The Company

Rosie Kay Dance Company was formed in 2004, and combines the humour, energy and quirky cool of the UK dance scene with high production values, unique collaborations, and intellectual approach to subject matter and highly technical dance work of the European dance scene.

Rosie Kay Dance Company is also uniquely versatile in the UK, proving the ability of Rosie Kay as a choreographer across a massive range of genres, working with the avant-garde theatre and opera directors across the UK on extremely high profile productions and also creating works for ballet companies, children’s work and corporate events.  The company can deliver work to the very highest of artistic standards and is fast becoming a UK  name in dance and theatre.

The company created its first work in 2004, entitled Asylum.  Choreographer Rosie Kay meticulously researched Asylum, with interviews with refugees adding a poignant intensity to this powerful and dramatic work. Asylum went on to tour the UK, going to Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2005 with Rosie Kay partnered by Guilherme Miotto (Emio Greco/ T.r.a.s.h), Birmingham Hippodrome, Aberdeen Lemon Tree, Jersey Arts Centre, Laban London, and a rural tour of Dorset.  The work was also featured at British Dance Edition 2006 and in 2007 the work was invited to be performed at the prestigious Dance Umbrella at the South Bank

The company’s second work and Rosie Kay’s first full length work was a dance theatre extravaganza The Wild Party.  This multi media spectacle combined the talents of Ben Payne (Dramaturg), Hans Koller (Composer) and Chloe Lamford (Designer) and demanded an extraordinarily versatile cast who could act, dance, sing and improvise to a very high standard.  The work premiered in 2006 and earned outstanding 5 star reviews at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, later that year being awarded as the Cultural Highlight of the Year by The Sunday Herald.  The work toured in 2007 going to New Theatre Royal Portsmouth, Warwick Arts Centre, Belfast festival, Birmingham Hippodrome, Arc theatre Trowbridge, Brewery Arts Centre Kendal, Arena Theatre Wolverhampton, Brewhouse Taunton, Derby dance, the Met Abertillery, Customs House South Shields, The Anvil Basingstoke, Lichfield Festival and Spring Loaded Festival at The Place, London.

Double Points: K was created in 2008 after an intensive period working with Amsterdam based company Emio Grec | PC, where Rosie learnt the entire original Double Points: Two. Commissioned by the 1st International Dance Festival Birmingham DP:K was a chance for Rosie Kay to create a work of pure dance, exploring notions of 0,1 and 2, mirroring, synchronicity and notions of existentialism in this extreme test of stamina and musicality.  DP:K received outstanding reviews in Birmingham and Edinburgh, and in 2009 was awarded as the ‘Critic’s Choice of 2009′ for outstanding partnership by Rosie Kay and Morgan Cloud by The Herald newspaper.

In September 2008 Rosie created the sister work to tour with DP: K, Supernova.  This work for five female dancers explores notions of the human universe, both our internal world and the wider universe in which we exist.  Supernova and DP: K have just completed an Autumn and Spring tour of the East and West Midlands, performed at DanceXchange, Civic Hall Stratford Upon Avon, Oakengates Theatre Telford, The castle Wellingborough, The Arena theatre Wolverhampton, Warwick Arts Centre and Derby Dance.

The company is now in preparation to begin its next work, The Body Is The Frontline. based on the physicality of warfare.

The company is based in Birmingham and Rosie Kay is the Associate Artist of DanceXchange, where the company are in residence.  Dancers come from around the world and have included; Daniel Yamada, Guilherme Miotto (Asylum), Vinicius Salles, Geir Hytten, Nick Carter and Sung Im her (The Wild Party), Morgan Cloud (The Wild Party/ Double Points: K) and Hsiu-Hsien Tang, Tilly Webber, Lauren Mitchell, Rebecca Spinetti and Morgann temple (Supernova).  The company’s collaborators include Ben Payne (Dramaturg The Wild Party, The Body Is The Frontline), Louis Price (Designer Double Points: K and Supernova), Chloe Lamford (Designer The Wild Party), Annie Mahtani (Composer Supernova), Julien Guillamat (Composer Double Points: K), Hans Koller ( Composer The Wild Party), Henk Danner (Lighting Designer DP:K) Mark Parry (Lighting Designer Supernova), Simon Gane (Lighting Designer The Wild Party) Ian Wallman (Music Producer).

Commissioned works include; directed and choreographed Trapped for Ludus Dance Company, Mars for Birmingham Royal Ballet, Ballet on the Buses for Birmingham Royal Ballet and FIERCE! Festival, A Couple of Poor Polish Speaking Romanians (Dir. Lisa Goldman, Soho Theatre, London), Rosie and Albie (Dir. Carrie Cracknell, The Young Vic), Stumbling Over Infinity (Dir. Roswitha Gerlistz, Royal Opera House 2) and The Class Club for Duckie (Dir. Mark Whitelaw and Vita Rocco, Barbican Theatre)

Rosie Kay Dance Company is funded by Arts council England on a project basis.

Education

It is the belief of the Company that access to dance can effect social, mental and physical change and is of a benefit to the people it reaches. The path and roots of the company has been influenced by experiences working in many different dance environments around the work, and believes that there is a universal beauty and humanity that can touch people through either watching or engaging in a dance event.  This can be through the medium of traditional theatre, active workshops or social dance.   Dance can also break down communication barriers in a world that disrespects the body and its physical realities and needs.

Rosie Kay Dance Company reaches these people though ongoing dance activity in workshops, performance and lectures.

The company works on a project basis creating unique works choreographed by award winning choreographer Rosie Kay and invites collaboration between artists of many genres including composers, directors, dramaturgs, designers, actors, musicians and dancers. The company strongly believes that dance has an important role in performance and education.

The company’s education mission is to introduce, educate and communicate to a broad range of people the essence and importance of dance, developing and providing teacher education and curriculum development, experiential activities for students and exposure to professional dance.