here - Milton Keynes International Festival

4 downloads 2164 Views 320KB Size Report
an outdoor performance specially created for Milton Keynes' Cathedral of Trees that will ... to create a magical experience in the heart of Milton Keynes - a busy ...
January 2014

‘UNDER THE VAULTED SKY’ CREATED BY ROSEMARY LEE CALL FOR 100 PARTICIPANTS

YOU WANT TO DANCE . . . Rosemary Lee is looking for performers to get involved with her new project ‘Under The Vaulted Sky’ – an outdoor performance specially created for Milton Keynes’ Cathedral of Trees that will gather a cast of a hundred performers. Overview Choreographer Rosemary Lee is Artist-in-Residence for IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 2014. She has been commissioned to create a new dance work - Under The Vaulted Sky - made specifically for the Cathedral of Trees (near Willen Lake, Milton Keynes). Eight performances will be presented over five days in this very special site. Rosemary and film-maker Ros Chesher will also be making a special film adaptation of the performance, shot on location over three days following the live event. Continuing her passion for making large-scale intergenerational performances, Rosemary is taking the site itself, its spacious green architectural footprint, perspectives and features and its relationship to Norwich Cathedral as her inspiration for this new piece. “I hope to engender a sense of mystery, magic, and ritual, present in the ancient stone cathedral that inspired this young green equivalent, to energise and heighten its peaceful stillness.” Rosemary Lee Rosemary will use the beautiful physical features of the Cathedral of Trees, placing figures within it and moving through it to bring this peaceful hidden treasure to life. The audience will be led through the site, discovering fleeting events within the greenery, their journey becoming a procession in itself. Influenced by the medieval past of Norwich Cathedral with its abundance of ‘greenmen’, carved foliage and animals, she hopes to create a magical experience in the heart of Milton Keynes - a busy contemporary city. With a mixture of informality and formality, the commonplace with the arcane, Rosemary will highlight the ensemble, developing in everyone a confidence to perform in a compelling, yet natural manner. There will be a specially commissioned music by award winning composer Terry Mann, involving live instrumental sound on unusual instruments. Under The Vaulted Sky will premiere over the first weekend of the 10-day International Festival.

IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 2014

Under The Vaulted Sky page 1

Participants will be drawn from the Milton Keynes area and will be for all ages from 9 years old upwards. Created during a series of regular workshops and rehearsals spread from April to July, the work will involve a cast of around 100 local dancers ranging in experience and age. After taster workshops in March 2014 all participants will gather for a preparatory weekend April 5th and 6th and then begin a once weekly session and several weekend sessions from May onwards building up to the performances. These will take place from 17 – 20 July. The full production will then be filmed from 21 to 23 July. Rosemary will be supported by a small team of professional dancers and dance apprentices. Comments from participants in Rosemary Lee’s Square Dances commissioned by London’s Dance Umbrella festival in 2011: “…you have given me so much inspiration, it's hard to say in words! The dance made me feel very close to home and to nature and I sincerely thank you for it, it has been a wonderful experience!” “I so much appreciate the way you worked with us all where each individual is important and valued and this, I'm sure, creates a greater whole!” Taking Part Whatever your age and experience, this will be a unique and memorable opportunity to work together with inspiring professional artists to create and perform in an innovative, high quality performance that takes place outdoors. In addition, participation offers experience of working and performing on camera. Rosemary says: “I am looking for people who love to dance and explore movement, and who would relish the chance to perform in an unusual setting and in close proximity to the audience as well as for the camera in the film. You would become part of a community of 100 dancers of all ages from 9 to 70+, exploring, creating, rehearsing and performing together equally. You would need to be able to commit fully to the rehearsal and performance schedule.” Although the most important requirement for this project is to love moving and dancing, it would be useful - though not essential - if participants have had some experience of dance, movement or performing in public. How To Get Involved: The Application Process Please complete the downloadable application form on the Festival website, sign it and return a scanned version or post a copy (details below) to be received by Monday 20 February 2014 Participants will then be invited to attend a taster workshop on either Friday 14, Saturday 15 or Sunday 16 March 2014. During this workshop you will gain more of a feel for how Rosemary will work and what you will gain from the experience, thereby deciding if it is something you want to be involved in. Rosemary will also consider if the demands of the performance and the Cathedral of Trees site will be suitable for each performer. The workshop is also a chance to ask questions and meet some of the creative team. Rosemary hopes to work with as many people as she can manage in the schedule. Expressivity, performance quality, commitment to working in an ensemble of all ages with a patient and friendly attitude are important attributes for involvement. The cast will be confirmed by 24 March 2014 IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 2014

Under The Vaulted Sky page 2

The Creative Process: Rehearsals You will have to be able to commit to one weekly evening rehearsal and the ‘skeleton’ schedule of onsite rehearsals listed below to be considered for this project. The majority of rehearsals will take place in or very close to Milton Keynes. Please note that if you live in Northampton or Bedford there may be potential to work with a more local group who will be integrated into the project. If you have any questions about the role or the schedule please contact Helen Innes, Project Co-ordinator. Initial rehearsal: 

Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 April - Entire cast all day in a studio and on site at the Cathedral of Trees

Weekly Group Rehearsals: 

Each participant will attend one regular weekly session of 2 - 2 ½ hours (Beginning the week of 5 May and ending the week of 14 July)



Adults only - Monday evening



Intergenerational groups (12 years + and adults) - Wednesday evening



Children 9 - 11 years - Monday afternoons after school session



Additional sessions at Universities of Bedfordshire & Northampton - further information on request



Additional student and young peoples sessions in Bedford on Thursdays (time to be confirmed) and Northampton (time and day to be confirmed)



Please Note: If you cannot fit into the above times/days or groupings please still contact us and we will see if we can find a way to involve you

Rehearsals on site (Cathedral of Trees): Note - a half day = 3 - 3.5hrs, a full day = 6.5 - 7hrs 

Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May: half a day only for each group



Saturday 31 and Sunday 1 June: half a day only for each group



Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June: two half days or one full day



Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June: contingency days in case of rain on previous weekends



Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June: two half days or one full day



Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July: two full days



Saturday 12 and 13 July: two full days – dress rehearsal

Production Week: 

Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 July - times to be confirmed.



We appreciate daytimes will be difficult for those working/at school so times will be confirmed once the cast is gathered and the team will endeavour to schedule around individual availability.

IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 2014

Under The Vaulted Sky page 3

Performances and Filming: 

Thursday 17 July: preview performance early evening



Friday 18 July: early evening performance



Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July: 3 performances per day in the afternoons and early evenings



Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 July: filming during the day and early evening (optional and times tbc)

We appreciate this may be difficult for some due to work and will try to arrange filming around the cast availability. If you are not available this does not preclude you from being part of the live performances. Cost The workshops and rehearsal are all FREE of charge. If expenses - such as travel costs - makes it difficult for you to participate, please let us know in your application as we can support out-of-pocket expenses for some participants. What You Should Do Next If you are aged 9 upwards, excited about the project and are happy to commit your time, please put your thoughts into writing! Please complete the application form (download here), and return to us at [email protected] or The Stables postal address below. If you are under 18, a parent/guardian must complete section 3A of the form, sign and send it to: Postal address

Helen Innes Project Co-ordinator, Under the Vaulted Sky The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes MK17 8LU

Telephone

07922 337642

This information is also available in large print format Please note: All information is correct at time of writing. IF: Milton Keynes International Festival and Rosemary Lee Projects reserves the right to change any information or conditions stated above. BACKGROUND INFORMATION IF: Milton Keynes International Festival is produced by The Stables and supported by Arts Council England and Milton Keynes Council Under the Vaulted Sky, created by Rosemary Lee Produced by The Stables and Rosemary Lee Projects with Artsadmin Commissioned by The Stables for IF: Milton Keynes International Festival and supported by Arts Council England and Milton Keynes Council Sponsored by The University of Bedfordshire Additional support from The Parks Trust and South East Dance

IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 2014

Under The Vaulted Sky page 4

IF: Milton Keynes International Festival Taking place from 18 – 27 July 2014, IF: Milton Keynes International Festival presents a world-class, multi-arts programme which will include large-scale events, concerts, theatre, dance, music and installations in unusual locations across Central Milton Keynes, and also using the online and digital realm. Produced by The Stables, IF: Milton Keynes International Festival has been developed with support of Arts Council England and Milton Keynes Council, following the inaugural Festival in 2010 and the second Festival in 2012. www.ifmiltonkeynes.org www.thestables.org Rosemary Lee Rosemary Lee has been choreographing, performing and directing for over twenty years. Known for working in a variety of contexts and media, she has created large-scale site-specific work with cross-generational casts, solos for herself and other performers, as well as installations and films. Rosemary regularly guest-teaches and lectures nationally, working with children, community dance practice and in professional development. She has recently been given the Bonnie Bird New Choreography Award, Jerwood Choreographic Award and in March 2014 will receive an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Roehampton www.artsadmin.co.uk/artists/rosemary-lee The Cathedral of Trees, Milton Keynes The Cathedral of Trees is situated on the ley-line that runs through Central Milton Keynes and has an outline based on Norwich Cathedral. It was designed in 1986 by landscape architect Neil Higson who chose different species of trees to represent the character of the Cathedral's sections: hornbeam and tall-growing lime for the Nave, evergreens to represent the central tower and spires, flowering cherry and apple as a focus in the chapels. In springtime colourful bulbs represent the sun shining through stained glass windows onto the ground. Located in Newlands near Willen Lake, the Cathedral is managed by The Parks Trust. www.theparkstrust.com

ENDS

IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 2014

Under The Vaulted Sky page 5