Herculean opportunity for community performers!

Posted on February 18, 2015

Local performers are invited to audition for the performance of Hercules, created by dance comedy double act Tom Roden and Pete Shenton of New Art Club (pictured).

New Art Club are recruiting local people to perform on stage during the summer 2015 tour of Hercules. Ahead of the Derby performance on June 12, and working with dance development organisation Dance4 and regional dance house Déda, New Art Club will hold an experience day on Sunday, March 8 at Déda in Chapel Street, Derby. The day will include a taste of the comedy dance routines featured in Hercules, which retells the Greek myth for a 21st century audience.

Those selected will attend weekly rehearsals to learn the choreography for three dance routines. One group of 12 will be “birds”, with a further eight playing “hydras”. Both groups are ideal for young people aged 11 and over with some dance experience and the confidence to appear on stage. The eight-strong group of “folkies” will learn a more technically complex dance piece, making previous dance experience essential.

Clare Limb, Déda’s head of dance development and learning, said: “We are looking for young people aged 11 and over and adults of all ages who have some experience of dance or just have a love of performing to join the experience day.

“It will be an opportunity to take part in New Art Club’s workshop in order to get a feel for the work and style of performance. We will then be talking to everyone about the time commitment, confidence and energy needed in the weeks and months leading up to the show.

“This project will culminate in a highly entertaining show for all the family to enjoy. This is a fantastic opportunity for local performers to be involved in a highly creative show and work with Tom and Pete, who are incredibly talented performers.

“Everybody is welcome on the experience day provided they have registered with us by March 4.”

For more information or to book a place at the experience day, please contact Heather Dunn at Déda on 01332 374 670, or email h.gunn@deda.uk.com.

New Art Club are also recruiting local performers for other venues in the tour. Click here for more information. See www.herculestour.co.uk for more information about the show.

Photograph: Chris Nash

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.