On Tour - Previous Tours

2006 Autumn Tour

Ros Warby
Humorous, elegant and startlingly original, Ros Warby’s SWIFT is an engaging and thought-provoking work. By interweaving dynamic vignettes the piece traverses the complex physical, psychological and emotional states experienced by the female protagonist.

Warby has collaborated with cellist/composer Helen Mountfort and award-winning designer Margie Medlin. The result is beguiling movement supported by live electric and acoustic cello within a cinematic ambience created by twelve 16mm film projectors. SWIFT is an engrossing kaleidoscope of images, gesture, choreography and music.

‘SWIFT is a work of outstanding originality: beautiful, absorbing and full of subtle meanings.’ The Age

The tour visited: Dartington Arts, Totnes; The Point, Eastleigh.

2006 Spring Tour

Vincent Mantsoe
South African dancer and choreographer Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe is a firm favourite with dance audiences all over the world. In 2006, for his fourth visit to the UK, he brought a spell-binding double-bill of solo work.

The evening included the UK premiere of the spiritual Ntu (nothing) partnered with the mischievous and joyous Motswa Hole (person from far away) which appeared to much acclaim in Dance Umbrella 2001.

'Mantsoe is gripping to watch.'
The Guardian

The tour visited: South Hill Park, Bracknell; Croydon Clocktower; Dance City, Newcastle Upon Tyne; Derby Dance Centre; Quay Arts, Isle of Wight; Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham.

Herman Diephuis
In D'après J C (According to J C), Herman Diephuis creates an icon-filled Renaissance art gallery in motion.

Shifting from tableau to tableau, tracing the life of Jesus Christ, performers Julien Gallée-Ferré and Claire Haenni portray the most famous mother-son double act in history, capturing the statuesque curves and subtle gestures found in the works of Bellini, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Durer, Da Vinci, Memling, Michelangelo and Raphael.

‘A real delight to watch.’
Liberation.

The tour visitied: Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham; Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster; The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen.

2005 Autumn Tour
Mark Morris Dance Group

‘The return to Britain of Mark Morris is a true cause for celebration.’
The Observer

As part of the Mark Morris Dance Group’s 25th Anniversary celebrations, the master of American contemporary dance returned to the UK with a selection of sensational pieces from his extensive repertoire.

The tour programme included Somebody’s Coming to See Me Tonight, All Fours, The ‘Tamil Film Songs in Stereo’ Pas de Deux, From Old Seville, Grand Duo, Mosaic & United, Candleflowerdance and V.

The tour visited: Theatre Royal, Newcastle; Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff; Sadler’s Wells, London; Birmingham Hippodrome; The Lowry, Salford; Theatre Royal, Glasgow; Edinburgh Festival Theatre; Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Nr. Aldeburgh; Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe; New Victoria Theatre, Woking

The tour was sponsored by:

2004 autumn tour
Merce Cunningham Dance Company

Merce Cunningham is considered by many to be the world’s greatest living choreographer – the godfather of modern dance. Dance Umbrella was delighted to present the first ever UK tour of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company.
By combining elements from past repertory alongside new work in a performance created specially for each venue, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company provided an exceptional and original dance experience.
The Company opened the 2004 Dance Umbrella festival with five performances at the Barbican Theatre (5-9 Oct) before taking to the road.

Choreography, commissioned by Dance Umbrella, was premiered at Sheffield Lyceum and then formed part of each venue’s Event. The Lowry audience was the first to see the new set, while at Warwick Arts Centre the lighting design had its first outing. At The Oxford Playhouse, the costume designs were seen for the first time and at Brighton Dome, a John Cage score, never before used for dance, was performed. It was only when the tour reached Edinburgh that all these new multi-disciplinary elements combined to create Merce Cunningham’s latest World Premiere, Views On Stage.

'the high priest of pure movement.'
The Daily Telegraph

Merce Cunningham Dance Company performed at Sheffield Lyceum, The Lowry, Warwick Arts Centre, Oxford Playhouse, Brighton Dome and Edinburgh Festival Theatre.

2004 spring tour
Stephen Petronio Company

The Stephen Petronio Company, a Dance Umbrella festival regular, toured the UK for the first time since 1997 with an evening of recent works. The programme featuring The Island of Misfit Toys, Broken Man and City of Twist was first presented in October 2003 as part of Dance Umbrella's 25th anniversary festival.

The Stephen Petronio Company performed at Sheffield Lyceum, Corn Exchange at Brighton Dome, Nottingham Playhouse, The Space at Dundee College, Snape Maltings Concert Hall

2003 spring tour
Inbal Pinto Dance Company

Israel’s Inbal Pinto Dance Company presented their new production Boobies at the Barbican as part of the festival and then toured for the first time to Brighton, Snape and Glasgow. This followed two successful Dance Umbrella seasons in London and Woking with previous shows Wrapped and Oyster.

2003 autumn tour
Vincent Mantsoe

South African artist Vincent Mantsoe returned to Dance Umbrella for the third time with two double bills of spell-binding solo work which premiered at The Place in London as part of the festival and followed with tours to the Woking Dance Festival and Nottingham.