10 Tips to watch during the lockdown
The theatres are closed again, but you don’t have to go without your dose of performing arts during the Christmas break. Movement Exposed has collected a list of ten online performances and dance films for you to watch during the holiday lockdown. One benefit of watching online: there’s no travel involved, no borders to cross. So, our list offers shows from all over the world. Some are free to watch online, for others you have to purchase a ticket.
Our tips, in random order:
BALSAM by Laika & Zefiro Torna (part of Cultura Nova festival)
This December, theatre festival Cultura Nova was supposed to celebrate its first Christmas edition. Although the live performances have been cancelled, L1 and Cultura Nova have teamed up to present a live stream of the musical and sensory performance BALSAM. The show guides its audience through different kinds of traditional 15th-century music and poetry from several European countries. For more information visit the website. The stream will be available for free on December 26, 18:30
National Theatre At Home: classical theatre
Watch the classics at home. Available through a subscription that costs less than EUR 10 month, the selection includes Medea, Othello and Phèdre (starring Helen Mirren). The platform also presents a selection of Chekov plays, such as Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard. From time to time The National Theatre also offers free streams via its YouTube channel.
Netflix: Move
‘My mother tongue is movement,’ one of the dancers portrayed in Move says. This documentary showcases different dance styles, dancers and choreographers from all over the world, offering multiple views on dance and showcasing the different paths that can lead to a career in the industry.
Swan Lake at the NITE HOTEL NNT/NITE
NNT has a virtual NITE HOTEL where you can experience the company’s shows online. The website is divided into several spaces, including a virtual bar where visitors can mingle. One of the performances you could experience this way was Swan Lake. Read the review here. Swan Lake will be available (again) from 1 January 2021 until 31 January. For this experience you have to purchase a ticket.
Opera La Traviata by l’Opéra de Paris
The Parisian opera offers several registrations to audiences outside France. Simon Stone has created an adaptation of Verdi’s La Traviata for the Opéra de Paris, converting it into a contemporary piece that deals with violence in society. You may know Stone from the plays he has directed at International Theatre Amsterdam; his latest, Flight ’49, is set to return to theatres in 2021. The opera can be viewed here, tickets contribution of EUR 7,90 until 20 January 2021.
Dance movie Artificial Things by Stopgap Dance Company
Directed by film maker Sophie Fiennes and set in a deserted shopping centre, this film features able-bodied dancers alongside disabled dancers in a choreography by Lucy Bennett. Among the dancers is the unforgettable David Toole who passed away last October.
Sadler’s Wells
Sadler’s Wells is offering a full programme of online workshops, documentaries, online films and registrations featuring the likes of Hofesh Shechter, Jonzi D and Kate Prince.
Cinedans Web
Winter Specials is a selection of dance films and podcasts that are part of Cinedans FEST. The festival focuses on work in which dance, film, and other art forms intersect. Winter Specials show a selection of films, interviews and insights into the creative process. Content is available from 26 – 28 December.
Ailey Forward Virtual Season by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
A virtual programme is available on Ailey Forward Virtual Season. The American dance company is offering workshops and registrations of performances by different choreographers. The shows are available for a limited amount of time, but are all free to watch. Donations are welcome.
Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda (available on Disney+)
This musical tells the story of one of the founding fathers of the United States of America: Alexander Hamilton. In 2016, Hamilton won a Grammy Award for best cast-album for a musical recording and the musical also won the Pulitzer Price. Writer and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda has referred to his protagonist as the man who introduced hiphop. Now is your chance to check out why.