Internationally-acclaimed, Leeds-based Phoenix Dance Theatre will next year present its audiences with a reworking of The Rite of Spring and new work Left Unseen.

Following their exciting collaboration, The Rite of Spring & Gianni Schicchi with Opera North in February and March 2019, Phoenix Dance Theatre will embark on their annual spring tour presenting a double bill: The Rite of Spring choreographed by Haitian born choreographer, dancer and dancing educator Jeanguy SAINTUS and Left Unseen by seasoned choreographer and dance teacher Amaury Lebrun.

The newly choreographed version of The Rite of Spring offers SAINTUS his UK choreographic debut and will be performed by Phoenix at the Lighthouse Poole, Cast Doncaster, Malvern Theatres, Theatre by the Lake Keswick, Dundee Rep, The Everyman Cheltenham and The Peacock London in a double bill alongside Left Unseen by Amaury Lebrun.

Jeanguy SAINTUS: “I am thrilled about my upcoming adventure with Phoenix Dance Theatre. I’m very much looking forward to exchanging knowledge, ideas, and movements with the dancers and the creative team.

To re-envision a revered narrative choreographed by luminaries sounds like a feat. I will bring my truth to this rite of passage, embedding the initiation into how I experience Haitian culture. There will be dialogue. There will also be discomfort. But throughout, we will value respectful empathy.”

The Rite of Spring also sees the return of ex-company dancer Yann Seabra who takes on a different guise this time as Costume Designer for the reworking. Since leaving Phoenix, Yann trained in Theatre Design at the acclaimed Motley Theatre Design in London, directed by Alison Chitty and has gone on to design for leading directors in dance, opera, film and TV. His design credits include; The Wind (The Royal Ballet), Salome (San Francisco Ballet), Arthur Pita’s Cristeux (Ballet Black), and Luca Silvestrini’s May Contain Food (Protein Dance Company).

Yann Seabra: “Working with Phoenix Dance Theatre as a Dancer and Rehearsal Director from 2002-2006 and being part of the rebirth of the company at that time, I was lucky enough to work with some talented choreographers and made some long-lasting friendships. Phoenix Dance Theatre also gave me the opportunity to engage in my new adventures to become a designer and stimulated me to move onto my new career. Now, I am absolutely thrilled to return to Phoenix Dance Theatre as a Designer, working again with Sharon Watson, whose commitment continues to drive and grow the company.”

In a series of debuts, Left Unseen sees Lebrun choreograph on Phoenix Dance Theatre for the very first time. The piece draws on the different relationships that can be created between the body and the space when our senses are taken away from us. The work promises to be emotionally evocative and unpredictable journey.

Sharon Watson, Artistic Director Phoenix Dance Theatre: “I am delighted with this whole double bill; Jeanguy SAINTUS is a remarkable choreographer and to be the first company to bring him to the UK in this capacity is quite the coup! I am also equally as excited to see the Company perform Amaury’s work, we have been in dialogue with him for some time now and to see him put his choreographic hat on for the company is incredibly exciting.”

For performance listings and to find out more information click here.