The Afro-Latin Lounge

MONDAY Afro-Brazilian THE PLACE From 20h to 21:30h Address: 17 Duke's Road Euston Tube Station WC1H 9PY | London

THURSDAY Contemporary Afro-Brazilian SIOBHAN DAVIES STUDIOS From 19:30h to 21h Address: 85 St George's Road Elephant & Castle Tube Station SE1 6ER | London

Afro-Brazilian Dance Class Is a fun, motivating, aerobic dance class that through the fusion of Brazilian and African rhythms and a large variety of movements created and adapted by Irineu Nogueira, develops strength, coordination, muscle tone, stamina, flexibility and an understanding and sense of rhythm. JUNE 24/06 | Monday: NORMAL CLASS THE PLACE (8 to 9:30pm) 27/06 | Thursday: NO CLASS! SIOBHAN DAVIES STUDIOS JULY 01/07 | Monday: NO CLASS! THE PLACE 04/07 | Thursday: NO CLASS! SIOBHAN DAVIES STUDIOS 08/07 | Monday: NORMAL CLASS THE PLACE (8 to 9:30pm) 11/07 | Thursday: NORMAL CLASS SIOBHAN DAVIES STUDIOS (7:30 to 9pm) 15/07 | Monday: NORMAL CLASS THE PLACE (8 to 9:30pm) 18/07 | Thursday: NORMAL CLASS SIOBHAN DAVIES STUDIOS (7:30 to 9pm) 22/07 | Monday: NO CLASS! THE PLACE (8 to 9:30pm) 25/07 | Thursday: NORMAL CLASS - END OF TERM SIOBHAN DAVIES STUDIOS (7:30 to 9pm) 29/07 | Monday: NO CLASS! THE PLACE (8 to 9:30pm) AUGUST :: SUMMER HOLIDAY! NEXT TERM STARTS 02nd of SEPTEMBER 2013

Copyright © 2013 Irineu Nogueira Dance, All rights reserved. www.irineunogueira.com contact@irineunogueira.com +44(0)7720605126 +44(0)7401774244 Incredible First! A Master Class Saturday with Layton Williams, 6th July 2013, 5.15 - 6.45pm. Be inspired by this truly talented dancer and fresh young talent of TV and stage. Credits include: Billy Elliott, School of Stars and Bad Education. A unique opportunity to chat and ask questions, expand your knowledge and add depth to your repertoire. Challenge yourself to learn a new choreographed piece which Layton has prepared especially for the class and re-excite your passion for dance. Places are limited; Bookings are in advance and payment reserves your participation in what will be an extraordinary afternoon. Cost £10. Either send a cheque or come to Portobello Dance School at The Tabernacle W11 to register. Contact: Mark Elie 07947 484 021 Mark Elie Artistic Director Portobello Dance School 07947 48 40 21 www.portobellodance.org.uk http://www.facebook.com/pages/Classically-British/28281803250   Solstice blessings in the days of light! Here's the Earth Dances summer season so far... workshops and performances in traditional & contemporary pan-African dance & non-stylised and environmental movement... more events may be added... hope to catch you somewhere along the way. Love and light as we approach solstice full moon. SUNDAY 23 JUNE - WILD GOOSE SPACE, BRISTOL Last Bristol Earth Dances class before Autumn. Non-stylised movement, traditional & contemporary Zimbabwean dance & song welcoming midsummer fullness at full moon. Live music from Omer Makessa https://www.facebook.com/events/275481929244661/ WEDNESDAYS 26 JUNE, 3 & 10 JULY - DARTINGTON, DEVON Earth Dances classes in Devon . Non-sttylised movement & Guinean dance - three more sessions before the Autumn https://www.facebook.com/events/514965985219580/ 27 & 28 JUNE - ZIMBABWE IN DEVON CAMP, TIVERTON Earth dances sessions around 4pm each day. Zimbabwean dance& rhythm, and improvised movement at this beautiful mbira camp hosted by Chartwell Dutiro. Live mbira music & percussion http://mbira-academy.org.uk/events/detail/zimbabwe-in-devon-camp1 SUNDAY 30 JUNE - TAGORE FESTIVAL, DARTINGTON Around midday: Informal performance from the Earth Dances Wednesday evening dance class 1.30 - 3.30: Earth Dances workshop exploring environmental movement & African dance. Live music http://www.dartington.org/tagore-festival/earth-dances-with-denise-rowe 5 - 7 JULY - THIS EARTH GATHERING, EBBORWAYS FARM, PRIDDY, SOMERSET Workshops connecting us to body, land and ancestry, plus a mini performance and a talk at this women's gathering. Reduced price tickets available (contact Denise for info) http://thisearthgathering.com 18 - 20 JULY - BUDDHAFIELD FESTIVAL, SOMERSET Earth dances workshop: non-stylised movement & African dance. Live music Women's workshop: Environmental movement connecting us to body, land and ancestry www.buddhafield.com 27 & 28 JULY - QUEST FESTIVAL, DEVON Saturday 8pm: Performance - Ombiviolum Orkestra Sunday 12.45 - 2.15pm: Earth dances workshop. Non-stylised movement & African dance. Live music Sunday 2.45 - 3.45: Music workshop with Ombivolum Orkestra www.quest.co.uk SUNDAY 28 JULY - DARTINGTON HALL 10pm: Mbira Music of Zimbabwe and Voices of Ancestors Concert with Chartwell Dutiro http://www.dartington.org/spektrix/event?Id=9046 SUNDAYS 1, 8, 22 SEPTEMBER (tbc) - DARTMOOR Women Walking: Half day environmental movement workshops for women as part of the She Who Walks project. www.tolokotolo.com/she-who-walks 13 - 15 SEPTEMBER - FOOT TO EARTH DANCE & MOVEMENT CAMP, DEVON Connect Body, Earth and Spirit in three rich and magical days of traditional & contemporary pan-African dance, non-stylised & environmental movement, world song, yoga, Qigong, sword and shiatsu as we approach equinox full moon. www.tolokotolo.com/foot-to-earth 21 & 22 SEPTEMBER - MEL TOR, DARTMOOR She Who Walks site-specific promenade performances. Movement, installation, spoken word, soundscapes... eight women, old wise stones, a map, a path, a hidden journal... and chocolate cake! www.tolokotolo.com/she-who-walks more events may manifest in August... watch this space, or join the facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/122583777761680/ For more information on any of the above, please contact Denise 07723329414 de8fish@yahoo.co.uk Earth Dances is an invitation to embrace our fullness is movement, stillness, celebration and rest. Grounded in African dance and non-stylised movement, the workshops explore rhythm, embodiment and connection with a sense of playful exploration, finding our common ground in fluidity around the rhythm and in gratitude for the gift of being alive! Denise Rowe is a dance and movement artist with over twelve years experience facilitating workshops around the world. Co-founder of Tolo Ko Tolo dance company and a collaborative solo artist working across genres, Denise has recently been awarded a Trailblazers Champions bursary in recognition of her work in the field of Dance of the African Diaspora. She has trained in non-stylised and environmental movement with Helen Poynor and is a student of Shiatsu, Aikido and with the Sacred Trust. "When we dance, the Earth Dances" "because we love, because we make mistakes, because we are forgiven" Denise Rowe 077233 29414 www.tolokotolo.com   .AUDITIONS: ACTORS & DANCERS (PAID OPPORTUNITY ) We are looking for actors and dancers to work with the writer/director Cindy Claes, to develop the script and choreography for a new play, School fi Wifey (based on School for Wives by Moliere) – using‘Dancehall’ movement and music! Cindy Claes is a choreographer who tells stories through dance. Passionate about Dancehall and Hip-Hop Theatre, she is also an ADAD Trailblazer 2013-14. www.cindyclaes.com We are casting the following roles: Stacey and Norrisha, two servants (female) Age: 18 - 30 Kerry-Ann (young woman in love) Age: 17 Romain (young man in love) Age: 18 - 30 Andre. Age: 40 Notary (and other ensemble roles) Age: 35 - 45 Auditions are open to both actors and dancers. For the younger characters especially, we need performers with strong movement / dance skills. (Dancehall, Hip-Hop and African Dance) The ability to speak Jamaican patois will be an advantage. There will be a week of rehearsals at the end of July ( London ), and a second week in September ( London ), leading to a public sharing of ‘work in progress’ at the Drum Arts Centre ( Birmingham ). Fee: Equity rates. We are hoping to stage a full production and tour of ‘School fi Wifey’ in the future. Auditions: 14th July, London . Please send a CV, photo and short cover letter by 8th July to: Email: news@midlandactorstheatre.co.uk For further details, contact David on 0121 608 7144 -- Cindy Claes Choreographer, Dance Artist, Director, Playwright +44 (0)7940017054 ( UK ) www.cindyclaes.com Email: cindy.claes@gmail.com Facebook: Cindy Claes Twitter: @dancebackpacker         __,_._,___

-->

Summer sees us getting all socially conscious with the Weave Out Poverty initiative by accessories brand Furaha, asking folk to dig deep for cash to donate to our crowd funding campaign whilst we make friends with magazine editors all over the gaff and pick out our collective fro's in preparation for the Afro Comb expo, and no you CAN'T touch my hair! Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

