What would you love to see on stage with your dance? A large blue ball on wheels floating in a forest? A purple carpet hanging from the ceiling? In this workshop, we will explore creative ways to solve set design problems. We focus on finding inexpensive materials, tools to use, and meeting your artistic goals. If you are a choreographer or working in theater this workshop will open your eyes to new worlds for your dances. This workshop is for anyone who is interested in set design and construction. Participants will create drawings; a scale model, material list, budget, and construction plan for their project. An emphasis will be on finding low cost environmentally sustainable set materials. Strategies for repurposing the set after the showing to minimize the environmental impact of theater construction will also be discussed.

COST:
Set Building for Dance (4th – 6th July) 50 USD / 50 Euro

JON POPE (USA)
Jon Pope (LPC Production Manager) is a builder. He has built sets for choreographer Asimina Chremos (Chicago) and Laura Peterson Choreography (NYC). His work for LPC has been seen at Dixon Place, Dance New Amsterdam and Here Arts Center in New York and in Chicago for Asimina Chremos. Jon is Head of Construction for the Music Garage in Brooklyn and Chicago. He is a graduate of SUNY College of Environment Science and Forestry and was a wildlife biologist for the State of Alaska for four years. Jon Pope and Laura Peterson have had a working relationship for ten years.

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Set Building for Dance
We will explore creative ways to solve set design problems. We focus on finding inexpensive materials, tools to use, and meeting your artistic goals. If you are a choreographer or working in theater this workshop will open your eyes to new worlds for your dances.

These workshops are addressed to people who would like to work as radio reporters. The scope of the programme covers such aspects as off-site recording of material, lektoring, editing, sound production, meeting festival stars, interviewing and others. The workshops will be conducted by Ewa Niewiadomska – the reporter of the Polish Radio “Katowice”.

COST: 200 PLN. – number of places limited

WORKSHOP LEADER:
EWA NIEWIADOMSKA (POLAND)
Ewa Niewiadomska is the journalist and head of the culture section of the Polish Radio “Katowice”, who hosts a series of daily programmes, such as “Więcej Kultury Proszę!” (More Manners Please!), “Pozytywka” (Music Box), “Teatrzyk Wyobraźni” (Theatre of Imagination) and a daily guide “Moc Kultury” (The Power of Culture). For many years she has been the author of popular interviews with artists, and is interested in cultural topics, reporting and reviewing the most important cultural events, including festivals such as “Interpretacje” (Interpretations), “A’PART” and the International Contemporary Dance Conference. She has been working for the Polish programmes of the Polish Radio, publishing in the social and cultural monthly, “Śląsk”, and conducting workshops on the promotion of cultural events in the media during the 2008 Conference entitled The role of culture in the shaping of modern city’s image and others. She has received numerous awards including the Silesian Dance Theatre’s Silver Mask, Head Opened Towards Theatre granted by the Silesian Theatre, Theatre’s Angel from the Zagłębie Children’s Theatre, and the ASP award Artists to Their Friends from the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice. Furthermore, the Ministry of Culture awarded her with the honorary title, the Badge of Merits for the Polish Culture.

The Technique Programming is organized to expand and develop the various tools and dance vocabulary that individual dancers, choreographers and teachers need in order to express attitudes, thoughts, feelings, etc. in an ideally unique and creative way. The accomplishment of gaining these skills creates a sense of freedom and fluency of expression in the participants movement, motion and complex theatrical techniques which are necessary in the creation and performance of dance.

Meetings focus on intensive dance practicing in different forms (from classical dance, through improvisation, jazz, yoga to contemporary dance). Variety of styles and techniques allows participants to learn diverse dance forms and meet different teachers who are invited to cooperate.
COST:
dance workshops entirely (27.06 – 08.07) – 500 USD / 350 Euro
dance workshops first week (27.06 – 01.07) – 350 USD / 250 Euro
dance workshops second week (04.07 – 08.07) – 300 USD / 250 Euro

Founded by veteran choreographers and a new generation of dancers in China, BeijingDance / LDTX is a platform for contemporary creations. Under the artistic direction of Willy Tsao, one of China’s foremost figure in modern dance, and deputy artistic director Li Hanzhong, the company boasts an ensemble of technically exquisite dancers and a diverse repertoire. Since its creation in 2005, BeijingDance / LDTX has traveled extensively throughout Mainland China, Hong Kong, Europe and North America. BeijingDance / LDTX hosts an annual performance season, educational programs, technique classes, and outreach activities. BeijingDance / LDTX attracts aspiring dancers and artists to contemporary dance and serves as an important voice in the evolution of modern Chinese thought and society. Under the artistic direction of Willy Tsao and deputy artistic director Li Hanzhong, BeijingDance / LDTX boasts an ensemble of technically exquisite dancers and a diverse repertoire. Since its creation in 2005, the Company has performed throughout Mainland China, Hong Kong, Europe and North America, and hosts an annual performance season, educational programs, and outreach activities.

WILLY TSAO – Choreographer

Artistic Director of BeijingDance / LDTX and City Contemporary Dance Company, and General Manager of Guangdong Modern Dance Company Willy has been instrumental to the development of the modern dance in China. Born and educated in Hong Kong, Tsao received his modern dance training in the U.S. (1973-1977.) His numerous awards include: “Bronze Bauhinia Star” (1999) by the Hong Kong SAR government for significant contribution to the development of local arts; “Dancer of the Year” (1988) from the Hong Kong Artists Guild; “The Badge of Honor” (1993) from H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II; “Louis Cartier Award of Excellence-Outstanding Choreographer” (1998). Major choreographic works include: Bird Songs, Kunlun, China Wind, China Fire, Wandering in the Realm of Lightness, One Table Two Chairs, Sexing Three Millenniums, In Search of the Grand View Garden, Warrior Lanling, Moment of Color.

