Press Release | Sept 2016
COMPANY CHAMELEON TAKES ON MENTAL HEALTH
Kevin Edward Turner, co-Artistic Director of Company Chameleon, has drawn from his own personal experience of Bipolar for the creation of Witness, the company’s latest new production. The result is a powerful and original view of mental health through dance and movement.
The Manchester-based company, who were nominated for Best Independent Company at the National Dance Awards earlier this year, will unveil and tour Witness around the UK this Autumn. A second nationwide tour will follow in the Spring.
Andrew Hurst, Chair of Company Chameleon and Chief Executive of One Dance UK, said: “Dance has the power to tell all kinds of different stories, and it’s inspiring to see Company Chameleon tell a story that can make a positive difference by shaping perceptions around a real issue. With actors like Stephen Fry speaking out about Bipolar, and new initiatives launching, such as the ArtsMinds web-site for performing arts professionals, there’s currently a real drive to breakdown the stigma of mental illness. It’s fantastic to see dance being part of this movement for change through Company Chameleon’s work.”
The world premiere of Witness takes place on Weds 19 Oct at The House, Plymouth University. Company Chameleon then tour the work to Studio B at Falmouth University (Fri 21 Oct); The Arts Centre at Edge Hill University (Tues 25 Oct); Mumford Theatre, Cambridge (Weds 2 Nov); Brewery Arts in Kendal (Sat 12 Nov), before heading home to Manchester for two performances at The Lowry, Salford Quays (Tues 29 & Weds 30 Nov).
With a company of five dancers, which includes Kevin Edward Turner, Witness, sensitively portrays how loved ones cope, when mental health problems take hold of someone close. Intimate solos, emotive duets and group work combine to reveal the impact of mental health on relationships, and the crucial role of support and understanding in the road to recovery.
Featuring a melting pot of dance styles and a rich mix of movement techniques, Witness provides a moving and original interpretation of mental health illness, and sees dance theatre take on a real and relevant issue, which affects 1 in 4 of us each year.
Kevin Edward Turner, Choreographer of the piece and co-Artistic Director of Company Chameleon said: “Witness draws upon my own experience of Bipolar and the impact it has had on me and those closest to me. The work embodies what I witnessed both real and imaginary in my ill health, and also what my loved ones witnessed whilst I was ill.”
Kevin Edward Turner continues: “In making this work, I want to contribute towards the debate and understanding of mental health issues, and challenge preconceived notions of what is still in some ways, a taboo subject. I would also like people who are struggling out there to realise that things can change and it is possible to find happiness and health again; that it can be managed. If I can get better so can anyone and I hope the work encourages people to share, talk and have a better understanding of their mental health.”
Witness is the main piece in what is a new double-bill by the Manchester dance company, which was nominated for Best Independent Company National Dance Awards last year. Audiences can also look forward to Words Unspoken, a dynamic short work choreographed by Kevin Edward Turner and Anthony Missen and commissioned by LaMov Dance Company. Having toured Spain in 2012, this Autumn is the first time the piece will be seen in the UK.
Words Unspoken opens the production and explores the untold secrets of the performers on stage. Six dancers perform flawlessly formed movements in a striking and synchronized style. The effect is hypnotic and provides the perfect opener to what promises to be a memorable and powerful double-bill by one of the UK’s homegrown dance companies.
Company Chameleon is supported by Arts Council England and Manchester City Council. Words Unspoken is commissioned by La Mov Dance Company in Spain.
Autumn 2016 Tour Dates & Booking Details
Weds 19 Oct, 7:30pm (World Premiere)
University of Plymouth, The House
Box Office: 01752 585050 | peninsula-arts.co.uk
Fri 21 Oct, 1pm & 7:30pm
University of Falmouth, Studio B
Box Office: 01326 259349 | amata.org.uk
Tues 25 Oct, 7:30pm
Edge Hill Arts Centre, Ormskirk
Box Office: 01695 584480 | edgehill.ac.uk/artscentre
Weds 2 Nov, 7:30pm
Mumford Theatre, Cambridge
Box Office: 01223 352932 | tickets.mumfordtheatre.anglia.ac.uk
Sat 12 Nov, 8pm
Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
Box Office: 01539 725133 | breweryarts.co.uk
Tues 29 & Weds 30 Nov, 8pm
The Lowry, Salford
Box Office: 0843 208 6000 | thelowry.com/dance
MEDIA CONTACT
For interviews, images and further information, please contact Nicola Mullen, Marketing & Communications Manager, Company Chameleon: 07894340675 | nicola@companychameleon.com
EDITORS NOTES:
Cast biographies
Kevin Edward Turner
Kevin studied formally at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance where he gained his first class degree. His professional engagements include performing with Rambert Dance Company, Scottish Dance Theatre, Phoenix Dance Theatre, CassaniDance, Rubberbandancegroup (Canada), Henri Oguike Dance Company, Company Decalage, Mad Dogs Dance Theatre and Roda. In summer 2016, Kevin successfully won Me Against the Music at ImpulsTanz in Vienna, which led to him to been awarded a residency during Impulstanz 2017. In the summer of 2007, Kevin was awarded the prestigious Danceweb Scholarship under the framework of ImpulsTanz, Vienna. Turner has worked in collaboration with Gansango in Seattle U.S.A., Crossfade in Budapest Hungary and Navala Chaudhari in London. He has taught in most major British contemporary dance institutions, as well as in Canada, the USA, Spain, Hungary and the Caribbean.