CIAD Summer Newsletter Ahh yes British Summers, how we love thee (not!) Hello my beautiful diaspora family I sincerely hope you are being kissed by the sun or trying not to get blown away by a hurricane wherever you are. Think of us and smile as we pour the water out of our barbecues and break out the shorts and sandals in the rain! We at CIAD HQ have been busy, busy, busy! First of all we have appointed a new director (that makes 3 of us now!) and we hope you will all join us in welcoming Dermot Bates to the CIAD family. His profile will soon be up on the team page so you can all gawp & snicker at his picture. Whilst all that's been going on and we've become all proper with official seals and whatnot! We have also been making videos for our crowd funding campaign and drawing up proposals for our up coming exhibition. We are in the process of raising the much needed funds to make our first exhibition a reality so please do click on the link above and watch the video, read about the gifts you could get, support us with a few sheckles and spread the word. Contributions don't have to break the bank, any help you can give will be greatly appreciated, as they say in my beloved JA "one one coco full basket" so bring di coco come! Apart from that we have been making special international and local friends with the beautiful people at Arc magazine in the Caribbean to some very creative folk over at Shake the Dust here in London. Check out the features below to read all about the fabulousness. Following the success of our last CIAD Exchange on Eco Fashion and Sustainability our next exchange event will be about the vehicles we live in entitled Body politics; Healthy Representations of the Human form at the end of July, more details to follow. As always the search for competent and enthusiastic writers and bloggers continues so if that sounds like you then by all means get in touch, we'd love to hear from you. An extra special shout from the CIAD team to Sarah Hewitt from Craft Central and Anne Bancroft from the Caribbean Contemporary Working Group at the V&A who have been real angels of helpfulness and support during the arduous time of proposal writing and organising. OK that's enough keyboard abuse from me, follow us on twitter, like us on Facebook, ect ect (you know how it go!). x Teleica Kirkland Director Arc Magazine is a non- profit Caribbean Art and Culture publication which has been in operation for 2 years. The magazine highlights the sophistication of high art creativity that is often absent from the usual images that are seen of the Caribbean or the general (mis)understanding that is propagated about the region. Check out their promotional video that was shown at the VOLTA NY contemporary art fair in March. From July to October this year the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge will be holding an expose into the history and life of the Afro comb. Origins of the Afro Comb is a project that aims to trace the history and the meaning of the African hair comb over nearly 6000 years in Africa, through to its re-emergence amongst the Diaspora in the Americas, Britain and the Caribbean. If your anywhere near Cambridge from July onwards I strongly suggest you go as this will proof to be a most enlightening exhibition. In other fabulous new magazine news there is AfroNoire a London-based lifestyle publication for African-Caribbean women which celebrates the black woman’s naturalness, success, beauty and sensuality. AfroNoire’s goal is to empower the African-Caribbean woman and encourage her to embrace who she is. The publication covers lifestyle, hair, beauty and fashion, business, relationships and other issues and is released on the 24th June. We love it and we can't wait! Check out their site here Sigh I can see us ladies in the office will be poor this Summer, especially since I've discovered the glorious bags of Furaha! FURAHA is a socially conscience East African brand. These raffia palm baskets are hand woven by rural women weavers from villages in Central Uganda who derive 100% of their income from the production of the baskets. The baskets are then covered in beautifully vibrant African print fabric and sold here. As far as I'm concerned a girl can never have too many bags!

