by Arts Council England, collaborating with other art forms, such as fine art, lighting design and music were she creates and performs in dance pieces for traditional and non-traditional spaces. In the past, she has worked with Rosie Kay, Artistic Director of Rosie Kay Dance Company, in different capacities. She co-leads the Manchester Tap Rhythm Project, which is part of a nationally co-ordinated project, where she teaches improvisation and rhythm tap technique, as well as choreographs and performs for regular events. She is also a member of the strategy group for Manchester Dance Consortium where the group advocates for dance in the region and supports professional development for dance artists.
Giuliano Modarelli, originally from Italy, is a virtuosic guitarist unique in his style. During his early musical training and throughout his research and experience, he has explored many different genres of music leading him to develop a unique, hybrid style which is now instantly recognisable in his sound. Giuliano is a guitarist of modern times. Having studied Jazz at University, he went on to develop through the Indian Classical tradition and his unique and exceptionally innovative style is a subtle blend of Arabic, Flamenco, Latin and European Folk. His breadth of knowledge and soulful improvisation make for compelling listening and viewing. From live performance, improvisation and collaboration to soundtrack creation for film and theatre, Giuliano continues his journey into innovative and eclectic excellence.
SoundMoves 