About Us
A Message from our Patron - Mr Alun Armstrong
‘I hated primary school with a vengeance, but when I was nine years old something wonderful happened; I was made leader of the country dancing team. It was my one and only achievement at that school, and along with ‘Music and Movement’ (courtesy of BBC radio) it became my island of joy in a sea of dark despair. I’ve loved to get up and dance ever since and can’t imagine how people can live without it. The dance has that unique ability to speak the same language to us all and remind us that we’re all part of the same tribe.
Like most regular visitors to the Edinburgh Festival I’ve got into the habit of branching out and trying things that I wouldn’t normally consider. This year I saw everything I could get a ticket for at the Traverse Theatre. One morning after breakfast I saw David Hughes Dance Productions perform The Red Room. I was blown away! I loved the dramatic shifts from dazzling acrobatics to beautiful elegant dance. The story telling was always exciting and arresting, at times disturbing and sinister, at others witty and amusing. There was a daring, earthy quality to the whole thing that I had only experienced in other parts of the world and very much off the beaten track. Of course this level of complexity only comes about by extreme sophistication and experience. This is a remarkably talented band of players; this is ‘Total Theatre’! I was suddenly nine years old again; I was back on my ‘Island of Joy’!
I am delighted to become the Patron of David Hughes Dance Productions and I am sure that a very exciting future awaits.’
(Alun Armstrong photography by Steve Lyne) www.lyne.co.uk
The Company
If you see David Hughes Dance perform you will not forget it - that is a promise! A confrontational, risque team of superheroes - we pride ourselves on delivering extremity, action and beauty with integrity and calibre in works which are both enthralling and accessible. In true troubadour fashion we also pride ourselves in our ability and desire to perform anywhere - from a stripped down barn by candle light to a full Opera-House spectacular, we will endeavour to do our utmost to work with what you have in order to share our work and passion for dance with you! Go on….challenge us……..
Formed originally in 1996 as a solo platform and expanded in 2005 to a full ensemble, it has taken four short years of project based work for the Company to receive 2 year flexible funding from the Scottish Arts Council in recognition of our acheivements and ambitions. With an Artistic Director renowned for his work with major companies - including London Contemporary Dance Theatre, Rambert Dance Company, Adventures In Motion Pictures, DV8 Physical Theatre - high calibre technical ability is the lynchpin for the wider range of skills present within the company. This is a company fearlessly dedicated to setting the bench mark through commissioning new artisanal work by unique and sophisticated choreographers/directors.
David Hughes Dance boasts a nucleus of intelligent, mature and multi-disciplined performers internationally recognised as being at the fore-front of their individual styles; ballet, contemporary, breaking, classical Indian, clowning/circus skills. Having access to such skills generates a deep and comprehensive pool of movement vocabulary which in turn enables the company to create groundbreaking, compelling and hugely entertaining work of exquisite beauty and show-stopping impact.
David Hughes Dance aims to develop lasting partnerships with like-minded artists, choreographers and practitioners and is passionately engaged in presenting a comprehensive programme of education and outreach work to increase knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of the artistic work. We encourage thinking, sharing and demonstration which informs, enhances, advances, and educates our own practices within our own communities and further.
The company is committed to stepping out of all comfort zones in order to produce the most honest, authentic and engaging work possible - seeking originality is a priority!