Copyright © 2013 Costume Institute of the African Diaspora, All rights reserved. Following last year’s sell-out concert at London’s Barbican Centre, we’re delighted to announce this year’s Songlines Music Awards 2013 winners’ concert on Friday December 13 featuring Angélique Kidjo, Dub Colossus, Lo’Jo and Mokoomba. We've got a limited number of discounted tickets available to Songlines elisters until June 30. Call +44(0)20 7638 8891 quoting ‘Songlines offer’ or visit the Barbican website and use the code 13123 to claim your discount (20% off top price tickets). Click here to watch our official Songlines Music Awards 2013 winners video. You can still purchase the official Songlines Music Awards 2013 CD for only £1.99 if purchased with any other world music album (offer available until June 30). Click here to buy. The Songlines Team P.S New to Songlines? You can grab a free copy of the latest album by Femi Kuti, Etran Finatawa or The Hot 8 Brass Band if you subscribe today! Click here for more information. Click here to view a sample edition of this issue Youtube Playlist #93 Some of our recent Blog highlights Oxfam produce Mali crisis video Since fighting broke out in northern Mali last year following a military coup, 450,000 people have fled their homes and 1.2 million are facing growing food shortages... Continue Reading... Femi Kuti tribute concert streamed on Okayafrica and YouTubeA chance to rewitness a musical celebration... Continue Reading... WOMEX 2012 Artist Award winner announcedThe international music networking platform, WOMEX, have announced... Continue Reading... Songlines Encounters Festival 2013 – Part OneThe exciting realisation from the first two days of Songlines Encounters has been that... Continue Reading... Songlines Encounters Festival 2013 – Part Two The idea of Songlines Encounters is to present artists from around the... Continue Reading... Simo Lagnawi wins World Music Network’s Battle of the BandsSimo Lagnawi is a Moroccan Gnawa maalem (master musician) and gimbri (lute) player, who honed his craft with Gnawa masters in Morocco for 20 years before establishing himself as the UK’s premier gimbri player... Continue Reading... Connect with us on Facebook for updates, competitions and more Join the conversation on Twitter! @SonglinesMag Click here to see our featured reader tweets. Competition: Gamelanathon 2013 at the Southbank Centre Celebrating 25 years of gamelan (Indonesian percussion orchestra) at Southbank Centre, Gamelanathon is a packed weekend of free and ticketed events showcases traditional and new music for gamelan with dance, puppetry and electronics. Saturday's (July 6) events feature an evening of traditional Javanese gamelan and dance followed by a new Sendratari (dance drama). On Sunday (July 7), dancer and choreographer Ade Suharto and composer and performer David Kotlowy bring In Lieu to Queen Elizabeth Hall. Watch this interview with Suharto and Kotlowy where they discuss the concepts behind their work. You can also watch a clip of In Lieu being performed here. Gamelanathon looks set to welcome a fantastic weekend of music to London’s Southbank, and we have a pair of tickets to give away to the performance of In Lieu so you can celebrate too. Click here to enter. Photograph by Anna Kiss Songlines Tablet Edition now available Fully interactive with streaming audio, video and hyperlinks throughout, Songlines magazine is now available to read on the iPad and Android. Visit the iTunes App store or Google Play to download the Songlines App for free, which includes free access to the Songlines 75th edition (April/May 2011). Single issues are available to purchase at £3.99, or subscribe for a year at £19.99. Songlines Digital subscribers now have FREE access to the tablet edition. Use your Songlines Digital username and password to log in. The Kindle Fire edition can be downloaded from Amazon’s US Kindle store and a UK version will be available soon. *The Songlines Tablet edition doesn’t include the Top of the World CD but features excerpts of each track available to stream from issue #89 (Jan/Feb 2013) onwards. Subscribe today! If you don’t already subscribe, sign up today to receive a choice of albums from Femi Kuti, The Hot 8 Brass Band or Etran Finatawa. If you are already a Songlines subscriber, you can order a gift subscription for your family and friends and claim the free CD for yourself. Order the subscription online at www.songlines.co.uk/cd93 Spread the word, please