Bilbobasso POLAR ©Frédérique Calloch

Journeys Dance Festival

A glorious weekend of dance is headed our way for Bank Holiday weekend as Journeys Dance Festival returns for its fifth year. With three free family shows; one in Battle, one in Hastings and one in Bexhill, the annual festival presents fun and surprising outdoor dance performances for all. Naomi Robinson from local events management company, 18 Hours writes.

On Saturday 26 August at 1.30 & 2.30pm, C-12 Dance Theatre’s ‘Secret Encounters’ explores the strange and often hilarious world of internet dating, with pop up performances on Abbey Green, Battle. Fresh from the Greenwich and Docklands Festival, this is witty and immersive dance from a renowned UK company.

C-12 Dance Theatre “Close Encounters” Choreographed by Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster • www.c-12dancetheatre.com • Photo • © Daniel D. Moses • www.danielmoses.com

At 8pm, as the sun sets, the Stade in Hastings will come alight with fire and live Argentinian tango for ‘Polar’ by Compagnie Bilbobasso, who are travelling from France especially to perform in Journeys Dance Festival as part of Stade Saturdays. This major international show recreates the lively but sinister atmosphere of Buenos Aires cabaret where dancers, gangsters and musicians lurk in the shadows, in a seductive and highly atmospheric performance.

Stopgap Dance Company

Finally, on Monday 28 August, at 1.30 & 2.30pm, highly respected Stopgap Dance Company perform ‘The Awakening’ on the Terrace at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill. The piece is performed by a team of disabled and non-disabled professional dancers and choreographed by Chris Pavia, a dancer with Downs Syndrome, who was commissioned to develop the performance for national and international touring.

Phoenix Stars Hastings in rehearsal

At 2pm the Phoenix Stars, a local dance group, including children with English as a second language and children with special educational needs, will perform a piece with sign, dance and song.

‘Dance and music are universal languages that break down barriers and create unity’, says Mandy Curtis, of 18 Hours Events, who produces Journeys Festival. ‘Journeys Festival is for everyone, young and old and it’s all completely free.’

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