Her second work for Phoenix, Never Still brought national critical acclaim to choreographer and current Phoenix Dance Theatre Artistic Director Sharon Watson. Set to an intriguing sound track by French avant-garde composer Hugues Le Bars, the piece is an energetic exploration of human interaction. The inventive choreography sees 6 dancers play out their relationships with carefree abandon; sensual, confrontational and playful, Never Still is sharp, funny and pulsating with life.
Because Never Still was so shaped by its original cast, for 2010 Sharon has reworked the piece into Never 2 Still. Equally as influenced by the dancers involved in the rehearsal process, Never 2 Still retains the quirky originality and breathtaking movement of the original, whilst establishing the work firmly in the modern day.
"The movement has vivacity, velocity and a genuine group dynamic. An accomplished piece of work, indeed."
The Times on Never Still, 1995
"zinging with life"
Daily Telegraph on Never Still, 1995
"Casually clever stuff"
Independent on Sunday on Never Still, 1995
SHARON WATSON | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER
Trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance, Sharon danced with Spiral and Extemporary Dance Theatre before joining Phoenix as a dancer from 1989 to 1997. Whilst there she worked with choreographers such as Michael Clarke, Donald Byrd, Bebe Miller, Darshan Singh Bhuller and Philip Taylor. She was also heavily involved in Phoenix’s education programmes and delivery.
Sharon choreographed Never Still and Shaded Limits for Phoenix as well as creating new works for the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, National Youth Dance Company and Union Dance. In 1996 she choreographed a piece specially commissioned for the opening ceremony of the Royal Armouries in Leeds. Her own company ABCD was formed in 1998. Focusing largely on working with live music, ABCD has toured both nationally and internationally.
Returning to Phoenix in 2000 as the company’s Rehearsal and Tour Director, Sharon toured extensively in the UK and USA for 6 years. In 2006 she embarked upon a fellowship with the Clore Leadership Programme for which her secondment took her to the Sage Gateshead where she delivered a Choreographers and Composers course. Sharon also continued her freelance work mentoring emerging artists, lecturing in vocational dance schools and delivering bespoke training programmes.
Danced to Leeds Rhinos’ anthem Hold On, composed by Carl Davis, Sharon created and delivered Dancing with Rhinos in 2008 as part of the regional cultural Olympiad for Yorkshire. Forming part of the practice research for her Performance Works MA from Leeds Metropolitan University, the piece was based on the game of rugby and performed by a mixed group of professional dancers and members of the community.
In 2008 Sharon was one of 26 aspiring leaders from around the globe selected to attend Dance East’s fourth Rural Retreat, an intensive four day think-tank exploring the challenges of the role of Artistic Directors in the 21st century. Prior to taking up post at Phoenix she also spent eight months as Director of Learning and Access at Northern Ballet Theatre.
Sharon was appointed as the 7th Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre in May 2009 and in 2010 was named as one of the Cultural Leadership Programme’s Women to Watch, a list of 50 influential women working in arts and culture in the UK selected by a distinguished panel made up of figures from the cultural and creative industries. Since returning to the company Sharon has choreographed Fast Lane for Phoenix’s Ignite tour and re-worked Never Still into Never 2 Still. Her latest work Melt features as part of the Reflected mixed programme. In 2011 Sharon was one of the judges for the inaugural New Adventures Choreographer Award. She is currently undertaking Leadership Advance, funded by Arts Council England.
HUGUES LE BARS | COMPOSER
Born in Versailles in 1950, Hugues Le Bars has composed several film scores, including collaborating with Bertrand Blier for his film The Chops. He also wrote the scores for Saint-Jacques ... The Mecca of Coline Serreau and Confessions of a Crap Artist of Jerome Boivin, and the television series Oggy and the Cockroaches.
He has worked on several ballets by Maurice Bejart.
SPIKE MOSELY | MUSIC COMPILING
As a Stage Manager, Technical Stage Manager and Production Manager, Spike worked for many companies including Leeds Playhouse, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Pilot Theatre. He passed away in 2006 after a hard fought illness.
MALOOLI | COSTUME DESIGNER
Biog to follow
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.
