From 10^th to 16^th October 2009, National Dance Company Wales (NDCW) will present a double bill performance of contemporary dance to audiences in Chongqing, Kunming and Chengdu. As the organiser of this event, the Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulate-General Chongqing wish to build on the existing foundations to increase opportunities for exchange and collaboration between Wales and Southwest China in the future. This event has been generously supported by Chongqing Culture Bureau, the Welsh Assembly Government and Wales Arts International.

Formerly known as the Diversion, National Dance Company Wales is one of the nation’s most active international touring arts organisations. The Company has brought two pieces of contemporary dance. The first dance Hinterland by Company associate artist and co-founder Roy Campbell-Moore is based on the feel for the land of Wales, which is full of light, landscape and lyricism. Hinterland is inspired by late Alun Hoddinott’s Welsh Dances Suites, using recordings by BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

The second dance is a new work titled Behind the Mask currently created in Cardiff by Andonis Foniadakis. This is the Company debut by the Greek choreographer. This 30 minute long work will be performed by 10 dancers within a frame work with gauze containing smoke – as if a cloud has been trapped on stage. Movements will be blurred, be hidden, appear and disappear.  The first half will be relentless and exciting, intriguing and beguiling, energetic and intense. The second half blows the smoke away, removing the screen, revealing the people behind the images, becoming more human, more personal.

Artistic Director Ann Sholem will take the company’s 10 hand-picked dancers and technical team to the South West China cities of Chongqing, Kunming, and Chengdu. In Chongqing, a region which celebrates a number of successful cultural connections with Wales, the Company will perform at the city’s new Grand Theatre whereas audiences in Kunming and Chengdu will host the Welsh arts organisation for the first time.

UK alumni and registered members of the British Council can enjoy ticket discount and will have the opportunities to win free tickets. For more information please visit http://www.britishcouncil.org.cn/epage/english/ or www.educationuk.cn/alumniuk to get registered as our members. In addition, the holder of China Everbright Bank card can also get a 90% discount

Director of the British Council Chongqing, Sarah Deverall, also reflected her excitement about the tour : “We are delighted to welcome National Dance Company Wales to China, especially as they will be the first performing arts company we have brought to the new Grand Theatre in Chongqing and to audiences in the cities of Chengdu and Kunming.  An innovative and award winning contemporary dance company, NCDWales will make a unique contribution to our cultural relations work. Many special cultural links have already been formed between Wales and Chongqing and this collaboration will build on these foundations to increase opportunities for exchange and collaboration in the future with our partners"

The visit to China will follow the first stage of the Company’s autumn tour in Wales and England. On their return the season continues with performances in three UK capital cities, Cardiff, London and Edinburgh.

China Tour details:

Chongqing

Time:  10/11 October 19:30

Venue: Mediume Theatre, 2/F Chongqing Grand Theatre

Ticket Price: 680, 580, 380, 280, 180, 100 (RMB)

Ticket Hotline: 023-86330111

Chengdu

Time: 15/16 October  19:30

Venue: Jincheng Arts Palace

Ticket Price: 380, 280, 180, 80 (RMB)

Ticket Hotline: 028-86650834 / 86653820 / 86655964 / 86653819

Kunming

Time: 13 October 20:00

Venue: The Experimental Theatre of Yunnan Arts University

Ticket Price: 120, 80, 60 (RMB)

Ticket Hotline: 0871-3169950