We’re getting tantalisingly close to the end of the year…the end of the decade even! So, as 2019 draws to a close, we’ve chatted with the Motionhouse dancers, who shared some of their personal highlights from the year!
2019 – Through the eyes of our dancers!
31st December 2019
“I love making new work, and WILD was the first outdoor show I’ve made with the company, so it was a really special moment for me. Being able to work on the development of the show on such an incredible set and such a brilliant team was an unforgettable experience!”
Beth Pattison
“I really enjoyed touring performing WILD this summer, especially standing on top of a forest of poles! It’s a great feeling to think that we were able to take WILD to audiences of over 30,000 people, up and down the country, and visiting Malta with the show’s first international outing. The first tour of WILD was an amazing experience and made for some pretty great selfies from the top of the poles too!”
Alasdair Stewart
“My premiere performance with Motionhouse was Charge at Malvern Theatres in April. It was such a memorable moment after learning the show as part of a new cast. I loved touring Charge with its combination of dance, circus and digital projections. We had some fantastic audiences on the tour, but perhaps my favourite moment was the relaxed performance at Nottingham Playhouse, followed by an impromptu post-show discussion. It was a new experience for the whole cast and I think we learned a lot!”
Charlotte Hannah
“I’ve really enjoyed seeing the progress of our youth groups this year, it’s really rewarding to see how dance inspires and empowers young people! One highlight for me is Motionhouse Youth‘s performance at the Commonwealth Social in Centenary Square, Birmingham as part of the activities in the lead-up to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The launch of our new Youth Board in July was also a highlight!
And on a personal level, I was over the moon to win Young Person of the Year at the Leamington Business Awards this year!”
Aaron Watkinson
“One ‘out of this world’ (pun intended) moment for me was performing our new duet Gravity at Birmingham Hippodrome’s intergalactic themed Summer in Southside festival.
It’s a beautiful and moving duet to perform, which was made even more momentous as we performed under the stunning Museum of the Moon installation, created by Luke Jerram.”
Chris Knight
“I’m really excited to have recently started work on our next dance-circus touring production, Nobody, which will premiere in August 2020. This is my first time creating a theatre show with Motionhouse and it’s been really interesting to work on the show from its very beginning!”
Shannon Kate Platt
“I can’t wait to perform our new show for children and families, Starchitects, commissioned by Bluestone Wales. It’s been really fun making the show, it’s brought out the inner child in us all! I’m especially looking forward to bringing the show to my home, Wales! Diolch!”
Bryn Aled
“I had a great time taking part in BBC Arts #DancePassion organised in collaboration with One Dance UK in April, demonstrating some of our lifts on the BBC live stream! It was fantastic to join so many people from the dance sector in Birmingham to celebrate our brilliant art form. Thanks to the BBC for organising!”
Berta Contijoch
“As well as performing in Charge and creating and performing WILD, one stand out moment for me has been working with up and coming artists and being able to pass on my knowledge in our Professional Intensive courses. It’s incredible to see how much someone can progress and overcome their fears in such a short space of time!”
Daniel Massarella
“I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved as a company this year. It’s been a real busy year, but if I have to choose one highlight, it has to be travelling to South Korea with our outdoor show Captive.
At the end of this busy year for Motionhouse, on behalf of the whole company, I’d like to thank everyone for their support this year: our funders, partners, commissioners, participants, and of course our audiences – you are the reason we do what we do! We’re looking forward to seeing you in 2020 and bringing you our new show Nobody – tour dates will be announced next year!”
Junior Cunningham