share on or If you do not wish to receive further information from us, please click here Our mailing address is: Home About Us Events Services Gallery Contact Us events THIS S Baila Londres Cuban Party Summer Special Baila Londres is back for a summer party special this Saturday (22nd June). Dance the night away to not one, but TWO of London's favourite Cuban DJs - DJ Javier 'la Maquina de Cuba' and DJ Green Papi (Oriente Star Sound) - who'll be on the decks playing your favourite Cuban salsa and timba until 4am. Plus for those who enjoy salsa but have not had much experience at rueda - it's time to have a go! Javier will be teaching a fun beginners rueda class - Rueda con Sabor - from 9-10pm. All this plus the usual Baila Londres good vibes, friendly people and true Cuban party atmosphere at The Latin Groove Lounge Club (opposite Archway tube), 1 Archway Close, London N19 3TD Doors open 8.30pm - Class 9-10pm - DJs til 4am Entry £8 (includes dance class) Read More Special event: Tricks of Memory - Exhibition by visiting Cuban Artist Sarahy Martinez Memory plays tricks on us. Sometimes we think we have forgotten, that the past has died,that ancient dreams have been passed over and then one fine day in front of a sheet of white paper thinking my mind is completely empty, objects I saw some day, songs which my grandparents sang, sorrows, hopes, materialise through the ink of the drawing …all that which is there in memory… In Sarahy’s work, texts taken from songs, poems and famous phrases that are part of Cuban culture acquire new significance. The hummingbird, flowers, corn, and coffee are symbols Sarahy uses to let the viewer know who she is and where she is coming from. Of all the symbols, the corn recurs most frequently. For Sarahy the corn is both the beginning and the end, reality and dream, man and divinity: “All the glory of the world fits inside one grain of corn”. Following a series of UK exhibitions, 13 The Gallery is very pleased to count with the presence of Sarahy for the opening before she returns to Cuba. Exhibition opening: private view and meet the artist Thursday 27th June 6.30-9pm. Entry by RSVP only - please email info@13thegallery.com The exhibition will remain open 27th June-10th July. ABOUT THE ARTIST: Sarahy Martinez (b 1970) studied at the prestigious Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro in Havana. She masters a range of media and techniques and her works have ranged from paintings, drawings and engravings to installations. Sarahy has had numerous exhibitions in Cuba since 1991 and, although her artworks are in private collections all over the world, this is the first time her works have been exhibited in Europe. Some of her more significant solo exhibitions have been: “Confesiones” (Confesions) in 1998, Galería de 10 de Octubre, Havana; “Toda la gloria del mundo” (All the Glory in the World) in 2011, Galería-Taller Amelia Peláez, Havana; “Femenino Plural” (Femeninity in Plural) in 2012, within the 11th Bienal Internacional of Havana. Sarahy’s most noteworthy group exhibitions have been: “Engravings” in 1991, Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana; “Pintores cubanos” (Cuban Painters) in 2001, Palacio de las Convenciones, Havana; “Pintores retratistas” (Portrait Painters) in 2000, Feria Comercial de Sullivan, México and in 2008, The Morgan Gallery, Gran Caimán. Besides pursuing her own work, she is Curator at the Galería de Arte 10 de Octubre in Havana. El Rumbon Cubano is back on Friday 12th July Yet another great line-up for the next Rumbon Cubano! Two of London’s most well-known Cuban DJs - Richard Fallon and DJ Green Papi will be spinning for your pleasure, and Amanda Maitland will be joining us for the first time to teach at the Rumbon. Amanda will be treating us to a bit of 'Rueda Nueva'. Want to know more? Then come down and join the class at 9pm. It’ll be good fun. You’ll get new moves, tips on positioning and learn how to move from a circle into a line and back again. Plus for bachata fans, DJ Dani K will also be on the decks and there is a bachata dance class with Natalie Baltao from 9-10pm. Enjoy our Rumbon Cubano Summer Party - salsa with some bachata flavour! At The Latin Groove Lounge Club (Nightclub Kolis entrance) 1 Archway Close, London, N19 3TD (opposite Archway tube). Entry: £10 Doors open 8.30pm, classes 9-10pm, party til 4am Read More Copyright © 2011 www.cubacheche.co.uk | All Rights Reserved | Design and development By InkandOut. Cubacheche