Audition Call Out: Grooves R&D

About the project

GROOVES is a new hip hop dance theatre work built around three (out of five) interconnected pillars of hip hop: DJing, graffiti and breakdance. Combining dance, parkour, DJing and graffiti, the project brings these art forms together to create an ambitious, visually striking and immersive performance experience.  

At its heart, GROOVES explores heritage, belonging and authorship, asking what we inherit, what we carry forward and what we choose to redefine. Drawing on Chinese classical dance forms such as Water Sleeves, alongside breakdance, hip hop and parkour, the work develops a distinctive movement language where the idea of "groove" becomes both a rhythm and a metaphor - running through music, the body, identity and space. 

Intersectionality sits at the centre of the project. GROOVES celebrates the different experiences we each bring as individuals, as artists and as members of the dance community, and these perspectives will be an integral part of the creative process. Creative access will also be a key part of the R&D process. Working alongside a Creative Access Consultant, the company will explore how accessibility can be embedded into the work from the outset, treating access as a creative and artistic opportunity. 

The R&D will be collaborative, with performers invited to contribute their own movement vocabulary, experiences and creative ideas throughout the development process. 

About Louiseanne Wong

Louiseanne Pui Chi Wong (黃珮芝) is a non-binary movement artist, choreographer and coach. Born in Hong Kong, they studied music at University of Manchester, MA Choreography at Laban, whilst training dance, parkour and circus around the world (Hong Kong, England, Los Angeles, Évry). Fusing dance, circus, parkour and l’art du deplacement, they map themself in space - indoors and outdoors - searching for authentic connections with themself and audiences. Louiseanne explores their identity and East Asian heritage through playing with non-horizontal dimensions, object manipulation and overcoming obstacles.   

Visit: https://www.thelowry.com/louiseanne-pui-chi-wong-huang-pei-zhi-7gd8  

Who we are looking for

We're seeking versatile dance / performance artists aged 18+ with experience across contemporary and hip hop dance styles. Experience in breaking and/or krump is particularly welcomed. 
The production will feature a large wall as a key scenic element, designed to be climbed and interacted with throughout the performance. We're therefore particularly interested in hearing from dancers / performers who are comfortable climbing and working at height. There may also be opportunities to explore elements of parkour and spoken word within the work.

We are particularly keen to receive applications from:

• Women and non-binary dancers / performers
  
  
• Global Majority performers, including East and South East Asian performers 

Project Dates

Applicants must be available for: 

• Audition: Friday 14 August 2026, time TBC, Lowry
  
  
• R&D Week 1: Rehearsals Monday 7 – Friday 11 Sep 2026, 10am – 5pm, Lowry 
  
  
• R&D Week 2: Rehearsals and sharing Monday 21 – Friday 25 Sep 2026, 10am – 5pm, Lowry 
  
  
• Industry Sharing #1: Thursday 24 Sep 2026 at Lowry Aldridge Studio, 11am – 1pm 
  
  
• R&D Week 3: Rehearsals and sharing Monday 5 – Friday 9 October, 10am – 5pm, London Battersea Arts Centre 
  
  
• Industry Sharing #2: Friday 9 October 2026 at London Battersea Arts Centre (time TBC) 

Fee

3 weeks fee. Accommodation provided when working in London. Accommodation not provided in Salford / Manchester. Fee does not include any other dates. 

How to apply

Please complete this online form by Thursday 6th August, 5pm. We will let all applicants know whether they have been invitied to audition by Monday 10th August. 

The form includes these questions: 

• About you: Full name, email, phone number, where are you based, confirm that you are over 18 years old.
  
  
• Hello! This is Louiseanne and I've got a message for you. Let's look at a basic music beat - a bass and a snare. The groove happens in the middle. This resonates with me a lot, that I am the centre of my cultures. I am a groove between Hong Kong and UK, between dance and parkour and circus. It's what connects me with other people who also experience a mix of cultures in their lives. This intersection is what I'm fascinated about. 
  In a short paragraph (approximately 150–250 words) share what the word "Grooves" means to you.
   
• A link to a showreel or short video showcasing your practice 
  
  
• Confirmation that you're available for the project dates 
  
  
• Your CV 
  
  
• A recent photograph

If you have any access requirements for the audition or application process, please let us know. Email Louiseannepcwong@gmail.com . We're committed to making the process as accessible as possible. 

Apply