A full colour image of one male and three female dancers surrounding and leaning over one seated female dancer Image by Ivar Sviestins

“..the dancers respond with a powerful enthusiasm that is a joy to watch.” Sunday Express

EDge is London Contemporary Dance School’s postgraduate performance company. The company tours to small and mid scale theatres across the UK and Europe. The 2013 Spring tour will take place from Mon 25 – Thu 28 March and Mon 22 April – Fri 12 July. The repertoire includes three works by internationally renowned choreographers Helena Franzén, Tim Rushton and Hofesh Shechter. EDge will perform a specially commissioned new work by Franzén, re-stage Rushton’s Silent Steps which was first performed by Danish Dance Theatre in 2005 and re-visit the EDge 2005 Shechter commission Splinter for their 2013 tour. There will also be a full length work from LCDS alumnus and winner of the New Adventures Choreographer Award, James Cousins. Alongside these full length works we also have a new opportunity for two EDge dancers, Mansoor Ali and Cesilie Kverneland, to create an original work on their peers.

Follow the link below to read the biographies of all the choreographers. The company consists of twelve exceptional dancers who have each trained at the world’s finest conservatoires from across the UK, Europe and the USA. The commissioned choreographers will work with the dancers to create the programme for the tour. 

The company can also provide workshops and insight sessions to enhance your audience and participants’ understanding of the work and contemporary dance.

The Package

Company
Featuring 12 exceptional dancers trained at the world’s finest dance conservatoires, the company will perform in venues throughout Europe. EDge gives audiences the chance to watch some of the most exciting, rewarding contemporary dance today, performed by the artists of tomorrow. Now in its 13th year, EDge will see the new role of dancer/choreographer in its ranks, for the first time this new position will give two postgraduate students the chance to both perform with and create a work on their peers. The dancer/choreographer will have a mentor and the support of the technical and costume production team to produce a work which will become part of the touring repertoire.

Work
The dancers of EDge work with internationally renowned choreographers and teachers alongside up and coming dancemakers as they develop as artists. The 2013 tour includes work by Hofesh Shechter (Israel), Artistic Director of Danish Dance Theatre Tim Rushton (UK) and winner of the New Adventures Choreography Prize James Cousins (UK).

Previous tour repertoire has included work by: Tony Adigun, Trisha Brown, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Siobhan Davies, Philippe Decouflé, Ben Duke, Martin Forsberg, Javier De Frutos, Hanna Gillgren, Filip van Huffel, Jeremy James, Rachel Krische, Charles Linehan, Rachel Lopez de la Nieta, Jonathan Lunn, Wayne McGregor, Jeremy Nelson, Stephen Petronio, Frauke Requardt, Matthias Sperling, Maresa von Stockert, Sasha Waltz, Anna Williams, James Wilton and Ben Wright.

View examples of the company's repertoire.

Workshops
EDge offers educational packages for schools, colleges and venues, giving participants an enhanced understanding of the programme and an insight into creation, interpretation and performance skills. Practical workshops can be constructed to complement specific student experience and current projects. Workshops can be scheduled through consultation with the company but generally take place in the morning before an evening performance or the day before. This enables the participants to gain a deeper understanding of the work before seeing the performance. In addition to individual workshops, the company is available for longer residencies.

Insight Sessions
To offer further insight to your audience EDge are available for post-show question and answer sessions. These sessions will give your audience the opportunity to:

  • discuss the repertoire’s themes
  • understand the different creative processes used by the commissioned choreographers
  • learn more about life as a professional dancer, touring with a company and the experience of vocational training

Audience
EDge’s performances are enjoyed by adults and young people from age 14+ (Key Stage 4). The range of work offers something for everyone, from those studying dance or ardent fans, to those watching contemporary dance for the first time. The innovative choreography, combined with the quality of performance, will leave your audience wanting more.

By combining the workshop, performance, and insight session you will be able to offer a cohesive experience tailored to your audience. This would be particularly beneficial to young people, especially those studying dance.

Running Time
Approx. 1 1/2 hours (including 15 - 20 minute interval)
The repertoire for performance usually consists of three full length works and a ten minute piece.

Workshops can vary in length depending on the participants’ requirements but the recommended length is a minimum of 1 - 11/2 hours.

Insight sessions can vary depending on the audience’s engagement but we estimate a maximum of 30 minutes.

If you are interested in booking EDge to perform and/or workshop at your venue please contact Helen Holden by email or call 020 7121 1119

Download:

Go to:

Watch EDge live in the studio rehearsing work by James Cousins online: Thu 22 November, 4 - 5pm