Dancers from Fever Dance Lancashire are set to become the stars of the show when the immersive theatre company ‘Bodies in Flight’ bring their latest production ‘Life Class’ to Preston Friday 24 September at 7.30pm.
The show, part of the Lancashire Encounter Festival, which runs until 2 October, will see performers reliving the romantic encounters they enjoyed at the social dances of their youth, and recalling how those encounters transformed their lives.
Bodies in Flight has stirred the souls of audiences all over the world over the past 30 years through unique and memorable performances which have asked profound questions about the human condition.
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As each show unfolds, audiences are challenged to confront their deepest desires and fears, provoking deep introspection as they reflect on the courses their lives have taken and what might lie ahead.
Over the last three decades, their immersive theatre productions have frequently torn down the conventional divide between performer, audience and place, delivering an intoxicating alchemy of live art, performance and choreography.
In recent times, Bodies in Flight has delivered collaborative and bespoke performances which have put individuals from communities all over the world centre stage in unique and unusual environments – from seaside towns to cities, galleries and even gyms.
This weekend’s performance of Life Class will transform dancers from Preston into the stars of the show.
Life Class will be the first staging of the show since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. It will feature individuals from the Fever Dance Company in Preston alongside the Preston People’s Choir.
The show explores how encounters between two people at a community dance hall can change the course of their lives forever.
Early performances saw choreographer Sara Giddens, Reader in Choreographic Practices at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), working closely with the dancers who belong to community social dance groups.
The participants actively contributed to shaping the material, sharing their recollections of romantic encounters in the dance halls of their youth.
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Each show culminates in a dance led by the local movers, breaking down the divide between participants and spectators.
Sara said: “Life Class is a monument to our three decades in the limelight, encompassing performances which have variously challenged the traditional boundaries of live theatre, made searing political statements, and frequently transformed members of the public into the stars of the show.
“By working closely with communities from all over the world and staging events in unique and unusual environments, no two shows are ever the same.
“We can’t wait to bring the world of Bodies in Flight to Preston on Friday 24 September as part of the Lancashire Encounter Festival.”
Life Class will take place this Friday 24 September from 7.30pm at Fever Dance Company, Mornington Road, Preston Tickets are free but places are limited. To reserve your ticket contact sbarrowdance@outlook.com
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