Wales based choreographers creating short dance performances hoped for outdoor performance this summer.

National Dance Company Wales (NDCWales) are back in the rehearsal room creating two dance works that will hopefully form an hour-long open-air performance planned for this summer.

Two exciting dance voices from Wales - Neath dancer and Choreographer, Thomas Carsley and Cardiff based NDCWales dancer and choreographer, Ed Myhill have been working with NDCWales’ company dancers to create two pieces specifically to be performed outside in locations across Wales.

Winner of the Street Dance Final in the BBC Young Dancer of the Year in 2019, Thomas Carsley’s new dance piece, Fan The Flames will showcase his style of fusing street and hip-hop moves with contemporary dance.

Fan the Flames was inspired by the experiences over the last 12 months in lockdown. Focusing on three characters, Fan the Flames looks at the life of a weary and frustrated office worker; the isolated student and the man living on his own, who all unite to overcome their experiences in the pandemic. This powerful, resonating, emotive dance piece features new music from composer Eric Martin Kamosi.

Thomas Carsley said, “I have enjoyed every minute working with the dancers in the space and outdoors. Every dancer has originality to their craft and that’s what makes them stand out. It’s been a challenge for me to make movement accessible for outdoor environments, but me and the dancers always find a way to over-come that barrier when it comes to experimenting different sections, while being outdoors on the grass. Also making movement with props has been a lot of fun and it’s nice to see the dancers spending their free time making movement and developing their ideas and tasks already given to them.”

As well creating a new dance performance, NDCWales have also been reworking their acclaimed piece, Why Are People Clapping!? for the outdoors.  ‘Why Are People Clapping!?’ by Ed Myhill is an uplifting, funny and ridiculously clever dance piece that is set to composer Steve Reich’s ‘Clapping Music’ and uses rhythm as a driving force. The dancers clap, stamp and jump to create the live soundtrack.  It’s a face-pulling, toe-tapping 13 minutes of joy.

NDCWales dancer and creator of Why Are People Clapping!?, Ed Myhill said, “Adapting Why Are People Clapping!? for outdoors has been a challenging but exciting process. We have had to remould ourselves to fit into what will be more exposed and temperamental environments. Without our usual lighting and sound capabilities, as well as opening up two more sides for audiences to observe from, our creativity has been tested in how we want to reimagine this piece. Despite finding restriction in some areas, it has forced me to go in a different a direction that has revealed some great alternative possibilities and it’s exciting to work together with the dancers to unveil these ideas. I am thrilled with this new staging for the outdoors which has become even more vibrant and joyous.”

Nestled amongst the two performances will be an opportunity for the audience to join in and learn some moments from the two performances.

National Dance Company Wales: Open Air Performances is hoping to be touring across Wales in late summer, with a confirmed date at Theatr Clwyd on 13 August. Other dates will be announced nearer the time and in line with Welsh Government restrictions. NDCWales are working with venues and partners and taking guidance from the UK and Welsh Government Guidance on Performing and Participation activities and advice from Public Health Wales regarding the spread of COVID-19.