Phoenix Dance Theatre Choreographers & Composers Lab 2019

This July Phoenix Dance Theatre delivered their second Choreographers & Composers Lab, funded by Jerwood Arts with match funding from Leeds Dance Partnership.

The 2019 Lab brought together four choreographers, four composers, 12 professional dancers and four musicians for a two-week intensive led by Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Sharon Watson and Musical Director Alexander Campkin.

A group of dance artists and musicians participate in Phoenix Dance Theatre's Choreographic and Composer Labs 2019. A large group of participants sit on the floor of a dance studio as they listen to a gentleman in a pink shirt give them more information. There is a harpist, saxophonist, guitar player and clarinet player in the photograph.

Week one saw the participants take part in workshops delivered by guest lecturers Kim Brandstrup, Peter Wiegold, Sandrine Monin and Nadine Benjamin, with the creative tasks focusing on experimentation and collaboration. In week two, each choreographer was paired with a composer and together the duos put the techniques explored in week one into practice, devising original choreography and composition. At the end of the two weeks, all involved in the process came together for a studio sharing to invited industry guests where the choreographers and composers shared their creative explorations.

A dancer performs in a dance studio in front of invited guests at Phoenix Dance Theatre's CC Labs 2019. Her back is to the camera and she spreads her arms out side to side. Her dark hair is tied up and she wears a dark green top with blue shorts.

Sharon Watson said:

I am absolutely delighted with the outcome of our second Choreographers & Composers Lab. To bring together 24 creative minds and see them experiment, challenge one another and create has been incredibly rewarding. Creative Labs have played a massive part in my professional development and to be able to offer a Lab that crosses disciplines is invaluable and wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of Jerwood Arts and Leeds Dance Partnership. I can’t wait to see what the 2019 CC Lab cohort do next.

At Leeds Dance Partnership, we are proud to have supported this exciting project and to attend the sharing itself to see the excellent work created. To find out about more artistic development opportunities like the CC Labs, visit our Projects & Opportunities page and join our newsletter.

Photos Zoe Martin & Jack Thorne