Phoenix Dance Theatre has announced that choreographer, Jamaal Burkmar and Composer, Christella Litras are to be commissioned by the Company to create a new work following their engagement with Phoenix’s 2019 Choreographers and Composers Lab.

Funded by Jerwood Arts with match funding from Leeds Dance Partnership, Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Choreographers and Composers Lab brought together 24 artists for a two-week intensive led by Artistic Director Sharon Watson and Music Director Alexander Campkin. The Lab, which focused on cross-artform collaboration, supported four choreographers, four composers, four musicians and 12 dancers and took place in July of this year.

Sharon Watson, Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director said, “we are so pleased to be able to commission Jamaal and Christella. This commission reaffirms why intensives like the CC Lab are so important for the industry, as it allows artists to take risks and collaborate and as a result, create something new and exciting which challenges their creative practice.”

Jamaal and Christella begin creation in early December and will produce a number of contemporary dance pieces set to original music. The pieces will work together as a full-length performance or as standalone pieces, with the intention of presenting these works in non-theatre spaces.

Jamaal commented on the commission, “it’s great to be selected by Sharon for this commission. CC Lab really challenged my creative thinking and has definitely influenced my choreographic process and style. I look forward to getting into the studio with Christella and seeing what we can create together.”

Supported by

• 
•