The Space captures dance pieces for BBC Two

January 23, 2018

Darcey Bussell steps out of the world of ballet to present BBC Two audiences with two modern dance works that take familiar genres into uncharted territory.

Presenting ‘Darcey Bussell’s New Dance‘ on Saturday 27 January at 10pm on BBC Two, Darcey will introduce two innovative and exhilirating new dance pieces. Joined by Oscar winner Danny Boyle and inspired by her love for exploring all forms of dance the film showcases two new works from Barbican associate artists – Boy Blue Entertainment and Montreal based skaters – Le Patin Libre.

Emancipation of Expressionism

First to be showcased is Emancipation of Expressionism, an 11-minute piece of hip-hop dance theatre, from Olivier Award-winning company Boy Blue Entertainment (BBE) a Barbican Artistic Associate, that has been captured on film by Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle in a staged performance at London’s Barbican Theatre.

Emancipation of Expression has been selected by the UK’s largest exam body, AQA, to form part of the GCSE Dance curriculum. This ground-breaking choice represents the first time in UK mainstream education that hip-hop has been included on the curriculum alongside its contemporary peers. 

Boy Blue Entertainment, Emancipation of ExpressionismBoy Blue Entertainment, Emancipation of Expressionism

Vertical

This is followed by 10 -minute ice-skating piece Vertical. Director Eddie Frost captures the essence of Montréal collective Le Patin Libre’s acclaimed Vertical Influences, a huge hit of Dance Umbrella festival 2014.  The prize-winning ice skaters blaze a unique trail with their remarkable and inventive style of contemporary ice-dancing.

Five person troupe Le Patin Libre use the ice in daring and dazzling ways to present a completely new perspective. In 10-minute film Vertical, director Eddie Frost brings us thrillingly up close to the action as he captures the performers slashing and slicing the ice at top speed in one half of their award-winning double-bill Vertical Influences.

The show received rave reviews when it opened at Alexandra Palace as part of Dance Umbrella 2014, winning a Total Theatre Award and a Critics’ Circle nomination in 2015 before returning to London in 2016 where it played to sold-out audiences at Somerset House.  The hit show has now been seen by audiences all over the world from Melbourne to Montpellier.

Darcey Bussell said

I’m fascinated by the connections between different forms of choreography and agility as I enjoyed everything from gymnastics to tap before I joined the Royal Ballet School. In this programme I’ve chosen two stunning new works from artists who enjoy breaking conventions and exploring new territories.