Hofesh Shechter Company Announces New Double Bill and Further Dates For GRAND FINALE

Throughout 2018, Hofesh Shechter Company will tour a powerful double-bill comprising of the rarely seen Clowns and a brand new companion piece as yet untitled, performed by Shechter II, their apprentice company for dancers aged 18-25.

Following the success of Shechter Junior in 2015, Hofesh Shechter Company's award-winning apprentice company returns as Shechter II. Over 1,000 dancers auditioned for Shechter II and the final eight, drawn from the most inspiring young talent across the world, represent the very best of the next generation of contemporary dancers.

They are Riley Wolf (UK), Juliette Valerio (France), Zunnur Sazali (Singapore), Adam Khazmuradov (Belgium), Natalia Gabrielczyk (Poland), Emma Farnell-Watson (UK), Robinson Cassarino (France) and Neal Maxwell (Switzerland).

The productions will embark on an extensive international tour to leading venues in Italy, France and Luxembourg before receiving their UK premiere at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith on Tuesday 8 May, where it will play six performances only, before travelling to Belfast, Manchester, Southampton, with other autumn tour dates to be announced.

Shechter's blackly comic portrayal of a group of anarchic clowns was rapturously received at Nederlands Dans Theater in 2016, and he now creates a brand new companion piece to sit alongside it. With its razor-sharp lighting and pulsating score, Shechter's work has the energy of a rock gig combined with beautiful, moving choreography.

Shechter II builds on Hofesh Shechter Company's firm commitment to nurturing young artists. Few up-and-coming dancers have the chance to perform in different spaces to different audiences supported by an experienced creative and technical team. Shechter II allows dancers at the early stages of their career the opportunity to be mentored by long-standing HSC members and have access to world-renowned venues and the stability of an apprentice salary.

Produced by Hofesh Shechter Company. Clowns was originally commissioned by NDT (2016).

Clowns/New Creation is produced in association with HOME Manchester and Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, and received production support from Fondazione I Teatri Reggio Emilia and a production residency at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, Brighton.

Following the hugely successful premieres at La Villette-Paris, with Théâtre de la Ville and Sadler's Wells, Hofesh Shechter's latest work, Grand Finale continues to thrill audiences around the world with new dates announced for 2018.

As previously announced, Grand Finale will open at HOME Manchester (31 Feb - 3 Feb) before travelling to Theater Heerlen, Nederlands (12 March), Birmingham Rep (26 April), Brighton Festival (5-6 May), Hellerau Center for the Arts, Dresden, Germany (1-2 June). Further dates to be announced, including autumn tour dates in Luxembourg, where the company will enjoy a creative residency at Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg presenting three works (Grand Finale, Clowns and the return of Political Mother), Romaeuropa Festival and Ancona, Italy.

Featuring 10 dancers and 6 musicians, Grand Finale is a spectacularly bold and ambitious piece which is at once comic, bleak and beautiful; evoking a world at odds with itself, full of energy and violent comedy. Filtering this irrepressible spirit, Shechter creates a vision of a world in freefall, part gig, part dance, pArt Theatre and wholly original.

Grand Finale is produced by Hofesh Shechter Company and commissioned by Georgia Rosengarten.

Our Commissioning partners are Sadler's Wells Theatre, Théâtre de la Ville-Paris / La Villette-Paris and Brighton Dome and Festival. Co-commissioned by Colours International Dance Festival Stuttgart, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Romaeuropa Festival, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Marche Teatro / Inteatro Festival together with Danse Danse Montréal, HELLERAU-European Center for the Arts Dresden, Dansens Hus Oslo, Athens and Epidaurus Festival, HOME Manchester and Scène Nationale d'Albi.

Grand Finale is generously supported by the International Music and Arts Foundation

Hofesh Shechter Company is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Hofesh Shechter is an Associate Artist of Sadler's Wells and Hofesh Shechter Company is Resident Company at Brighton Dome.

Other news from Hofesh Shechter Company

EAST WALL

Also in 2018, Hofesh Shechter Company continues its work with choreographers and dancers from East London as part of a 3 year talent development programme that culminates in a spectacular outdoor performance at the Tower of London in summer 2018. East Wall is co-produced with East London Dance, Historic Royal Palaces and LIFT.

GLUCK'S ORPHÉE ET EURYDICE - at La Scala, Milan,

Co-directed with John Fulljames - Conducted by Michele Mariotti - Staging by John Fulljames and Hofesh Shechter - Choreography by Hofesh Shechter
Set and costumes by Conor Murphy with lighting by Lee Curran

24 February - 17 March 2018

Following its success at the Royal Opera house, Orphée et Eurydice now returns to La Scala as part of their 2018 season. Hofesh Shechter made his operatic debut with this production at the Royal Opera House in London in 2015 in collaboration with director John Fulljames (previously Associate Director of Opera, Royal Opera House).

Orphée et Eurydice includes some of Gluck's most loved music, from Orphée's tender 'Objet de mon amour' and 'J'ai perdu mon Eurydice' to the spectacular 'L'espoir renaît dans mon âme', added for the French premiere. The chorus also assumes a role of great importance, particularly in their roles as the shades and Furies of the underworld. But the opera is perhaps most celebrated for its innovative dance music; two of its many highlights include the 'Dance of the Furies' and the 'Dance of the Blessed Spirits', here performed by 22 dancers under the direction of Hofesh Shechter.

The cast is Juan Diego Flórez as Orphée, Christiane Karg as Eurydice and Fatma Said as L'Amour.

Photo credit: Rahi Rezvani

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