Introducing our third guest choreographer for NEW GROUND Wayne Parsons, founder and director of Wayne Parsons Dance. Wayne has created works that have toured nationally and internationally, he creates narrative-driven dance-theatre works that utilise both movement and text to tell stories.
As well as creating for his own company, Wayne has created commissioned work for Wilton’s Music Hall, National Dance Company of Wales, Intoto Dance Company, Rambert School, and London Contemporary Dance School and is currently an associate artist at Swindon Dance.
As a dancer, Wayne has worked for Sydney Dance Company, Richard Alston Dance Company, Mark Bruce Company, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, National Dance Company of Wales, Oguike Dance and Alexander Whitley amongst others.
As a movement director and choreographer for theatre, his work includes Edward II, Lions and Tigers and Love’s Labour’s Lost at Shakespeare’s Globe, The Empress at The Embassy Theatre and Rapunzel at Theatre Royal Stratford East.
All photography © Nicole Guarino
Ahead of performances from 27th-30th November, we asked Wayne to reveal a little about his creative process and working with our second-year students:
Q.How would you describe your practice as a whole?
A. Wayne Parsons Dance presents narrative-driven dance-theatre works that showcase a sophisticated physicality along with text to tell contemporary stories that excite and engage audiences.
Q. Can you tell us what you are currently working on with the students? Are there any ideas or themes in particular that you are dealing with?
A. For this commission, I am creating a work titled ‘Never did run smooth’ based on the theme of love.
The work looks at the fantasy of love versus the reality of love. It explores the moment of meeting, the moment of falling in love, the moments of searching for love and all the awkwardness, dizziness and vulnerability being in love brings about.
Q. How have you found the process of developing new work with our students so far?
A. The creative process has involved lots of devising, writing and creating with the students. They have responded well to tasks and have generated some fun and theatrical movement material, and also produced some written text that will feature in the work. We have also explored theatrical improvisation and play that the students have thrown themselves into.
Q. What can audiences expect to see?
A. Expect text, awesome dancing, the odd chair and table, some kissing and hopefully some laughter!
Witness the next generation of dancers and choreographers across four nights in NEW GROUND, Tuesday 27th – Friday 30th November at Riley Theatre.
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