Magpie Dance were delighted to
welcome an audience of 300+ to our full company production Borrowed Land
at Langley Park Centre for Performing Arts on Sunday 23rd July.
The production was the
culmination of this year’s artistic theme Borrowed Land which looked at
dances from indigenous cultures connecting people to nature. During this
project Magpie Dancers have worked with visiting artists and explored different
dance styles in sessions to create their own live and digital performances.
The event began with an
interactive multisensory exhibition where audience members could learn all
about the Borrowed Land project, play musical instruments and through
immersive technology virtually explore the Amazon rainforest, view planet Earth
from outer space and much more! You can now view this exhibition virtually, click
here.
Magpie Dancers from Junior, Youth Technique and Adult Technique sessions
taught fun classes for audience members to join in and have a go.
This was followed by a full
company performance where over 80 dancers ages 3+ with learning disabilities
performed on stage accompanied by a live band, they also premiered their new film Kingdom based on workshops with Akram
Khan Dance Company. In response to the video,
Akram Khan said “Absolutely wonderful, and moving!!! A really a
beautiful encounter.”
Among the audience Magpie Dance were delighted to
welcome the Mayor of Bromley, who enjoyed the exhibition, joined in workshops
and greeted dancers and Magpie Dance volunteers.
Magpie Dance’s Executive Director, Laura Graham
said:
“Everyone at Magpie Dance has
worked extremely hard leading up to this fantastic event and the success is an
accolade to them. We hold these whole
company performances annually for our dancers as well as their families and
friends; it’s an opportunity to showcase their work and also to invite new
audiences in to see the unique talent and abilities of each and every person at
Magpie Dance. Thank you to absolutely everyone that was involved and make sure
you save the 28th July for next year’s spectacular!”
A huge thank you to all who
attended Borrowed Land and to those who made the event possible,
Magpie Dance staff, volunteers and musicians, the venue and technical staff,
Magpie parents, carers and support workers and of course all of the wonderful
Magpie Dancers!
“The event far exceeded our expectations, and we were absolutely blown
away by the heartwarming performances of the talented dancers. Each one of them
radiated joy and passion, leaving a lasting impression on us.” – Magpie
Dance Parent
The Mayor of Bromley greeting Magpie
Dance volunteers.