Moving with the Times

Part of the annual Dancin’ Oxford Spring Dance Festival, Moving with the Times is a showcase for new works commissioned by Pegasus and Dancin’ Oxford.

Moving with the Times

Dancin’ Oxford and Pegasus Theatre are delighted to announce the Moving with The Times commissions for 2023.

Three dance artists/companies will be commissioned to present and showcase work as part of the Dancin’ Oxford 2024 Spring Dance Festival at Pegasus Theatre on 8 & 9 March 2024.

Each selected company or artist will receive a guaranteed £1,000 commission fee to create the work. The commission also includes technical support, marketing and promotion provided by Pegasus and Dancin’ Oxford (including specific promotional material). Pegasus may be able to offer some free daytime studio rehearsal space (if available).

All selected artists will be expected to perform an extract of their piece at a preview event ‘First Look’ at Pegasus Theatre on Friday 2 February 2024 at which there will be the opportunity for facilitated audience feedback.

All selected artists will also be invited to attend an in-person meeting with the Production / Marketing team (date tbc) to discuss requirements, possibilities and deadlines for technical and marketing information. Lunch will be provided.

We are particularly keen to showcase work by under-represented groups within dance, such as artists from the global majority, trans artists and disabled artists.

We are also keen to support locally-based artists and companies and will prioritise up to two commissions for artists / companies living or working in the area (dependant on suitability, quality and fit within the overall programme).

Brief for the work:

Max 20-30 mins in length for each piece
Finished piece of professional work (not work-in-progress)
Group, solo and duet work are all welcome.
The work must be new work and not work that has already been created in its entirety
Work involving cross-art form collaboration is welcome.
Pieces should engage in some way with the title of the commission ‘Moving with the Times’

327893513_1918980075109566_2765430312357842777_n

Selection Process

You will need to submit a detailed proposal which includes an outline of the work you would like to create as part of this commission and what you think makes your piece distinctive, striking or relevant to this time.

You will need to place the Moving with the Times commission within the wider context of your work and include longer term aspirations for the work to be created.

We also ask for you to consider and outline your intended audience.

You will need to provide a proposed rehearsal schedule to let us know how you will make the piece possible.

Deadline

The deadline for submissions is 9:00am Thurs 14 September 2023.

For access or enquiries please contact Claire Thompson – cthompson@oxford.gov.uk.

As part of the selection process, all shortlisted artists or companies will be required to meet in-person with the selection panel to discuss their proposed work.

This meeting will take place during the day (between 10-4pm) on Wednesday 27 September 2023 at Pegasus.

The selection panel will include Pegasus Theatre’s Director – people, programmes, partnerships and Producer, Dancin’ Oxford’s Director and Marketing lead plus an external representative.

Criteria for selection will be based on:

The quality of the proposal and proposed work demonstrated within the proposal this may include videos / reviews / outline of how quality will be ensured.
The nature, depth and approach to collaboration for work which involves a collaborative approach.
The impact the commission will have on the artist or company’s own professional development.
The clarity demonstrated around understanding of audience and how the work is pitched in order to market it effectively to your audience.

To apply:

Please click on the link below for the online MWTT Commission Application Form.

Applications are also accepted via video or audio format or dyslexia-friendly form as indicated in the link below.

Apply here

Key dates

Deadline for submissions – Thurs 14 September 2023 9:00am
In-person selection day for shortlisted candidates – Weds 27 September 2023
Marketing & Tech day – (TBC post-selection)
First Look Performance – Fri 2 February 2024
Moving with the Times Performance – Fri 8 and Sat 9 March 2024

2023 Artists

These are the four dance artists/companies that were commissioned to present new work as part of the Dancin’ Oxford 2023 Spring Dance Festival at Pegasus Theatre.

fuse collective

That thing

Statement from dance artist and choreographer, Lucy Clark: “The drive to create That thing came from a place of resistance and a place of being constantly misunderstood because everything I was going through was invisible to the world. Creating That thing became a process of identifying what was so unseen, what was so hidden within invisible disability. For me it is something that is always present, and so making a distinction about what the world was missing was challenging. We hope that approaching That thing from a place of vulnerability and honesty will help change perspectives about what disability is and what disability can be.”

Divija Melally

The Skeleton is White

How does a body of colour react when it enters a room full of white people? Our intrinsic DNA mechanisms have wired our body and mind to respond involuntarily in particular environments, triggering the fight or flight mode. Trauma and stress are passed over many generations. Although the world is gradually changing and adapting to be more open minded and accommodating, our bodies are still traumatised from the many decades of racial oppression. As we move with the times in a constantly changing world, how do we erase the inscribed whiteness of the skeleton? The performance explores, through dance and movement, how do we make our own bodies forget and disregard race.

Vita Peach

HUGO

HUGO tells the story of a vain, egocentric man who meets his downfall through an unexpected change. A dance-theatre comedy…Hugo is the ultimate toff. Coming from a very privileged background, he is delightfully arrogant, misogynistic, narcissistic… and quite randy too!

Performed by Vita Peach

Directed by Tamsin Heatley

Sound: Joseph Campbell

Hair and make-up: Daisy Oldershaw

CTC Dance Company

iNk'd

CTC Dance Company presents a contemporary dance piece exploring the identity of a relationship between a Cis Man and a Transgender Woman. The piece exposes an audience to the modern trials, tribulations and celebrations a transgender couple may combat within society. The show is designed to inform and educate an audience to the importance of transitioning; understand the reasoning behind transitioning; and most importantly expressing that love is universal and transcendent for everyone, though the mental effects these brave people face daily can plague such beauty, which CTC Company physically demonstrates through dance and expressive movement.

PEGASUS