LLP, Registered Number OC329828 (England) - Address: 71 Connaught Gardens, London N10 3LG Copyright © 2011 www.cubacheche.co.uk Designed by InkandOut Upcoming events at Chisenhale Dance Space It's super busy in the CDS office getting ready for our 30th Birthday celebrations this Autumn, but before then, we still have lots of great events to keep the creative juices flowing. For full listings, check out our website or see below for a selection. We have another wonderful opportunity for you to join our team - Chisenhale Dance Space and Chelsea Theatre were successful with their Catalyst Arts application (read more about it here) and are very pleased to be working together to develop sustainable fundraising strategies. So to help us, we're looking for a PT Development Officer. Find out more on our website. Also, don't forget, the Jerwood Choreographic Research Project is now open for applications for open-ended research in choreographic practice across all artforms. The project is now inviting research proposals from artists and creatives from any artform, who consider their work to be choreographic. Deadline: 29 July 2013. Hope to see you at some of these events, Team at Chisenhale Producers and Artists Mixer Thursday 27th June, 7-9pmFREE After a little break, the Mixers are back. And we’ve had some great feedback of partnerships being made from these sessions already this year, so don’t miss out! Are you an artist? Producer? Bit of both? The event is open to all, held in our cosy lounge and is FREE, so if you’d like a chance to mingle with fellow producers and artists, come along! Please RSVP our Facebook event if you are interested in joining: https://www.facebook.com/events/542443969145752/ #ChisMixer Agony Art Saturday 29 June, performance starts 7.00pm | bar available from 6.30pmtickets: £5 (on the door) to enable artists cover venue costs with Richard Court, Sounding Motion, Angelina Deck and Petra Söör Letterschoreographed and performed by Richard Court Silence Must Be! with Sounding Motion Chacun(e) choreographed and performed by Angelina Deck Siggin’s field choreographed and performed by Petra Söör Coffee Morning Rant. Chat.Eat.Tuesday 2 July, 11am-2pm-ishFREE Dance Copyright “If you copy from one author it’s plagiarism, but if you copy from many, it’s research.” – Wilson Mizner You probably know us. Actually, you probably don’t. This is us. We are Marquez&Zangs. So now that we are friends, here’s what we’d like to look at in July’s Coffee Morning: We’ve all seen Beyonce copying De Keersmaeker, Jérôme Bel’s desire to copy his favourite dances, and Siobhan Davies’ creation of the “Replay” archive (which involved chasing hundreds of people to sign release forms)…so WHAT IS ALL THIS FUSS ABOUT COPYRIGHT? Find out more on our website Psst... Looking for something to do this Friday? Why not check out Free to Fall down the road at Rich Mix. Fri 21 June 7.30pm, £11, £9 adv, £7 student or concs Taking over the top floor theatre and gallery spaces of Rich Mix, Free to Fall is a regular, live cross arts scratch event providing a performance platform for new works in progress from both current and emerging choreographers. This is an opportunity for contemporary artists to not only present new works and ideas but also to network and make links with future collaborators. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Unsubscribe - Edit your subscription Chisenhale Dance Space 64-84 Chisenhale Road London E3 5QZ __._,_.___ UNLEASHED - Summer 2013 The East London Dance team are unleashing a huge 'Yee-haw' for the upcoming summer months! The sun has finally come out, giving us longer days to soak up the sunshine (we mean work!) and enjoy the abundance of playful energy that is coming our way. The last few months have seen some exciting changes in the organisation with our longstanding Artistic Director stepping down and the appointment of a new leader. We have been busy getting digital with the design of a new online web experience discovervarmints.com and planning the hottest line up for our 25th anniversary celebrations. There is so much going on that we want to share all the news and gossip from the most innovative and ambitious dance hub in the UK all in one hit - here it is... enjoy! design by: Mark Pepperall WHAT'S GOING ON We are delighted to announce that Polly Risbridger has been appointed as Director at East London Dance. She has been with us for ten years working hard to develop her skills and relationships. Starting