Fifty two years of celebrating world cultures Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance 2016
Introduction to Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance by Olga Maloney, Artistic Director
Our festival’s main identity and focus is dance inspired by multicultural roots in its entire cultural spectrum. This includes reinterpretations of traditional dance through modern dance styles, social dance originating from World Cultures, contemporary dance fusion with Martial Arts, modern dance work inspired by World Cultural Heritage and Visual Arts. It is this eclectic and diverse approach which makes our festival unique. The main dance venues of the North are DanceCity in Newcastle and Yorkshire Dance in Leeds, but there is no dedicated dance venue in Tees Valley. Hence the importance of Billingham’s Festival of World Dance, which has become a true melting pot of cultures and has brought the town a world-wide reputation. Our aim today is to gradually develop and transform the festival into a year-round hub, which will be recognised nationwide as a driving force in multicultural dance.
This year, our partnership with Balbir Singh Dance Company (BSDC), gave us our first UK professional dance company in residency. In the run up to the festival and during the fortnight itself, BSDC engaged and collaborated with our international guests, and greatly enhanced our progress towards our long-term goals. 2016 also created multiple opportunities for international collaboration. We have generated national and international festival awareness in the press and media through our extensive marketing campaign.
All our artistic projects throughout 2016 served as stepping-stones towards achieving this goal, creating diverse multicultural engagement platforms for all the participants.
We enhanced existing partnerships and formed fruitful new ones, and extended the festival legacy not only in dance, but sport, health and well-being.
Through our most diversified and innovative festival programme yet, we feel that we achieved a broad cross generational audience engagement, and provided multiple platforms for professional development and showcasing new work by local and regional talent and emerging dance companies.
None of this would have been possible without the invaluable support of Stockton Borough Council, Arts Council England and Tees Active. We are particularly grateful to Alex Croft, ACE Relationship Manager, for his guidance. Finally a huge thank you to all the volunteers who once again this year made the whole festival such a success.
A brief history of the festival
Incredibly, 2016 was the festival’s fifty second year. Here we take a look back at the origins of a unique cultural phenomenon. In the late 1950s and early 1960s Billingham Urban District Council had developed a new, traffic-free shopping centre, the first in the UK. To attract shoppers the Council organised entertainment in the centre, which, because it was traffic-free lent itself to such performances. On one such Saturday an Irish Dance Troupe led by a Sunderland head teacher, Phil Conroy performed on the Town Square and attracted a large and enthusiastic audience. At the end of the show Mr Conroy happened to mention that his group had just returned from the continent where they had performed at a week-long folklore festival. He also remarked that the town centre would be an ideal setting for such a festival. Councillors present liked the idea. So was born the Billingham Festival in 1965. Billingham then became a founder member of CIOFF, the International Council of Folklore Festivals organisers and Folk Arts. From small beginnings – only Austria, Estonia and Hungary were represented at the first festival – and now in its fifty second year, over the years the Festival hosted over 15,000 performers from more than 95 countries. Each year it hosts over 400 artists from abroad and the UK. Billingham Festival is a unique World Dance event, presenting multicultural dance by International and UK companies in all the variety of its interpretations. Since launching our new contemporary identity in 2011, alongside our traditional focus, we introduced
many innovations into our programme. Through fine-tuning and presenting a mixed and balanced programme of traditional and contemporary dance inspired by multicultural roots and by working with professionals, making major improvements and finding new innovative ways of presenting dance to enhance audience experience, we are strengthening our contemporary identity, gradually changing public perception of the festival as a traditional event and attracting and winning over a new generation of enthusiastic audience members.
Opening the festival – with a splash This year’s festival opened with something unexpected. BSDC’s Synchronised is a water-based dance, synchronised swimming and live music spectacular, originally created in 2012 to celebrate the Cultural Olympiad and subsequently gaining great critical acclaim. Performed on Opening Day to a sell out audience in the Forum Leisure Centre, the show took audiences on a vibrant journey around the world
that paid homage to Hollywood’s Busby Berkeley’s legendary ‘water musicals’ of the 1940s and 50s. True to the international spirit of Billingham, performers from many of the international dance companies who were at the festival to perform their own work, took time out to join the BSDC cast in creating a stunning multicultural rendition of the piece.
