London’s international dance festival Dance Umbrella has named Croydon among the venues for a spectacular open-air, gravity-defying performance this autumn.
Released this week, the 2017 Dance Umbrella programme describes Origami as ‘the unlikely pairing of a monumental shipping container and a gravity-defying dancer’. Inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding, the performance is a breath-taking spectacle where the container unfurls, as dancer and choreographer Satchie Noro dangles from its sharp corners and glides on its edges. The container continues to move throughout the performance.
Croydon is one of just five locations across the capital selected to host the free 40-minute show, supported by Croydon Council. Suitable for everyone, the performance will take place in The Queen’s Gardens on Saturday 14 October at 1.30pm and 6.30pm. Community dance workshops and performances will also be held in the Braithwaite Hall, with details to be publicised nearer the time.
“Dance Umbrella is London’s ultimate celebration of contemporary dance so I’m delighted that Croydon is hosting such an exciting performance. Croydon is fast gaining a reputation as a borough that invests in arts and culture and a place that embraces creativity. Our cultural programme continues to go from strength to strength and this year has seen us welcome some fabulous new artists and organisations to the borough, while helping to grow our own local talent. It’s great to see our cultural scene evolving.”
Councillor Timothy Godfrey, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport
Dance Umbrella is London’s annual international festival of contemporary dance. The 2017 programme runs from October 11-28. For more information on the show visit http://www.danceumbrella.co.uk/