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Dance Touring Partnership presents
Blanca Li Company - Elektro Kif
Wed 15 Feb & Thurs 16 Feb 2012
Press night: Wed 15 Feb 2012
NB: A syndicated interview with Blanca Li is available on request - extract “What I wanted to do was get the best out of electro by respecting the energy of the dance and the dancers themselves. The result, she claims, is good for depression”
The acclaimed Spanish dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Blanca Li makes her UK debut and invites solo dancers and dance groups to create and film a one minute dance video in front of an iconic landmark in their city, to win the unique opportunity of performing on stage.
Blanca Li, who has choreographed videos for artists including Kanye West, Daft Punk and Blur brings her street dance show Elektro Kif to The Lowry on Wed 15 and Thurs 16 February 2012. She has drawn together eight award-winning dancers to conceive the first ever theatrical presentation of the uniquely Parisian streetdance style Electro - a dazzling blend of breaking, disco, vogue, popping and locking - mixing it up with some theatre and contemporary dance.
To celebrate this visit, dancers across the UK are invited to compete in an exciting new digital dance competition Dance Your City to win the opportunity to perform in the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. The winning group will perform as the opening act on Saturday 3 March in London for Blanca Li.
As an added incentive to encourage local and regional talent from across the North West to apply, The Lowry is adding an extra prize as one of our local entrants will also be chosen to perform with the company in Salford Quays. The winning crew who demonstrate the most popular hip hop or Elektro Dance will perform on stage prior to the performance of Elektro Kif on Wed 16 February.
Blanca Li’s cult feature film Dance Challenge (2002) opens with an extraordinary head spin in front of France’s iconic Eiffel Tower. Extending this theme, Southbank Centre and The Lowry challenges solo dancers and dance groups to create a one minute dance video in front of an iconic landmark in their city, film it, upload it to the Dance Your City Facebook page (www.facebook.com/dance4/posts/205860156164363) before 6 February and compete for the chance to perform in an iconic London venue.
Local and regional contestants could perform their one minute routine in front of their local town hall, Old Trafford, The Lowry, ….any venue that says something about your city and your dance! Then upload it and get all your friends and family to vote!
Barely a decade old, Electro is an urban streetdance style that was born in the nightclubs of the south-eastern Paris suburb of Val-de-Marne, and is, it is claimed, the first new dance to come out of France since the Can-Can. Characterised by free-flowing steps with fast arm and hand movements, Electro remains anchored in the Greater Paris region and is rarely performed outside of France.
Accompanied by a commissioned score by Tao Gutierrez that mixes techno with electro house, afrobeat, sampling, and classical music Elektro Kif is a show about the hopes and fears, friendships, fights and rivalries of the all male cast, following them through a typical day at college. Blanca Li’s work focuses on the energy and movement of dance, from flamenco to classical ballet to hip hop.
Blanca Li Elektro Kif Dance are running a workshop on Thursday 16 February from 11.15am – 12.45pm. Led by dancers from the company, this workshop is devised to support the current UK dance curriculum and will embrace existing urban dance styles, particularly Electro, whilst also exploring choreographic principles. This workshop is suitable for those aged 14+ and costs £15 per student.
LISTING INFORMATION
BLANCA LI - ELEKTRO KIF Performances
Wed 15 & Thu 16 February. The Lowry 8pm
Ticket prices: £14 & £16
Tickets for Under 26’s only £5 on both nights
Post show talk, Wed 15 Feb
BLANCA LI - ELEKTRO KIF Dance workshop
Thurs 16 Feb, 11.15am – 12.45pm
Ticket prices £15
Suitable for those aged 14+
Twitter hashtag: #danceyourcity
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