as Project Co-ordinator she quickly moved up the ranks, leading some of the most successful and ambitious initiatives, which has gained her a highly respected reputation as Creative Producer. We are incredibly excited for what is to come. We have a spirited young leader coming on board to lead us into a new phase of development. Best of luck Polly! Read full article here. FRESH FROM THE STUDIO Monteverdi Ballets - the collaboration between Avant Garde Dance & Early Opera Company - has been getting lots of press interest of late. How did this unusual collaboration come about? Why match Monteverdi with Tony Adigun? In a series of recent interviews, the reason has become apparent. The producers (ELD & Spitalfields Music) paired this unlikely couple together based on their shared values of musicality, innovation and risk-taking. Monteverdi was a maverick in his time, regarded as a revolutionary and innovative composer - cut to Adigun 400 years later and a similar set of words tend to be used in terms of his choreography. So it seems that marrying the two of them should surely create something explosive? The east end choreographer, who likes a challenge, has music at his core and previously has made work for site specific locations talks to Lyndsey Winship from Time Out and LLoyd Naomi Lewis Hayter from Pappzd. The show is on tonight - book here! photo credit: Tony Adigun (Greg Walsh) & Monteverdi Ballets (Alys Tomlinson) TAILOR MADE DANCE We have been in secret talks for over a year, but we can finally scream loud and proud that East London Dance have been specially commissioned by Big Dance to produce a large scale site specific performance for the Coronation Festival, held in Buckingham Palace Gardens on 11-13 July. We have invited our dear friend and trusted choreographer Jeanefer Jean-Charles to work with 100 dancers and 20 live musicians from the Dhol Foundation to create a spectacular outdoor dance piece. Jeanefer was recently a Mass Movement Co-ordinator for the London 2012 Olympic Ceremonies team, and for this piece is collaborating with Johnny Kalsi from the Dhol Foundation (courtesy of WOMAD) to create a bespoke piece of dance with music that celebrates themes from across the Commonwealth. Read article here. photo credit: Rachel Cherry OUT AND ABOUT A long, long, long time ago three producers saw something very special in the children's book Varmints by Helen Ward with illustrations by Marc Caste (Lloyds TSB animations). They researched, they developed, they fundraised, they brainstormed and then brought together an unbelievable set of creative collaborators to make a piece that tells the poignant story of one small creature's struggle to preserve a world that is in danger of being lost. They saw a successful future in a story which makes a strong comment on the value of nature, seemingly ever more relevant as endless tower blocks go up in the name of regeneration. It's been four years in development and the production is now out and about touring successfully. A true example of the time and patience it requires to produce a high-quality feature length work from scratch. To enhance the audience experience, an interactive web experience has been developed. Through creative gaming and a series of creative tasks, users delve deep into the themes of the book and behind the scenes of the production. Go explore discovervarmints.com photo credit: Manuel Vason BEHIND THE SCENES We get to meet and work with some fabulous artists. Through projects like Street Stories, which is working cross-art form it gives us the opportunity to bring in some highly acclaimed industry professionals to share their top tips. We have been privy to some exceptional talks, as some of London 's top creatives delve into the intricacies of collaboration - when to listen, to compromise and when to make a case for your vision. Not only have our emerging artists benefitted, but so have we! Kate Prince and DJ Walde talked choreography and music, Wayne McGregor and Lucy Carter talked movement and lighting design, Maxwell Golden talked spoken word, theatre and co-producing and Lloyd Newson (DV8 Physical Theatre) talked collaborating with all the production elements. Since these intensive workshops in April, our emerging artists have been put into collaborative teams which include a choreographer, film maker, designer, composer and are now currently experimenting in the studio. There will be a sharing of these rough cuts at the Royal Opera House