Southbank Centre pledges renewed commitment to Performance and Dance with new season
The Southbank Centre is currently showing its Autumn-Winter Dance season, signalling a renewed commitment to performance art.
So far the arts centre in Belvedere Road, has hosted spoken word, a performance takeover of the Queen Elizabeth Hall curated by conceptual artist Marina Abramović and Marina Abramović Institute, and Afro-house and passinho pieces by Brazilian dance group Cia Suave.
The schedule shows no signs of slowing down with fresh new commissions and premiers ready to take to the stage.
(LA)HORDE, renowned for bringing together choreography and pop-culture through collaborations with Sam Smith, Christine and the Queens and Madonna, now lead the acclaimed Ballet national de Marseille.
For their first major presentation in London, they will showcase the UK premiere of Roommates, at the Southbank Centre for three nights from March 1 to 3. Each evening will features six pieces made for the company from choreographers including Lucinda Childs, Peeping Tom and LA(HORDE) themselves.
LA(HORDE) connects hyper-realism and minimalism, collapsing hierarchies amongst dance forms.
Their collaborations mean the groups choreography is never quite the same but recurring themes include rebellious collective spirit and riding a fine line between lust and violence.
Mark Ball, Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre, said: “The Southbank Centre has for decades been one of London’s great venues for performance and dance.
“I’m delighted we’re making a renewed commitment to again being at the centre of live performance in the capital by commissioning and presenting some of the world’s most influential and exciting artists and performance makers.
“This is a boldly international programme that speaks to the future of how performance is being made, melding together dance, music and live art to offer unique experiences for audiences.”
Pictured top: LA(HORDE) performing their new performance Roommates (Picture: Aude Arago)