DANCE is one of the oldest forms of story-telling, right back there with the ancient bards of legend – a simple but meaningful way to communicate feelings, tell tales and make connections. It is inherently musical, inviting us to share in the experience. Yeovil-born James Bamford, the inspirational young choreographer and director who founded…
PURBECK International Chamber Music Festival, under its charismatic artistic director, cellist Natalie Clein, returns from 4th to 7th September. With the theme of “Love in all its forms.” The programme starts with Love of the Cello, with Natalie Clein playing works by Bach and Cheryl Frances-Hoad, and Cello: A Journey through Silence to Sound author…
DORCHESTER’s Tatterdemalion, who began as the band of the New Hardy Players, celebrate their tenth anniversary of folky fun and colourful ceilidhs with a musical family get-together at the Corn Exchange on Saturday 13th September. For 10 years, Tatterdemalion have bounced around stages, bringing traditional tunes known to Dorset people 200 years ago to life,…
THE ancient coastal town of Christchurch, the deep woods of Moors Valley and the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle provide the backdrop and venues for events and installations across Dorset at this year’s Inside OutDorset festival, which runs from 12th to 21st September across the county. The biennial event is an international outdoor arts festival,…
ROYAL Ballet star Meaghan Grace Hinkis brings a dance gala to Dorset over the weekend of 13th and 14th September. The three performances in the grounds of Minterne House, north of Dorchester, are raising funds for the performing arts. Between 2020 and 2022, Meaghan Grace Hinkis, First Soloist with the Royal Ballet, staged three weekend…
THE colourful exoticism and drama of the traditional circus and street theatre of Rajasthan returns to Bridport’s Millennium Green on Wednesday 30th July with an afternoon of exciting music, dance and enthralling acrobatics. The visit follows the sell-out success of last year’s performance, featuring the vibrant, noisy, musical, heart-stopping performers of Circus Raj from the…
THOSE choreographers and dancers involved in juke box musicals who believe that tremendous energy, masses of lighting effects, flashy costumes and over-amplified music constitutes top class dancing should be frog marched to see this superb, elegant production. The ten strong ensemble of The City of London Ballet, former residents of Sadler’s Wells, follow up last…
THE walled garden at Hatch House near Tisbury is a beautiful place at any time of the year, but it is at its most magical in July when the Covent Garden Dance Company brings its mini-festival, Ballet Under the Stars, nicknamed the “Glyndebourne of dance”, this year from 25th to 27th July. Founder-director Matt Brady…
THE first Bridport Dance Festival takes place over the weekend 23rd and 24th May at venues around the town, including the arts centre and the Electric Palace. The programme ranges across the dance spectrum, from tango to tap. With workshops, performance and free events there is something for all ages and dance interests, activities for…
MATTHEW Bourne, the inspired creator of the all-male Swan Lake, and many other dance theatre pieces, scored another hit and won more awards with his 2021 production, The Midnight Bell, which comes to the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 20th to Saturday 24th May, as part of a countrywide tour. His company, New Adventures, makes…