Following the revival of his classic Haunted Passages for autumn 2010’s Declarations tour, Reflected features the first UK performances of Philip Taylor’s mesmerising What It Is. Following three dancers on a journey through their relationships, choices and desires that is full of raw emotion, heartbreak and drama, the piece takes its name from one of two soulful, evocative Amy Winehouse songs which form the piece’s soundtrack, made even more poignant by recent tragic events.
“Taylor’s absorbing What it Is involves three dancers and their emotional torment. Its studied, slow-motioned confrontations are bathed in anguish”
The Stage, January 2011
“A focussed emotional dive into the abyss, sparse but lethal.”
Sunday Express, January 2011
“sharply etched dance... The dancers are blisteringly good”
The Times, January 2011
“This is a delight”
Yorkshrie Evening Post, February 2011
PHILIP TAYLOR | CHOREOGRAPHER
Philip was born in Leeds and trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance from 1977-1980. He danced with London Contemporary Dance Theatre under the Artistic Direction of Robert Cohan from 1980-1982 before joining Nederlands Danstheater’s junior company NDT II under the Artistic Direction of Arlette Van Boven from 1982- 1984. Philip joined the main company NDT I under the Artistic Direction of Jiri Kylian from 1984- 1991 and worked with choreographers such as Hans Van Manen, Glen Tetley, Christopher Bruce, Mats Ek,Ohad Naharin and Nacho Duato. During this period, Philip choreographed several works for NDT II and created the work Invention together with the visual artist Norman Perryman and the Circle Percussion Ensemble for NDT I for the Holland Dance Festival 1989.
From 1991 to 1994, Philip was a freelance artist based in Den Haag working as a choreographer and teacher at the Royal Dutch Conservatorium in Den Haag, School of Moderne Dans in Amsterdam and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, England. He was Artistic Director of Das Ballett Ausburg in Bavaria from 1994 to 1996. From 1996 to 2007, Philip was Artistic Director of Ballett Theater München at the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz,in Munich. During this period Philip created over 35 works for the company, including 10 full evening works.
Since 2007 Philip has worked as a freelance artist based in Münich, Germany, and has guest taught and choreograped at the Artez Dans Academy in Arnhem under the Artistic Directorship of Gaby Allard. Philip has choreographed works for amongst others, Cullberg Ballet, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Giessen Dance Company, Karlsruhe Staatsballett, Academy Des Tanz Mannheim, Gauthier Dance Stuttgart, SommerBlut Festival Köln and Korzo Theatre Den Haag. Presently Philip also works as rehearsal director for Kylian Productions BV re-staging Kylian’s Svadebka for international companies.
AMY WINEHOUSE | MUSIC
Amy Winehouse first burst to prominence in October 2003, aged 20, with her universally acclaimed, platinum-selling debut Frank. What It Is is set to two songs taken from the deluxe UK bonus disc version of that Triple Platinum selling album - the MJ Cole mix of F*** Me Pumps and the original demo version of the song What It Is.
Released in 2006, her follow up to Frank, Back To Black propelled Winehouse to superstar status, winning her countless awards including Brits, Ivor Novellos and an incredible five Grammy Awards. Sadly it was to be her last release, following a difficult period battling addiction, in July 2011 the singer passed away at her London home. She was just 27 years old.
MICHAEL MANNION | LIGHTING DESIGNER
Michael is a partner in the lighting consultancy Eye for Detail. He specialises in designing for dance. He has had numerous commissions throughout Britain, Europe and South Africa, and his work has spanned designs for touring companies, site-specifics and installations. He has created designs for Rambert Dance Company, The Birmingham Royal Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Javier De Frutos, Ashley Page, Athina Vahla, Protein Dance Company, Shobana Jeyasingh, Hofesh Shechter, Rafael Bonachela, Charles Linehan, CandoCo, the re –opening event at the Royal Festival Hall and many others.
Michael also conducts courses in lighting design at Tertiary, BA and MA level, in London, Denmark and South Africa. He has taught lighting master classes for the British Council in Kazakhstan.
BEN VOORHAAR | COSTUME DESIGN
Ben Voorhaar studied at the Scapino Danceacademie and at the Technical School for Fashion and Clothing in Amsterdam. Following a successful career as a dancer with companies at home and abroad he has worked as an independent costume designer for numerous theatres.
In 1997 he formed Karisma Costumes with Sabrina Zyla. Together they have designed and realised projects in fashion, events, media and the theatre. They also lecture as guest teachers at the Arnhem Acadamy of High Arts, The Rotterdam Danceacademie and The International Movieschool Cologne.
Rehearsals: revealed - What It Is
Following the revival of his piece Haunted Passages for 2010's Declarations tour, choroegrapher Philip Taylor talks about What It Is which will be part of 2011's Reflected tour.
