Digital Programme For a printer friendly version of this programme click here For Audio Description of tonight's performance on Soundcloud please click here, or talk to the venue to access a headset. Tonight’s Programme -Skinners (30 minutes) -Interval (20 minutes) -August (32 minutes) -Post show talk (15 minutes)* *Please note there is no post show talk 19 September and 9 October Contents -An introduction from Artistic Director Matthew William Robinson -Meet the team -Skinners -AUGUST -About National Dance Company Wales -Support Us -Tell us what you thought – take our survey -Keep in Touch, follow us or join our mailing list Welcome to Frontiers As I conclude my tenure with National Dance Company Wales (NDCWales), tonight’s performance encapsulates the vision I’ve relentlessly pursued. A vision that challenges established norms, critically engages with our changing world, and evolves the role of dance within contemporary society. Frontiers confronts the profound transformations that shape our existence. This evening features two new commissions that traverse this landscape: Skinners by Melanie Lane and AUGUST, a work I have created. Skinners interrogates the complexities of our digital age, compelling us to reassess our physicality in a reality increasingly mediated by virtual experiences. AUGUST navigates the challenge of uncertainty and departure, exploring the tension between who we were and who we are yet to become in times of change. These works do not offer simple resolutions. Rather, they carve out a space for critical reflection; a forum to consider how community and shared experiences might steer us through life’s most pressing challenges. In an era where our society is marked by division, companies like NDCWales are vital. We unite voices and practices, to foster meaningful dialogue between artists and audiences, illuminating the intersections of our varied perspectives. We welcome you into our world this evening and look forward to hearing about your experience. Since 2021, I’ve had the honour of leading the company, collaborating with an extraordinary ensemble of artists and visionaries. Together, we have forged 14 new works, traversed Wales, and carried our work of Wales to audiences across the rest of the United Kingdom, Korea, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and Italy. To all who have supported NDCWales on this journey, I extend my deepest gratitude. To the dancers, the team and every individual I’ve had the privilege to work alongside—you are the heartbeat of this company, without you it is nothing. Together, we have transformed imagination into reality. Thank you to our audience and stakeholders for your unwavering support and trust in my time here. The company finds itself at its own new Frontier, I look forward to discovering what comes next with you. Thank you for joining us. Matthew William Robinson Artistic Director Dancers You can learn more about each dancer by visiting the page below click here to read the dancers biographies Rehearsal Director Victoria Roberts Technical Team Geraint Chinnock, James Tomlinson, Harvey Evans, Will Lewis To meet the rest of the National Dance Company Wales team please click here. Skinners We live in a digital age. We use filters to blur reality and avatars that disguise our identities. We talk to AI, and it talks back to us. We are teetering on the edge of a thrilling and terrifying future where the human body glitches between flesh and illusion, fact and fiction. Beyond the fantasies that technology makes possible, our humanity remains. How do we return to the physical world, and to the skin we are living in? Skinners by Melanie Lane, an Australian choreographer of European and Javanese heritage, features new music from composer Yamila Rios, costume designs by Don Aretino and light from Welsh designer Ceri James. “Drawing from the hypothesis of the Uncanny Valley, the eerie replication of human likeness, SKINNERS is a speculative fiction that navigates a world where bodies slip between flesh and illusion, myths and effigies.” “I hope that it'll create a space for people to go on a journey and dream into these fantastical worlds with us, but also leave with questions that they can reflect on for themselves and how we operate and exist in this this discombobulated world.” Watch and interview with Melanie Lane Creative Team Composer: Yamila Rios Costume Design: Don Aretino Lighting Design: Ceri James Created with Dancers: Alys Davies, Samuel Gilovitz, Jill Goh, Niamh Keeling, Mario Manara, Edward Myhill and Faye Tan Melanie Lane Melanie Lane is an Australian choreographer and performer of Javanese/European cultural heritage. She works across visual arts, theatre, music and film. Her work interrogates physical and cultural histories to explore current social mythologies and extrapolates these into surreal futures that are confounded, broken and reconfigured. These independent works have been presented globally at festivals and theatres in Europe, Indonesia, United States and Australia. Drawing on her European and Indonesian heritage Lane moves between cultural landscapes and influences. Melanie engages regularly across projects in Indonesia as choreographer, collaborator, performer and mentor. Choreographer Melanie Lane The costumes in Skinners by Don Aretino were created by digitally rendering street wear and computer game