Emerging choreographer Alesandra Seuitn's 1976 tells the story of two schoolgirls caught up in the Soweto uprising in South Africa, where a group of children were shot dead amidst a bloody protest for their rights. Accompanied by projected images of the incident and witness testimonies, the piece's eclectic movement fuses contemporary with Alesandra's knowledge of street dance and African peoples dance. Whilst often playful, the heart-wrenching finale set to Bobby McFerrin's The 23rd Psalm is one of the most moving and iconic moments ever presented by Phoenix.
"It had a very interesting movement vocabulary, a clear message and I liked the way the innocence of the costumes contrasted the subject-matter."
Audience member, Leeds 2009
ALESANDRA SEUTIN | DIRECTOR
Born in Harare and raised in Brussels, Alesandra moved to the UK to train at Laban and Middlesex University. During her career she has worked with numerous choreographers including: Glean (Irie! Dance), Lincoln Allert, Kenrick Sandy, Tara-Jane Herbert, Carol Straker, Philippa Donellan and Rafael Bonachela. Her work has been performed in venues such as the Hackney Empire, The Tate Modern, Stratford Circus and The Drum (Birmingham).
In 2007 Alesandra founded Vocab Dance Company where she is still Artistic Director and Choreographer: www.vocabdance.co.uk
DANIEL GALE HAYES | COMPOSER AND VISUAL ARTIST
Following a successful recording career with punk band JesseJames, Daniel created Shades in partnership with Mox (Ninja Tune VJ). As a duo they have already created site-specific work for the Liberty Festival in Trafalgar Square, and a short for the NFT/Hayward. He has produced remixes for a diverse range of artists including The Pinker Tones, played the trumpet for The Pogues, and Imogen Heap and made original scores for dance pieces and documentaries featured at/on Sadlers Wells, Stratford Circus, The Discovery Channel and Decibel.
JULIE REBBECK | LIGHTING DESIGN
Since graduating from the University of Ripon and York St John in 1995, Julie has worked in house and toured internationally with Nottingham Playhouse, Teatro Kismet and West Yorkshire Playhouse. Over the past 14 years Julie has worked on over 100 shows, designing, plotting and operating production lighting for theatre, dance, musicals, circus and education work.
Julie now works freelance, most recently for Hype Dance Company's tour of Routes 09.
BOBBY MCFERRIN
The 23rd Psalm is taken from ten-time Grammy Award winning artist Bobby McFerrin's 1990 album Medicine Music. Best known as the creator of Don't Worry Be Happy, McFerrin is also a world-renowned classical conductor and a passionate spokesman for music education. His recordings have sold over 20 million copies and as a conductor he has worked with such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic.
LORNA CLAYTON | COSTUME DESIGNER
Since graduating from the Arts Institute at Bournemouth in 2006, Lorna has toured nationally and internationally as a Wardrobe Mistress with a diverse range of productions. These include Eclipse Theatre’s The Hounding of David Oluwale and Birmingham Stage Company’s Horrible Histories and Kensuke’s Kingdom. Lorna has also worked at Northern Ballet Theatre, Opera North and with Raymond Gubbay Productions.
Whilst still working as a freelance costumier, Lorna has been working with Phoenix Dance Theatre since 2007 and in 2009 became the Costume Supervisor, designing and making for, amongst others, Alessandra Seutin’s 1976, Isira Makuloluwe’s Locked in Vertical and Richard Wherlock’s Switch.
1976
Filmed during the Ignite tour in autumn 2009, dancer Azzurra Ardovini, artistic director Sharon Watson and choreographer Alesandra Seutin talk about creating 1976.
