BOP Jazz Dance Company: The Spirit of Jazz

BOP JAZZ THEATRE COMPANY THE SPIRIT OF JAZZ Body of People Jazz Theatre Company aka BOP is a unique UK based jazz dance, music and theatre company. Founded in 1996 by jazz artist and choreographer Dollie Henry and jazz trumpeter, composer, music producer Paul Jenkins. The company is dedicated to the ongoing legacy, artistic development and creative practice of the jazz theatre art form.

Realised through exciting and innovative jazz theatre performances, educational, mentoring programmes and professional development for the UK jazz dance, music and theatre community.

BOP strive to provide an essential platform that facilitates the true practice and realisation of the jazz expression and artistic delivery within a diverse and inclusive jazz company that drives the UK jazz theatre narrative forward into the twenty-first century.

The vision and mission of BOP is to enlighten, educate and entertain through the pure essence and expression of the jazz art form.

Artistic Directors

Dollie Henry Paul Jenkins

Creative Director and Choreographer

Dollie Henry

Music Production and Original Music Composition

Paul Jenkins

Dancers

Annie Blomfield Lucia Cardona Jahmal Chase Elisa Chou Hsieh Teodora Dontu Kabuki Johnson Ida Kummervold Sheriya Pascall Jesús Santana Katie Willy

Presented by Serendipity for Let's Dance International Frontiers 2021.

In collaboration with Curve.

Filmed by Crosscut Media at Curve on 28 April 2021.

First streamed on 5 May 2021.

Image Credits: Paul Jenkins

PART 1: THE SPIRIT OF INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY A presentation of selected pieces of BOP repertoire and new works, including the premiere of 'I.AM', that explore the breadth and depth of the individual and collective creative expression of the jazz theatre art form.

FOOTPRINTS (2011)

Music: Paul Jenkins @BOPmusic

I CAN LET GO NOW (2019)

Music: Nathan East (Feat. Vocalist Sara Bareilles)

FUSION OF THE MIND (2005)

Music: Paul Jenkins @BOPmusic

I.AM (2021)

Music: Paul Jenkins @BOPmusic Voice: Jahmal Chase Poetry: Jahmal Chase

PART 2: THE SPIRIT OF LEGACY Excerpts of repertoire taken from the full-length BOP Jazz Theatre production 'Touches of Miles' (1997). This inaugural work pays homage to one of the giants of jazz music - Miles Davis.

ALL BLUES

Music: Miles Davis, Kind of Blue

FLAMENCO SKETCHES

Music: Miles Davis, Kind of Blue

MILESTONES

Music: Miles Davis, Milestones

PART 3: THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY This abridged performance is from the full-length jazz theatre production ‘Through the Eyes of Woman’ (2020). This narrative jazz work created on and for the women in the company, is inspired by Maya Angelou and her poem … And Still I Rise, set against original Jazz Composition by Paul Jenkins.

I. YOU. WE. RISE (2020)

Music: Paul Jenkins @BOPmusic Voice: Maya Angelou Poetry: ‘And Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou

LET'S DANCE INTERNATIONAL FRONTIERS 2021 If the events of the last year have taught us anything, it is that we live in an ever-fluctuating world where we have to be creative and responsive. With this in mind we are delighted to present a multifaceted programme of international dance that explores the theme Creating Socially Engaged Art: Can Dance Change the World?

We celebrate International Dance Day on 29 April and over ten days, through innovative live performances, exhibitions and digital technologies, bring together dance enthusiasts from around the world.

As part of this LDIF21 we are delighted to present BOP Jazz Theatre in this sharing of highlights from their repertoire spanning 24 years. Based in the UK, the company are true to the ambition of creating a voice that is reflective of the demographics of the UK, whilst emphasising jazz as a holistic art form rooted in the lived experiences of people from the African and African Caribbean Diaspora.

It has been a pleasure to return to Curve and work with BOP and Crosscut Media to present this streamed performance from the stage for you to enjoy at home.

Pawlet Brookes CEO and Artistic Director Serendipity www.serendipity-uk.com