“The Synchronised performance was just fabulous, were so lucky to have this right on our doorstep” Audience member, Stockton
As the main headliner of our festival programme 2016, Balbir Singh Dance Company’s Synchronised: •
Introduced a completely new dimension to the festival
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Created a real buzz, not just around Billingham, but on regional and national level
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Provided unique opportunities for international collaboration and international cast performance
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Established new partnerships with sports organisations
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Provided fantastic opportunities for intergenerational community engagement
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Created a solid legacy in Billingham, inspiring the young generation to engage in swimming and dance
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Laid foundations for future festivals to use Synchronised as a model for fusion of traditional and contemporary dance and music with other sports, utilising sports facilities as venues
“Synchronised in Billingham was a magnificent example of cross cultural collaboration – an experience that I know we could replicate internationally” Balbir Singh
Balbir Singh writes:
Above: Billingham Festival’s Synchronised photoshoot attracted widespread media attention, even making the Guardian newspaper’s ‘Best photograph of the Day’ slot Below: banners promoting the show at the local pool drew new audiences who wouldn’t normally attend a dance event Opposite page: scenes from Synchronised
The Synchronised journey began several years ago, initially inspired by my strong sense of North Indian Kathak’s natural affinity with water. In 2010 Balbir Singh Dance Company (BSDC) was commissioned by imove to create an ambitious and innovative work, which would culminate in a large scale performance to coincide with the London 2012 Olympic Games. I began to collaborate with former Olympian Heba Abdel Gawad on a three year programme encompassing research and development with dancers, synchronised swimmers and musicians, and community engagement through ‘AquaKathak’ workshops. The result was a myriad of cultural fireworks and an unforgettable experience for all involved – participants and audiences alike. Featuring a large cast of professional artists, musicians, athletes and community performers, the spectacular, pool-based show is a true collaboration of diverse creative practices and cultural backgrounds, united by the universal theme of water.
Synchronised The dance, synchronised swimming and live music spectacular. Originally commissioned for London 2012. A must-see experience for the whole family.
Billingham Forum Swimming Pool Saturday 13th August, 5.30pm Adults £5, under 16s £3, family (2 adults, 2 children) £10 Book online: www.billinghamfestival.co.uk/store Presented by Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance
www.balbirsinghdance.co.uk
Synchronised was performed to packed audiences as part of celebrations for London 2012, and has continued to do so since, most recently at Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance in 2016. Here the cast were joined by an eclectic range of musicians, dancers and performers representing diverse folk styles from around the globe. Once again Synchronised was a resounding success, demonstrating beyond doubt its ability to transcend national traditions and boundaries. Billingham also confirmed my belief that Synchronised is a project that can continue to evolve through international collaboration.
Celebrating a world united in dance
A statue celebrating Unity of the World Cultures was unveiled in Billingham Town Centre on Wednesday, 17th August. The Sculpture was unveiled by Cllr. Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton Borough Council, followed by a short speech from the Mexican sculptor Carmen Avalos. For the unveiling ceremony we commissioned Balbir Singh Dance Company to create the dance piece celebrating the Unity of the World’s Cultures. 21 dancers from UK, Chile and Martinique took part in the dance to the music by musicians from UK and Chile. All the dancers were wearing different traditional costumes from all over the world, bringing the statue to life though dance and music. At the finale of the statue unveiling ceremony, to celebrate the Mexican connection, two Mexican dance companies Ballet Folklorico del Estado de Hidalgo and Ballet La Grana Beatriz Romirez de Autlan performed Jalisco dances to Mariachi Music (50 dancers and 14 musicians).
Above: scenes from Balbir Singh’s The Unity of the World’s Cultures Facing page: the new sculpture is revealed Photos Danielle Cutler
“I don’t have enough words to express the excitement I felt the day of the unveiling of the sculpture. I was amazed with the presentation made by Balbir Singh, with his dance company, excellent dancers, his choreography was extraordinary. It seems that the characters of the sculpture evolved to dance and be part of the cast, it felt simply sensational. I found it magical, dance which invited me to join in, it seemed that the dancers floated, flew, rose, touching the universe, admirable, it will live in my memory, the magic, the character...” Carmen Avalos, the sculptor
Choreographer Balbir Singh (centre) with the international dancers who performed his Unity of World’s Cultures piece that accompanied the unveiling of Carmen Avalos’ sculpture. Jesse Bannister (second from left), a long-time collaborator with Balbir, composed the music. Photo Danielle Cutler
“Fantastic dancers from around the world! Lovely to see people getting along and enjoying each other’s culture!!” Festival goer
“I used to come to the festival back in the early 70s when I was just a kid... now in my 40s, I come every year. The festival brings joy, friendship and culture to the town and it is my favourite event of the year. A big well done to all involved and in particular to our friends from many countries. See you next year!� Festival goer
Opening the gates to dance
Dance Gateway was a special evening concert during the festival where the international dance companies from Chile, Mexico and South Korea showcased their contemporary dance work alongside the professional dance companies from the UK. Eliot Smith Dance Company, one of the emerging dance companies in the UK, working in Martha Graham dance technique, performed Space. Yuvel Soria Dance Company, a contemporary dance company taking the inspiration from Yuvel’s Bolivian roots, performed Retratos.
