Dane Hurst Weblog

Happiness in Uncertain Times!

Having recently worked with Bennu, the youth dance company of Phoenix, I've come to realise that it is quite rewarding to work with young people. I am young myself but their age group is between 16 and 19. There is a very different dynamic to working with inexperienced youth than there is when working with experienced professionals,as is expected of-course. They seem to listen more and apply different concepts in less time than a professional would, less asking questions and more getting on with it, a lesson that I've learnt and am trying to apply.
The project is spearheaded by Sadlers Wells in collaboration with the awareness group Ctrl.Alt.Shift, 'a community for passionate outspoken individuals, joined in the fight against poverty and injustice'. This particular venture strives to revive awareness and bring about a change to the perception of the age-old topic of HIV/AIDS and its impact on the world.

Full Tense, the piece I choreographed for Bennu was created in five half days and will be performed at the Peacock Theatre on 22nd November 2008.

Having to create a 12 minute piece for 11 inexperienced dancers in such a short time frame was menacing, but having to do that and say something about the current situation of AIDS and its place in the modern world is another story entirely. We managed though, and it was sincerely a pleasure working with them. Doing this and juggling with the tour might have posed a problem in normal circumtances, but at the moment the repetoire is not changing as much and we have many more days off than would normally be the case.

So far we've done, Cambridge, York, Glasgow and Richmond. Glasgow and York were personal favourites, so much so that a friend and I got a camera and started improvising at the York train station platforms and joined in one of Ross Ashton's projections against the Abbey Ruins, with his permission of-course, which formed part of the "Illuminate York Festival 2008" in its fourth year running. The film still needs to be edited but as an experience, it definitely beats the confines of stage and conventional audience. This time we had an audience of a few police guards who out of interest allowed us to continue until we've had enough, which was nice of them.

Glasgow was just something else. It was my first time and I fell in love with the buzz of a Saturday night on the town. I did'nt sleep much because my digs was in the heart of Merchant City and had no double glazing, so it was drunken shouts and cleaning trucks all night long. Earplugs, a forgotten design icon, another much needed addition to the touring bag!

I loved Glasgow so much that I wrote an unpoetic poem about it. I don't consider myself a poet but this seems to be the only way I can make sense of a feeling that captivates me. Sometimes talking just complicates things because then you have to go through the whole questions and answers thing if you've failed to express yourself adequately. This just becomes so exhausting after a while. I've come to think that the reason I dance is because I'm terrible at expressing myself verbally, speech in some way is the human way of making communication easier, before that it was all about body language and eye contact, which are fundamental tools for physical expression.
The poem goes:

A Night on the Town

Rough faced and hunched over, fighting the cold, silently nodding
to passing comments, rubber soles splashing, moisture lining the neck,
collar's up, wet shoulders rolled forward, step by step, attitude in check,
swish swish, a backward glance, intimidatingly alert and out on the prowl.

Bare legged, high heeled, fresh faced and slightly swinging
clicking in tune to similar dressed figures queing in swaying unison,
skin exposed, naked flesh beaming, inside a little voice screaming
a winters evening ,comfort seems distant and out of sight
forward and march, ahead and beyond in search of delight.

Noisely humming mechanical cleaners, brushing in tandem with
the human city sweepers, sounds on the street, muffled vibrations
endless surround sounds in strange symphonic street variations.
lights, music, concrete and stone, fags and red cheeks, expensive
cologne, make-up and jeans, skirts and posh brands, tasteless
kebabs, idle mini cabs, waste upon waste and countless begging hands.

It was fresh it was new, the vibe oh so great, headphones screaming,
voices echoing and the next beat bouncing not a moment too late,
it was me only me walking from the show, it was fresh it was living
somewhat in constant glow, it was new, new to me, this city of Glasgow.

by D.J Hurst Nov 2008
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Next stop was Richmond, my old stomping ground. Richmond is where Rambert School is based and is where I spent my first two years in the the U.K. I've been to the new Rambert School premises and admit that it is a state of the art building but am sorry that the old school was demolished to make way for lego-like riverside apartments. Just ridiculous, a truly visual testimony to man's greed and need for material wealth and material gain. One of these days there will be no more land left to steal or develope. What then will be left to hold as a trophy?

Richmond, Oh Yes. It has a raked stage! Raked stages in my opinion should be banned, burnt or auctioned off. A bit harsh, I know! Richmond Theatre has recently undergone an immaculate refurbishment and is a beautiful theatre full of charm and antiquity but I am sorry to say that the stage is not for dance. As are most old theatre stages. All rake stages are bad for the body, bad for the mind were built for theatre and just requires an unnecessary shift of balance and equilibrium. I would start a protest, but then again, most theatres around have been designed this way, so there's no point in trying to stress the point.

All that is left now in this touring chapter of Phoenix is Blackpool, then into the ABYSS of uncertainty.

I take my hat off to everyone at Phoenix, especially Ana Lujan Sanchez, without her, the company would probably not have been on tour right now. Despite the current situation, everybody, dancers, admin and technical crew have been giving 100 percent without fail, we don't know which way the company will swing but at present all that matters is making the best of what is at hand. That is professionalism, seeing it through to the end, regardless of the strain. It has been a very explorative, frustrating and rewarding year, it is a pity that we have come to this uncertain moment but the Phoenix has definitely burned bright. Myth or no myth, The Phoenix is most certainly alive. I hope, sincerely hope there is enough muscle left in this bird to revive.