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The Lowry’s commitment to dance is highlighted this Spring with a major exhibition of over a hundred prints by outstanding dance photographer Chris Nash showing in the galleries, alongside Dance Moves, an inspiring programme of local, national and international dance performed on the Lyric, Quays and Studio stages.
Chris Nash’s highly theatrical style and ability to capture key choreographic moments have been in demand for over two decades, not only by Contemporary Dance companies needing eye-catching promotional images, but also within the fashion, advertising and editorial worlds. Nash has built a worldwide reputation as one of the most outstanding photographers of his generation and over the last 25 years his highly distinctive photographs have been used to promote contemporary dance internationally.
Nash’s collaborations have involved prominent companies such as The Cholmondeleys and Rambert Dance Company, as well as pioneering choreographers and performers including Matthew Bourne, Michael Clark and Javier de Frutos – all of whom have performed at The Lowry over the years.
Robert Robson, The Lowry’s Artistic Director, comments, “The Lowry has consistently brought the world’s best dance companies to a North West audience and was one of the first organisations which aimed to consistently attract the most prominent international artists to perform outside the capital. Dance Moves this Spring promises to be packed full of exciting, high quality dance, offering visitors the chance to try something truly sensational, as we celebrate and embrace dance in all its varied forms. In the galleries, visitors can also enjoy a flavour of the contemporary dance scene as they explore Nash's innovative and dynamic approach to photography. In particular, Matthew Bourne fans can enjoy his work in the galleries as well as on stage as Nutcracker!, one of the most popular dance productions ever staged, returns to celebrate its 20th anniversary.”
Live and Unjudged starring Brendan Cole, sees him joined by former Strictly Come Dancing professionals in an up close and personal dance spectacular. Blanca Li takes elektro - a dazzling urban streetdance that mixes breaking, disco and vogue, popping and locking – off the streets of Paris, mixes it with theatre, and gives a fast funny show about the hopes, fears, friendships and fights of a group of men at college.
Danza Contemporánea de Cuba returns to the UK with a world première by renowned Israeli choreographer Itzik Galili, plus the critically acclaimed Mambo 3XX1. Birmingham Royal Ballet return with their gothic fairytale Beauty and the Beast, as well as popular dance companies DV8 and the BalletBoyz. Ballet Lorent present dance for children in Underneath the Floorboards, showing a strange and magical world in this mesmerising family dance adventure.
With a soundscape created by Coldplay and Massive Attack collaborator Jon Hopkins and composer Joby Talbot (The Divine Comedy), Entity from Wayne McGregor | Random Dance is a staggering blend of athleticism, technology and film. Hofesh Shechter, the exciting young choreographer nominated for a South Bank Sky Arts Award 2011, presents Political Mother, his first full evening creation which is brimming with raw physicality and atmospheric live music.
Earthfall’s powerful and physical piece At Swim Two Boys, based on the book with the same name, juxtaposes the developing love affair between two young men with political turmoil in Ireland. Various community dance groups of all ages from across the North West including the Salford Schools Dance Association and CAT dancers are also represented on stage, presenting showcases of new work.
A Flash of Light show how Chris Nash experiments with photography, drawing on his fine art background and using innovative lighting, composition and collage to capture the atmosphere and movement of live performance. An example that exemplifies Nash’s inventiveness is the image of dancer Olcay Karahan in Richard Alston Dance Company’s production Red Run, which demonstrates the process through which he combines lighting at the shoot and post-production layering and colour manipulation, to achieve a striking and brooding landscape that perfectly sums up the essence of the choreography.
Other photographs in the collection capture the energy of live dance, with a breathtaking shot of dancer Dane Hurst mid leap in André Gingras Anatomica No. 3, and dancers Junior Cunningham and Olivia Quayle against a dramatic backdrop of cascading water projections in Motionhouse’s Scattered.
Alongside Nash’s original prints will be advertising posters featuring his photography, two abstract video dance pieces created by Nash himself, and a specially commissioned film of the photographer at work. The exhibition will also be accompanied by quotations from choreographers and dancers talking about Nash’s powerful photographs and the inspiration for the images on display.
The exhibition was curated for the V&A by Jane Pritchard, V&A Curator of Dance.
Nash said; "The archive of photographs and touring exhibition of A Flash of Light, ensure the ephemeral moments of dance performance can live on."
Nash graduated in Fine Art from Goldsmiths School of Art in 1980 and was awarded the Dance Umbrella/Time Out Award in 1989, as well as a NESTA Dreamtime award in 2005. Please visit www.chrisnash.net for further information on Chris Nash.
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Media enquiries: Michelle Bowey, Head of Media Relations, The Lowry Tel: 0161 876 2037 or email: michelle@thelowry.com
Pictures: For high resolution images, please go to The Lowry’s image library www.thelowryimages.com. New users need to register by clicking on ‘register’ on the left hand side of the page, fill in the required information (which includes creating your own password) and click ‘create account’. You will then have access to images via the log-in page/Galleries/Current & future exhibitions/Chris Nash.
Gallery Information The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays M50 3AZ Information & Box Office Telephone 0843 2086005 www.thelowry.com Galleries open everyday 11am – 5pm (10am – 5pm on Saturdays) Admission to the Galleries is FREE. On arrival, visitors need an admission ticket from the Galleries Desk.
Dance productions in the theatres
For full details including dates about The Lowry’s Dance Moves season please click here
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