Above, from top: scene from the Mexican performance; Eliot Smith Dance Company’s Space; Solo from Eliot Smith Dance Company’s Space Facing page: the Chilean performers Photos Danielle Cutler
Cave of Hands Commission with Tin Arts
Cueva de las Manos (Cave of Hands) is located in Argentina. It’s a historic cave, the walls of which are covered by early art work of aboriginal people 13,000 years ago, who sprayed the paint over their hands onto the walls, creating silhouettes of hands. Inspired by this early art work, in collaboration with Tinarts, we created an inclusive project with a community group with learning disabilities in Billingham, called Respect Theatre. They worked with two professional choreographers from Tinarts to create Cave of Hands dance piece. This dance performance by Respect Theatre was especially beautiful and touching and gave a great experience for both Respect Theatre and our audience.
Faces of Dance Above: Vidya Patel Photo Simon Richardson
Faces of Dance was a Forum Theatre concert on the opening day of the festival featuring six traditional dance companies from South Korea, Martinique, Mexico, Chile and Russia (Bashkortostan) with special guest appearances by BBC Young Dancer 2015 winner Connor Scott and Vidya Patel – winner in South Asian Dance Category, who performed two beautiful curtain raisers: contemporary duet Boundaries and a Classical Kathak Solo by Vidya.
Interrupted Souls Eliot Smith Dance Company performed the premiere of Lorenzo Pagano’s Interrupted Souls at this year’s festival Gala Concert.
“...your performance tonight was breathtaking! ...it’s an amazing piece” Audience member
Photo Simon Drew
“the timing and the conviction were honestly superb” Audience member
School residencies explore Samba and Capoeira
Activities for children and youth during the festival
Billingham South Community Primary School took part in Brazilian Dance Residency prior to the festival. Celebrating Rio Olympics and Billingham Festival, they explored the dance styles of Samba and Capoeira.
Over 100 children attended daily Uncle BIFF Children’s Club and International Youth Dance Workshops throughout the festival, where children aged 4 to 14 learned traditional dances, games and crafts from Russia, Mexico, Cyprus, Martinique, Korea and Chile.
The residency culminated in students performing a special dance piece at the School Carnival Day. Another residency in contemporary dance inspired by Bolivian roots was delivered by Yuvel Soria at MacMillan Academy in Middlesbrough. The residency culminated in the students performing curtain-raiser at the Dance Gateway concert.
“The folklore was outstanding. I really enjoy it every year, but this year was absolutely amazing. Thank you for making this possible every year. I’ve passed on the folklore to my two children now age 9 and 2 and they both thoroughly enjoyed it also.” Festival goer
A culturally diverse canvas Community Engagement at Billingham Painting the Indian Gods workshops Painting the Indian Gods, one the new pieces by Balbir Singh Dance Company that was performed at the festival, provided a great opportunity for generating interest among the local population. Rehearsals were held in an unoccupied shop in the town, which attracted audience attention and curiosity, and led to a very popular workshop.
Aqua Kathak workshops Our Aqua Kathak sessions involved members of the public from as young as seven years old, all the way up to 83 years of age. The workshops were an opportunity to try out some gentle exercise routines within the framework of BSDC’s creative approach to movement.
“How wonderful to have the dancers come through the precinct into the town centre. It’s so great the folklore festival is still going after all these years!” Festival goer
The intergenerational workshops attracted a wide range of people, including mums with their children. We even had a lady aged 83 who was former Olympic swimmer and diver from Team GB! This page and facing page: Balbir Singh Dance Company’s Painting the Indian Gods Photos Danielle Cutler
Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance 2016 www.billinghamfestival.co.uk