Dane Hurst speaks with Dance Europe Magazine about Requiem: Journey of the Soul, the powerful double bill premiering at Leeds Grand Theatre from 26 May – 4 June 2023.

Phoenix Dance Theatre and Jazzart Dance Theatre will perform Dane Hurst’s choreography to W.A. Mozart’s awe-inspiring Requiem, paired with and a South African response piece set to Neo Muanga’s new commission, After Tears: After a Requiem. With music performed by the Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North with soloists Ellie Laugharne, Ann Taylor, Mongezi Mosoaka and Simon Shibambu, led by Opera North music director Garry Walker, Requiem: Journeys of the Soul is co-commissioned by LEEDS 2023, supported by The British Council.

“For Muanga and Mozart to be aligned next to each other is incredible. For dancers from South Africa to come to the UK for the first time – some of them have never left the country – to collaborate with dancers from Phoenix Dance Theatre [is] an incredible international cross-cultural production. It speaks to the initial desire to honour a global pandemic, to honour the people that have lost their lives, and to create a combined offering to our audiences to help us to make peace with that time, and to help us to let go and to move forward together.” – DANE HURST

Photo: Dane Hurst (left) with Mbulelo Ndabeni, Phoenix & Jazzart dancers, Garry Walker, Emmah Kauldhar (Dance Europe), soloists Ellie Laugharne, Ann Taylor, Mongezi Mosoaka and Simon Shibambu, with Opera North stage management crew. Photo: Rachel Poole.

Read our Requiem – The Journey blog series and discover more behind-the-scenes content, interviews and insights into the production here.