12c Cumulonimbus Clouds Observ
Diversions
IT IS a case of hello, goodbye and see you soon as Diversions dance their way to North Wales this week.
Fresh from sell-out performances in Dusseldorf and Cardiff, Diversions last night opened a farewell visit to Bangor's soon-to-close Theatr Gwynedd.
But it is hello to the company's devoted audiences from four new Diversions faces - two new dancers and two new apprentices.
Real life couple Viivi Keskinen from Finland and Yuval Lev from Israel have joined the company and this is their first tour to North Wales. Also new are apprentices Ricardo Vitello from Italy and Nancy Nerantzi from Greece.
When Theatr Gwynedd closes the company moves to Llandudno's Venue Cymru to bring dance to the region next autumn.
The visit to Bangor will be the first stop on the company's Silver: Autumn tour, which also takes in Newtown, Hereford and Liverpool, plus La Fundicion Festival, Bilbao, on October 12.
Diversions artistic director Ann Sholem said: "We have enjoyed a close relationship with Theatr Gwynedd and its audiences over the last 25 years and look forward to bringing dance back to Bangor as soon as is possible.
"In the meantime, I am delighted we are bidding farewell to the venue with such a wonderful evening of international choreography. But dance lovers need not worry as we will be back in North Wales next autumn in Venue Cymru with a brand new show of sensational dance."
The tour opened in Bangor last night and there is another performance tonight of the programme comprising two pieces of elegant and entertaining choreography, created for Diversions' 25th anniversary.
Full of energy and excitement, this glorious evening of dance features new works by two dynamic international choreographers.
The performance features Prelude & Strange Attractors Part II, bringing together instantly captivating dance from American Stephen Petronio and music from Placebo with vocals from David Bowie and costumes designed by Tanya Sarne of Ghost.
Bold Belgian choreographer Stijn Celis has created a new spellbinding entertainment for Diversions. His last work, Practice Paradise, also proved a big hit at addanza '08, the summer dance festival in the Italian city of Milan.
Stijn said: "In each of the five pieces comprising the dance I am looking at a different physical idea, moving from the group to the individual and personal. I want this to be a sensual experience for the audience."
Sholem added: "This is a wonderful evening of dance from two of the hottest choreographers in the business. tephen Petronio and Stijn Celis are two very different choreographers but their works have one thing in common - they ooze style, class and are hugely entertaining.
"If you have seen the work of these two men before you know this will be a very performance. If you are new to their work you are in for a huge treat. This is the sort of dance that will have you coming back for more."
Diversions, Theatr Gwynedd, Bangor tonight (26 September), Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold (Mon & Tues); The Courtyard, Hereford (Oct 2); Theatr Hafren, Newtown (Oct 23-24); Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool (Nov 1)
