Archive - Dance Umbrella 2007

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Isaac Julien and Russell Maliphant (UK)
Cast No Shadow (World Premiere)

Sadler’s Wells
Wed 3 & Thu 4 October

A spellbinding, collaborative multimedia evening both awe-inspiring and unnerving, Cast No Shadow captures the sensation of bodies negotiating alien landscapes. Lauded for his extravagantly beautiful film installations, visual artist/filmmaker Isaac Julien has re-imagined three epic journeys through very different landscapes, collaborating for the first time with choreographer Russell Maliphant, renowned for dance in which strength
and grace share equal billing.

Through spectacular footage of icebergs, waterfalls and snow, True North draws inspiration from the first African American's journey to the North Pole; Fantôme Afrique invokes the pulse of the African city Ouagadougou; and Small Boats evokes the experiences of people escaping toward a better life. The powerful visuals, gorgeous slow motion tumbles - enhanced by Paul Schütze's original music and Andy Cowton's beautiful sound score - add a visceral dimension to this gripping evening of film and dance. Featuring dancers from the Russell Maliphant Company

'Maliphant remains one of the most fertile choreographic minds working in Britain today.'
THE GUARDIAN

‘Few, if any, British artist/filmmakers have made their work shown both at Cannes and Documenta to equal acclaim; but Isaac Julien has achieved this rare crossover with a body of work that manages to be both sensuously lush and politically trenchant.’ THE ART NEWSPAPER

A PERFORMA Commission with Sadler’s Wells. Co-Commissioned by Dance Umbrella. Supported by Jerwood Studio at Sadler’s Wells. Dance Umbrella commission supported by The Foyle Foundation and The Robert Gavron Charitable Trust.

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