JanineAT THE THACKRAY MUSEUM THIS SATURDAY 11th November
Phoenix Dance Theatre will perform special pop-up performances throughout the Thackray Museum of Medicine this Saturday, 11 November, as part of its inaugural Community Engagement Tour. People who live or work in the Harehills or Burmatofts areas of Leeds can enjoy these performances for free as the Thackray are extending their Harehills Monday offer to include the performance day.
Photo Richard H. Smith
Phoenix Dance Theatre is proud of its roots and being born in Leeds. Whilst it is known for touring nationally and internationally, it is important for the company to retain its position as one of the key cultural organisations in Leeds. Phoenix believes that dance should be for everyone, and it is committed to ensuring that it provides opportunities for local people to engage with, and experience, what it does. That is why Phoenix is brining performances and engagement opportunities into the community.
As part of its first annual Community Engagement Tour, the company is excited to build a new relationship with the Thackray. By bringing dance to non-traditional performance spaces like the Museum of Medicine it can demonstrate the power of dance to transform our surroundings and enrich our lives in an extraordinary way. Phoenix believes that great art is created through diversity – diversity of its company and staff, its programming AND its audiences.
Throughout the afternoon Phoenix’s company of professional dancers will present pop-up performances at various locations across the museum, including a very different type of theatre – a 19th century operating theatre – and on Disease Street, the Thackray’s grimy recreation of Victorian Leeds. They will be performing excerpts from Dane Hurst’s Requiem and an exclusive excerpt from choreographer Miguel Altunaga’s new work currently in development for the company.
Photo by N Tharraleos
Requiem, a powerful reimagining of Mozart’s awe-inspiring choral masterpiece and an emotional response to the grief experienced by so many around the world during the pandemic, premiered at Leeds Grand Theatre earlier this year as part of LEEDS 2023 in a co-production with Opera North and South African partners Jazzart Dance Theatre Cape Town Opera.
Performances are free for anyone who lives in Harehills of Burmantofts – simply bring along proof of address. Otherwise, the performances are offered free as part of the general admission price for the museum. Tickets last 12 months so visitors can visit as often as you like for a whole year.