LI HAN-ZHONG – Deputy Artistic Director/Choreographer of BeijingDance/LDTX

A native of Yunnan Province, Li Han-zhong has been invited to choreograph for the Adelaide Center for the Arts, Australia (1998, 2000), Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Taiwan (1999), and the American Dance Festival’s International Choreographers Showcase (1999). Li joined the Beijing Modern Dance Company as Deputy Artistic Director in 1999 and in 2005 moved to serve in that capacity for BeijingDance / LDTX. His works have toured internationally with Guangdong Modern Dance Company, Beijing Modern Dance Company and BeijingDance / LDTX. Major works include All River Red (2000), Undetermined Domain (1997), Rear Light (2002), The Cold Dagger (2006).

MA BO – Choreographer/ Dancer

Born in Shanxi Province, Ma Bo performed with the Guangdong Modern Dance Company before joining Beijing Modern Dance Company in 1999. She became a founding member of BeijingDance / LDTX in 2005 where she collaborates extensively with choreographer Li Han-zhong. Major works include Variation of Red, Helpless, Gone with it in Multi-Color, Garden of Memory, The Cold Dagger.

LIU BIN – Choreographer/ Dancer

Liu is a founding member of BeijingDance/LDTX. Liu Bin was born in Shanxi Province and studied at the Provincial Arts School there. He then studied in the Folk Dance Division at the Beijing Dance Academy Affiliated High School. In 1998 he joined the Fujian Provincial Song and Dance Company and in 2002 began his modern dance career with the Beijing Modern Dance Company. In 2005, he became a founding member of LDTX. In 2009, become a free dancers. His choreography includes Play with You, Twi and Twa, The Snail and others.

SONG TING TING – Choreographer/ Dancer

Song is a founding member of BeijingDance/LDTX. A Shanghai native, she trained at the Shanghai Educational University, Arts College, Department of Dance. After graduation, she taught at the Affiliated High School of the Shanghai Educational University. Song Ting-ting joined the Beijing Modern Dance Company and 2002 and then became a founding member of BeijingDance/LDTX. Her choreography includes, “Play with you”, “Comma”, “Fried to Eat, or Boiled to Eat?”, “the Snail” and other works.

Title: 1.One Table N Chairs (excerpt)

2. October

3. The Cold Dagger (excerpt)

4. All River Red (Rite of Spring)

Choreography: Willy Tsao, Li Hanzhong and Ma Bo

Music: 1. One Table N Chairs (excerpt) / Selection of Traditional Chinese Opera

2. October / Ilyich Tchaikovsky “Octobre”

3. The Cold Dagger (excerpt) / Quasi Una Fantasia String Quartet, Henryk Górecki

4. All River Red (Rite of Spring) / “Rite of Spring”, composed by Igor Stravinsky, performed by Philharmonic Orchestra

Performed by: Ma Bo, Zuo Yan, Song Tingting, Zhao Kexin, Zi Wei,Liang Yu, Xu Yiming, Liu Yifeng, Zheng Zhi, Li Yue, He Yao, Guo Wei, Qian Kun, Zha Xi Wang Jia, Tang Tingting

Costume Design: Zhao Jiapei

Stage setting: You Hu, Chen Lin

Lights: Godzilia Tan

Duration: Approx 70 min

www.beijingldtx.com

The workshop are addressed to artists, managers, students and to the people interested in culture developing, fundrising, culture policy, etc.

COST:

art managers workshops (5 th July – 6 th July 2011) – 150 USD/ 100 Euro

These classes are designed for those who wish to spend their leisure time in an active way, and who appreciate values carried by dance. Classes are an excellent alternative for people who want to care more about their physical condition (movements coordination, working on awareness of your own body) and to develop dance skills while creating short choreographies.

COST:

senior movement workshops (27 th June  – 1 st July  2011) – 50 USD / 35 Euro

Is rated among the elements of art-therapy. The basic elements of dance: the motion and the rhythm lead to reaching the harmony of body and mind, enable understanding ourselves and our emotions as well as interpersonal communication between us and others. Therapy through the movement is some kind of psychological use of movement where body and mind are united. It’s a process make the physical ad mental integration of human. “Therapy through the movement” doesn’t replace the therapy itself, its function is to aid – to evoke motive activity, to improve the condition of body and mind, to help with getting over the tensions and negative emotions. It also has an influence on the development of creativity. Including the elements of contemporary dance in the workshops we are trying to give the participants the opportunity of creating their own dance compositions, short improvisations that are usually used in the performances we prepare, Very important role in leading such a form of therapy plays the attitude of the leader towards the group he works with. Empathy, building the mutual trust and taking care of participants safety are very important too. One of the main elements of the therapy is the music but its using should be depended on the mental state, condition and mood of the participants.

COST:

therapy through movement (June 27 th – July 1st 2011) – 200 USD / 140 Euro

COST:

integrated dance (27 th June – 8 th July 2011) – 100 USD / 70 Euro

FREE entrance for disabled

The Conference/Festival Dance Theory and Criticism programs as well as other related programs have been specifically designed for criticism students from the Theatre Theory Departments, Journalism and Polish Language Studies at Polish Universities. The curriculum offer has been accepted by the universities co-operating with Silesian Dance Theatre as a supplement to theatre theory programs offered regularly at universities in the country. These partnerships fill the void faced in Poland’s schools of the higher education since their curriculums have not incorporated issues in dance history and theory. There are no specialists in these fields to teach the classes and as an expression of appreciation for dance, the management of the relevant programs at universities eagerly accepted Silesian Dance Theatre’s curriculum and invitation to participate.

COST:

dance writing workshops (27 th June – 8 th July 2011) – 100 USD / 70 Euro