Tour Dates: 5 Sep - 20 Sep, 2012

National Dance Company Wales, formerly Diversions, performs a repertory created by prestigious international choreographers at venues all over Wales...

Tour Dates: 5 Sep - 20 Sep, 2012

National Dance Company Wales, formerly Diversions, performs a repertory created by prestigious international choreographers at venues all over Wales, the UK and internationally, most recently to Switzerland with the renowned Steps International Dance Festival and China on behalf of the British Council. The Company has also presented works in Ireland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Holland and Spain in the last two years.

Recent commissions and works include choreographers as diverse as Stephen Petronio (US), Itzik Galili (Israel), Stijn Celis (Belgium), Andonis Foniadakis (Greece), Nigel Charnock (UK) and Roy Campbell-Moore (Wales).

Under the Artistic Direction of Ann Sholem, the vision is to create and perform inspiring and entertaining choreography, performed by dancers with individuality and charisma, and to nurture and lead the development of the art-form throughout the nation.

Awarded national status in 1999, the Company became a Wales Millennium Centre resident in the Dance House in 2004. This is one of the best production facilities in Europe for creating new works. In 2008 the Company celebrated its highly-successful Silver Anniversary Year and was recognised with a Beacon Company award for excellence by the Arts Council of Wales. Then in June 2009 the Company changed its name to National Dance Company Wales to reflect its status and the excellence, pride and dynamism in its performances and work with communities everywhere.

The Company was picked as one of the Telegraph's "Top ten dance triumphs" of 2008 and continues to enjoy critical acclaim for its continually developing work.

By Singing Light

 Choreography: Stephen Petronio
Original score: Son Lux
Traditional Music: Ar lan y mòr&Pe cawn i hon. Mansel Thomas
Poetry: Dylan Thomas

"I was inspired by the distinct landscape of Wales. Its tradition of song and I have always loved the work of Dylan Thomas, even once being in Under Milkwood. " I know it is a challenging decision for an American but I thought if I am creating work in wales it must by Dylan Thomas.

By Singing Light, from New Jersey choreographer Stephen Petronio, sets out to explore the words of Dylan Thomas over a background of both traditional music from a live choir, and an original score by Son Lux. Opening with four female dancers who almost overwhelm a solitary male as the "old ram rod, dying of women", the dance style is from a more traditional repertoire. Costumes of red, grey, then black may represent the young blood of optimism decaying into the poet's "black reward", as weaving motifs suggest an interdependency between characters.

Choreographer：Stephen Petronio

Born in New Jersey, Stephen received a BA from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he began dancing in 1974. He was the first male dancer of the Trisha Brown Company.

Over a career spanning 25 years he has received numerous accolades including a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, awards from the foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts and a New York Dance and Performance "Bessie" Award.

Dance GB – NDCW's Olympic Project

Dance GB is a new choreography commission to be premiered in the run-up to the Olymic Games in Gloasgow, Cardiff and London in 2012. Set to a classical score including music from Ravel's Bolero, this highly anticipated work will be staged in June as part of Dance GB, the National Dance Company of Wale's the English National Ballet and the Scottish Ballet.