Theo Fapohunda
Theo received a first class degree at Edge Hill University, before joining the Post-Graduate Apprenticeship Scheme through the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Theo worked with James Wilton Dance and performed at the Rugby League World Cup opening ceremony in 2013. He’s performed with Hinged Dance Company and Artistic Director, Taira Foo, and the all-male dance company EdgeFwd, performing works in venues across the UK choreographed by Debbie Milner, Anthony Missen, Gary Clarke, Josh Arnott, Stuart Walters and Helen Parlor. He has also performed as a physical actor for Spalding Suite, directed by Benji Reid. Theo joined Company Chameleon in the role of full-time Company Dancer in 2015.
Taylor Benjamin
Originally from Devon, Taylor started dancing at the age of 18. He trained at the Doreen Bird College of Professional Dance and Theatre Performance for three years before becoming a member of the postgraduate performance company Transitions, at Laban in London. He has worked at the Edinburgh Festival and toured nationally with 2Faced Dance Company and Kompany Malakhi. Taylor joined British dance company Balletboyz, with whom he toured nationally and internationally for three years. As part of Balletboyz he was involved in dance and film work in Britain, America, Ethiopia, Holland, Italy and the Middle East. Before joining Company Chameleon Taylor worked with DV8 Physical Theatre Company creating and touring the newest work John. Taylor has taught extensively in London as well as working as a rehearsal director at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
Helen Andrew
Originally from Oldham, Helen attended the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, graduating with first class honors in 2015. Helen then became a post-graduate apprentice for the critically acclaimed company Motionhouse Dance Theatre, performing in Fragile and Captive. Other credits include performing for Balbir Singh, Jamaal Burkmar and Avatara Ayuso dance company. In summer 2016, Helen spent three months in China, working with the company UKCI alongside award-winning theatre director Ian Kellgren. Here she delivered workshops with young people, age 8-14, and was also involved in developing the choreography for a large scale musical theatre show.
Margarida Macieira
Margarida was born in Portugal in 1994. She began her studies in dance at the Academia de Dança Contemporânea de Setúbal, where in her last year she became an apprentice with Quorum Ballet Company. In 2013, Margarida toured with the company through Portugal and China with the contemporary production of Swan Lake by Daniel Cardoso. From there, she went on to study at the London Contemporary Dance School graduating with a first class honors. During her studies she performed Drift by James Wilton at the 60th Anniversary event of the Beijing Dance Academy. She also performed works by choreographers Lea Anderson and James Cousins. Margarida joined Company Chameleon for the production of Witness in 2016.
About Company Chameleon
Based in Manchester, Company Chameleon is a touring dance theatre company, which produces inspiring and original productions, which tour across the UK and the world.
Company Chameleon began when Anthony Missen and Kevin Edward Turner met at Trafford Youth Dance Theatre in the mid-1990s. Two ordinary lads from Manchester, they shared an ambition to dance professionally for a living. After developing their talent at Trafford, they went on to train at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, and after graduating travelled extensively to work with some of the most innovative dance companies and choreographers in the world.
They returned home to Manchester in 2007, to achieve their goal of setting up their own dance company in their home city, and Company Chameleon was born. Today, Company Chameleon tour internationally to wide acclaim and perform over fifty indoor and outdoor performances a year.
Learning and participation is an integral part of the Company’s approach. Everywhere the Company performs, they lead a dance class or workshop. As a result, Chameleon has introduced thousands of people, from countries all over the world, to a different side of dance and movement. From beginners’ creative sessions in schools through to advanced level company classes at universities, the Company offers a wide range of dance development opportunities all year round.
In May 2016, Company Chameleon launched Chameleon Youth, a new youth dance company. The huge amount of knowledge and experience Chameleon has gained, from touring dance theatre all over the world, forms the bedrock of the youth company and its hands-on approach to creative development. The aspiration is to inspire the next generation of dance artists.
