Dream

Choreographer Christopher Bruce CBE, wrote in his original programme notes, “With the London 2012 Olympics taking place in the Queen’s Jubilee year, I found myself thinking back to celebratory street parties in the early 1950s.

The training of athletes and dancers has many similarities, but as with all competitors and performers it begins with a dream which they have to work hard to realise. So, this is a recognition of two important events in British life, the 2012 Olympics and the Jubilee. However, it is a celebration of the sheer enjoyment of highly physical movement in all its forms.”

The 1950’s vintage costumes and sepia lighting hark back to days of Jubilee celebrations and summer fêtes. Dream is set to Ravel’s Bolero and Lent, the last movement of Valses Nobles et Sentimentales and climaxes with the second movement from Penillion by Welsh composer Grace Williams.

Dream was originally performed as part of Dance GB in 2012 - a showing of the best dance from across England, Scotland, and Wales. It went on to tour throughout the UK in 2012, and onto China later that year.

Lee Johnston, who was a dancer with NDCWales in Dream in 2012 said, “Dream was an absolute joy to create and perform - as Ravel’s Bolero builds, so did the visceral thrill of both the dancers and audience - we could feel everyone dancing each moment with us as we sprinted from swimming to rowing to tennis, anticipating when laughter and applause could no longer be contained and would burst out across the auditorium. We are so proud to bring it to the digital stage, to mark the occasion when the Olympics should have taken place, and offer this uplifting Olympics dance experience at a time when joy is essential.”