in July. OUR PEOPLE Kiki Gale has been waving the flag for East London Dance for 21 years. Following her early dance career as a performer, choreographer and animateur, in 1992 she took up the post of Dance Officer at what was then East London Regional Dance Council. In 1996 this became the living and breathing East London Dance that we now know. In her two-decade reign, Kiki has overseen some incredible achievements for the organisation, using the geography of the area as the creative space for inspirational dance (including roads, stations, parks and Tudor mansions) and inspired by the diverse communities in this part of London . In 2004 she was awarded an MBE for her services to dance development in east London . In an honest interview Kiki talks to ISTD/Dance Magazine about her inspirations, the industry and her future. photo credit: Kiki Gale (Lise Smith) PARTNERS IN CRIME If you did not know already we are based in the thriving Cultural Quarter in Stratford , home to a host of cultural and artistic organisations and venues. Together we have formed a unique consortium called Stratford Rising, aimed at profiling the distinctive arts and culture offer in the area. It seems natural that these neighbours join artistic forces and produce a festival celebrating the artistry and talent in the area. And so we have! On 7th - 8th September we are presenting an ambitious festival in Theatre Square and surrounding areas, based on the theme of play. We are turning Stratford into one giant game - two whole days of play! As a consortium of over 20 artistic partners, we are presenting a range of artistic commissions across all artforms and genres, from artists we know and love. The weekend will be fun and interactive, animating spaces and buildings like you have never seen. Watch this space... AT A GLANCE Summer Classes (until July 2013 @ Stratford Circus) Tuesdays Street Dance - Adult Beginner Class, 7pm - 8.00pm ThursdaysThe Firm - Open Class (males only), Age 13 - 18, 5pm - 6.30pm Fridays Baby Dance - Open Class, Age Parent & Toddler, 10am - 10.45am Fridays Leap of Faith , Age 60+, 11am - 1pm We also have some classes out ON THE MOVE - check for a class near you! Events Dance Currents 2013 Full listings - click here Avant Garde Dance & Early Opera Company: Monteverdi Ballets An East London Dance & Spitalfields Music Production Monday 17 June Varmints Performance & Family Day Friday 21 - Saturday 22 June Apparitions - The Story of East London Dancing Digital Installation Opens Friday 26 July Save the date... Make sure you keep the 12th - 13th September free. We are celebrating 25 years in style with an extraordinary anniversary show. Including a raft of special guests, DJs and dancing please join us for a celebratory evening of creative commissions, surprise collaborations and plenty of party vibes. For more information > get in touch Copyright © 2011 East London Dance. All Rights Reserved. East London Dance is a registered charity No: 1053735. East London Dance reserves the right to change the programme. Design: Hot Pepper Design Ltd Project and Marketing Manager needed! Artistic Director and Choreographer Keisha Grant seeks a self motivated, efficient, organised and creative Project and Marketing Manager to manage forthcoming projects and to drive the artistic work forwards. Keneish Dance, based in Birmingham is a project based Performance and Education company specialising in African Contemporary and Contemporary dance forms, founded in 2009 by Choreographer - Dancer Keisha Grant, the company has a developed a powerful, distinctive aesthetic and works in collaboration with visual artists.To date Keisha's work has been commissioned by Billingham international Folklore Festival, Southwark Council as part of Big Dance, Creative Leap and Grants for the Arts from Arts Council England for a number of different projects. In 2012 the company embarked on there first national tour of 'VIGOUR' to critical acclaim; venues included Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art Gallery, Bristol Harbour festival amongst other theatre venues and accompanied by a year long education programme delivered in schools, colleges, and university settings delivered to an average of 2500 participants annually. For more details and to apply visit www.keneishdance.com -- Keisha Grant Artistic Director & Choreographer Keneish Dance E info@keneishdance.com W www.keneishdance.com Follow us on Twitter Add us on Facebook Watch a video of us

"