Dance highlights in Salisbury

Posted on May 21, 2011

The Salisbury International Arts Festival has opened, with a programme that includes plenty of dance alongside theatre, circus, film, music and spoken word. This year, the festival focuses on the themes of China, dance and air, with venues from Salisbury Cathedral to Stonehenge (pictured by Adrian Harris Photography). There’s also a chance to join in, with a day of dance at the end of the festival.

Here are some of this year’s highlights:

Beijing Modern Dance Company

The UK premiere of Aware, performed by Gao Yanjinzi, director of the company, and her mother, the traditional Chinese dancer Luo Lili, this evening contrasts different styles of Chinese dance.

Thursday, May 26, Salisbury Playhouse

Nederlands Dans Theater and English National Ballet

Two companies dance works by Hans Van Manen, with Nederlands Dans Theater in Déjà Vu and Solo and English National Ballet in Trois Gnossiennes. The performance is followed by a conversation with the companies’ directors.

Friday, May 27, Salisbury Playhouse

Monteverdi’s Flying Circus

This concert tells the story of the composer Monteverdi’s final years, with extracts from his operas and madrigals set against a backdrop of the Venetian carnival.

Tuesday, May 31, Salisbury Playhouse

Nats Nus Dansa

Catalan company Nats Nus Dansa dance the family show Maps, with colourful sets and imaginative stories.

Wednesday, June 1, Arts Centre

Chinese Acrobats at Stonehenge

The London Chinese Acrobatic Company perform at one of the UK’s most famous monuments, the world heritage site Stonehenge.

Thursday, June 2, Stonehenge

Jasmin Vardimon Company

Vardimon’s Yesterday is a retrospective work, created to mark the company’s tenth anniversary. It combines highlights from Vardimon’s past work, mixed with new choreography and live video animation. Suitable for ages 14+

Thursday, June 2, Salisbury Playhouse

Let’s Dance

A day of dance, with classes for all ages and special prices for multiple classes and for younger dancers. The day includes sessions in tap, jazz, tango, Bollywood and breakdancing.

Saturday, June 4, Arts Centre

See www.salisburyfestival.co.uk for the full programme. Tickets are available from the website or on 0845 241 9651.

Zoe Anderson

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.