Jobs and placements at dx

IDFB 2012: OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED

A four-week festival of dance from across the globe, International Dance Festival Birmingham (IDFB) 2012 is a major biennial festival produced by DanceXchange and Birmingham Hippodrome (April 23 – May 19), which brings a remarkable line-up of outstanding dance to theatres, streets and public spaces across Birmingham and the West Midlands creating a wealth of engaging participatory activity for people of all ages.
 

COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS REQUIRED
We are looking for 200 enthusiastic and committed individuals to play a part in the flagship event Wings of Desire, the grand finale of IDFB 2012. We seek a diverse range of Community Participants age 16-100+ who are available for the dates and times as listed below. You do not need to have specific dance or theatre skills to take part, just a keen interest and commitment to be involved in this exciting production. No fees are paid for this opportunity.

Wings of Desire is set to be the highlight of International Dance Festival Birmingham 2012. This will be the major outdoor dance theatre spectacular on Birmingham’s Victoria Square building on the popular acclaim of Watch This Space in IDFB 2008 and Utopia in IDFB 2010.

Performed over four nights, this production will transform the city square from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Based on themes from the 1987 German romantic fantasy film Wings of Desire directed by Wim Wenders this production will incorporate dancers, rock climbers, circus, soundscape and projection (architectural projection). As in the film, there will be very little spoken text, however, through lighting and action, individual performers will be highlighted and their thoughts will be played out via recorded monologues by the people of Birmingham, amplified across the square.

The audience will stand and watch the production from the centre of Victoria Square with all the action taking place on different sides and on/in the buildings around the circumference. Each episode of the piece will pull the focus of the audience to a new part/side of the square. Members within the audience will also enact the role of the people from within the work blurring the boundaries between audience and participant.

Starring 2 Faced Dance Company • Circa-Australian Circus Company • Plus Special Guest Goldie
Screenplay By Wim Wenders, Peter Handke and Richard Reitinger, from the film Wings of Desire
Adaptation by Alan Lyddiard
Collaboration by Tamsin Fitzgerald, Yaron Lifschitz, Alan Lyddiard, David Massingham and Seeper

WEDNESDAY 16 MAY – SATURDAY 19 MAY // SHOWING DAILY: 9.30PM – 10.15PM
VICTORIA SQUARE, BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE

Dates and commitments
Daytime creation:   Sat 12 May, 10.00-16.00 and Sun 13 May, 1200-1800 (exact details tbc)
Evening rehearsal:   Tues 15 May 2012, 18.00-20.00
Evening rehearsals and shows: Wed 16 - Sat 19 May, 20.00-22.15

Some flexibility can be given around availability for all rehearsals and all shows but a commitment is sought for the majority of these listed times.
Role: As described in the description above, the role of the community participants is to bring the stories of Birmingham to life. Movements will be choreographed by a member of the collaborative team and they will be performed simultaneously as the audience experience moments of movement close by them and around them whilst stories from a range of people from many sectors of the community of Birmingham are heard across the square illuminated by visuals, action and sounds. Birmingham performance poet, Polarbear, is at the centre of these anecdotes and is heard across the square.

To Apply: To speak to someone about this please contact Hannah Sharpe, Producer, 0121 689 1093 or to register your interest email hannah.sharpe@dancexchange.org.uk and we will be in touch with you soon.