Preview: The Sense of an Ending at Dance City and Washington Arts Centre

Stories from Women across the 

North Inspire New Dance Show

The Sense of an Ending

Dance City on Saturday 15th November

Washington Arts Centre on Thursday 27^thNovember

A new dance production based on the real life stories of women across the north has been created by North East based company Red Road Dance Theatre and will premier at Dance City on 15 November before visiting Washington later in the month.

The Sense of an Ending is a love letter to women everywhere who have survival stories that may never have been told and is a celebration of their strength, intuition and courage.

Dancer: Nadia Iftkhar
Photographer: James Froment

The end of a love affair, a career, childhood, the loss of a child or husband, fertility, a friendship and mortality - the performance lifts the lid on the impact these moments can have on how women conduct their future, and the knowledge their stories hold that could aid the next generation.

Through honest, exposing and poignant dance theatre the production positively represents women by sharing the ways in which they choose to survive life changing moments.  Newcastle based, Artistic Director Nadia Iftkhar, was originally inspired by her grandmother’s untold story of love and life.

Nadia says: “In today’s world we are surrounded by stories in the media of successful women leading celebrity lifestyles. Yet the biggest role models in our lives are in actual fact often the people closest to us; grandmothers, mothers, sisters, children and friends. These stories often go untold, even though there are so many lessons in those experiences that would be more productive to share with the next generation of women. The Sense of Ending is my way of readdressing the balance and sharing stories of the real heroes hidden away in our communitie”’.

As part of the research for the piece Nadia asked women in the north to send her their stories of love, loss, life and friendship. She received an overwhelming response from ordinary people who wanted to share some of their most joyful and challenging life experiences. “I was touched when these women contacted me, with complete honesty in their words and I feel an incredible responsibility to represent their stories with care and empathy. I want women from all walks of life to see themselves reflected in the show, to share with us a celebration of the great things women can achieve and their resilience to overcoming the impossible”.

The Sense of an Ending is Red Road Dance Theatre’s first full length production in collaboration with Sound Designer Al Orange, Film Maker Jamie Korn, and Dancers Caroline Reece, Kate Jackson and Molly Hodkinson.  The piece is commissioned by Dance City with support from Gem Arts, Arts Council England and Spin Arts Management.

Artistic Director, Nadia Iftkhar, has been working with communities in the North East for over 10 years. Earlier this year she was selected as one of 10 artists for ‘This Way Up’ an initiative led by The Empty Space and Dance City, which paired artists in the North East with Producers to develop high quality work that could tour nationally.

‘This Way Up’, a programme funded by Arts Council England and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, is set to run through to the end of 2016 where it is hoped the selected independent artists will be well on their way to forging out a successful career as a maker.

Artistic Director and Joint CEO of Dance City, Anthony Baker, shares with us the importance of supporting, commissioning and presenting emerging talent such as Nadia. He said: “We’re delighted to be working with Nadia and Red Road Dance Theatre to have commissioned their first full length piece. Commissioning new work and providing support to artists like Nadia is a really important part of our work at Dance City and is just one of the ways our work contributes towards a healthy and vibrant dance ecology in the North East. We very much look forward to seeing the performance.”

On The Web:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/redroaddancetheatre

Twitter:      https://twitter.com/RedRoadDT

Tickets:

The Sense of an Ending will be presented at Dance City on 15 November, 8pm. Tickets £5. Age: 14+

Book now online at www.dancecity.co.uk or by calling Dance City on 0191 261 0505

On Tour:

Premiere Performance

Dance City

Newcastle

Fri 15^th Nov, 8.00pm

Box Office 0191 261 0505 or www.dancecity.co.uk

Washington Arts Centre

Washington

Thurs 27^thNov, 7.30pm

Box Office 0191 219 3455 or www.artscentrewashington.co.uk

Robin Howard Dance Theatre – The Place

London

Fri 13^th Feb.

Box Office 020 7121 1100 or www.theplace.org.uk