inspired designs and printing them onto white kaftan-like outfits. At a glance the dancers appear almost two-dimensional. The transparent mesh masks are made to resemble face filters and appear pixelated, almost like glitching avatars. The unique design and pattern-making techniques of the costumes in Skinners allowed them to be created with very little waste to no offcuts. The digitally printed lycra is made out of 100% recycled polyester, therefore they wash and dry very quickly – making them particularly eco-conscious. Here you can see some of the initial sketches, mood boards and costume renders. Don Aretino Indonesian – born, Berlin-based designer Don Aretino’s work explores the interconnection between same sex desire, religion and social analysis. He creates these narratives through bold collections that are intended to discomfort and creating a counter argument to an existing norm. In addition to creating these collections he has also worked in various performance art projects as a costume designer together with his design partner Muyao Zhang. AUGUST AUGUST is inspired by sunsets - a space between restraint and recklessness. AUGUST is about endings and saying goodbye. About the changes that fling us together and tear us apart. Bathed in the fading colours of dusk and the neon accents of night, AUGUST navigates a sensual landscape shifting between the perilous and the beautiful. An artistic collaboration between choreographer Matthew William Robinson, composer Torben Sylvest, designer George Hampton Wale, lighting designer Emma Jones and the artists of National Dance Company Wales. “AUGUST navigates the challenge of uncertainty and departure, exploring the tension between who we were and who we are yet to become in times of change. It is inspired by the time that followed the death of my father, and how that experience shaped and continues to shape my life." Watch an Interview with Matthew Robinson Creative Team Composer: Torben Sylvest Costume Designer: George Hampton-Wale Lighting Designer: Emma Jones Created with Dancers: Alys Davies, Samuel Gilovitz, Jill Goh, Niamh Keeling, Mario Manara, Edward Myhill, Tom O’Gorman and Faye Tan Matthew William Robinson Matthew Robinson (he/him) is a practicing artist currently based in the United Kingdom. Collaborating internationally in a variety of contexts as dancer, choreographer, facilitator, rehearsal director and artistic director, he is currently Artistic Director of National Dance Company Wales. His choreographic work has moved extensively across the United Kingdom and internationally to venues and festivals in Europe and beyond. Built from the body, the work seeks to translate contradictions and complex emotions, through highly physical choreographic construction. Collaborating across forms, Matthew is engaged in ongoing and emerging collaborative partnerships in the fields of sound, fashion, theatre and technology. Choreographer Matthew William Robinson George Hampton-Wale created the costumes for AUGUST referencing formal and office wear. To be as green as possible, much of the fabric and suits for the designs were sourced second hand, then deconstructed and reconstructed using mesh, piping and harnesses that highlight the musculature and skin beneath. The details are placed to suggest veins and anatomical structure. Here you can see George’s initial sketches. George H. Wale George is an artist, designer and maker from Abergavenny. Their practice spans sculpture, performance and costume and they have a background in movement and dance which informs their work. George’s work has been platformed by National Dance Company Wales, g39, Green Man Festival and National Youth Arts Wales. Past costume projects include collaborations with choreographers such as Mario Bermudez, Matthew Robinson, Fleur Darkin, James Batchelor and Lea Anderson MBE. About Us National Dance Company Wales Dance made in Wales, shared with the world. National Dance Company Wales embraces the distinctive voices of artists from near and far. We commission bold artistic collaborations with dance at their heart. We share dance of ambition and imagination in theatres, public spaces, festivals and immersive settings, creating unforgettable performance experiences. We inspire everyone to move by nourishing talent and insight, enabling new ideas to emerge and develop. Learn More Support Us National Dance Company Wales’ artistic programme is driven by a commitment to create new work, inspire artists, develop talent and engage audiences and communities through high quality and enriching dance experiences. As a charity, we cannot achieve this without the generosity of our valued supporters – support that is needed now more than ever. A donation of any size will help us to continue our work. Donate Here Let us Know What You Thought We love hearing from our audiences, it keep us connected. Let us know what you thought of tonight’s show by taking five minutes to fill out our audience feedback survey. Alternatively you could fill out a feedback postcard in the foyer and free-post it back to us. Fill out the survey here Keep In Touch To keep up to date with National Dance Company Wales and what’s coming next you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Linkedin – or join our mailing list for gorgeous and informative updates straight to your inbox. Facebook Instagram Linked In Mailing List