Record-breaking dance theatre company ‘Casson & Friends’ make their Channel Island debut
We are excited to welcome the record-breaking dance theatre company Casson & Friends to the Island for the first time next week. The UK-based dance company is led by Tim Casson and creates ‘People Powered Performance’ that is unique, engaging, accessible, interactive, and joyful. During their time in Jersey the company will tour primary schools, offer workshops for adults and will round off with two very special public performances at St. Ouen’s Bay in front of Le Don Hilton (‘the white house’) at low tide on the afternoon of Saturday 21 September at 2.30pm and 4pm.
Pictured: ArtHouse Jersey Producer Robyn Cabaret where the interactive public dance ARCADE will take place taken by Theresa Schiessl.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS TOUR
Monday 16 to Thursday 19 September
For the first time the record-breaking project, The Dance WE Made, will be taken into an education setting inviting local primary school pupils aged 3-11 years to offer movements and actions working with the dancers to devise original choreography. This material will then be used by the dancers to create a brand new dance work for and by each school, performed back to the pupils in the playground at the end of each day.
ARCADE BY CASSON & FRIENDS AT ST OUEN’S BAY
Saturday 21 September 2.30pm & 4pm at St Ouen’s Bay in front of Le Don Hilton (The White House)
Presented on a beach for the very first time, Islanders are invited to join ArtHouse Jersey and Casson & Friends at low-tide to experience ARCADE: a joyful interactive performance with short dance ‘games’ to connect people of all ages with the childlike joy of play - and each other! Elegantly played and facilitated by Casson & Friends' friendly team of performers joined by a local cast of four performers, some games are mesmerising and fun to watch, and others invite everyone to join. These performances are free entry, with no booking required.
ABOUT CASSON & FRIENDS
Under the direction of Tim Casson, Casson & Friends are a UK-based record-breaking dance theatre company working with a diverse range of collaborators, from filmmakers and musicians to computer programmers and psychologists, but most often collaborates with the public and communities, inviting them to engage with dance in exciting and accessible ways.
With a passion for bringing dance to people in new and unusual contexts, Casson & Friends’ work to date has been presented in a range of settings including shopping centres, libraries, hotels, pubs, offices and football stadiums. The company also explores the potential of digital technology to create new ways of enhancing and engaging with dance performance.
Casson & Friends has presented work across the UK and internationally including Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Glastonbury Festival, Brighton Digital Festival, bOing International Family Festival, The Lyon Biennale, Downtown Dance Festival in New York, Festival Quartiers Danses in Montreal, Harare International Festival of Arts in Zimbabwe, and at West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong.
WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITY
On Thursday 19 September, Islanders are invited to take part in a Choreographic Play Workshop at ArtHouse Jersey’s Greve de Lecq Barracks between 6pm and 8pm. They’ll join choreographer Tim Casson to explore how play can enable us to move creatively. Simple, joyful and accessible with an emphasis on 'playing to play' rather than 'playing to win’. This participatory session is suitable for adults with an interest in movement, no previous dance experience is necessary.
Inspired by current touring projects ARCADE and The Dance WE Made, the session will include creative games and tasks that encourage creativity and playful participation - connecting participants with the childlike joy of play - and each other! Tickets cost £20 and are available on Eventbrite.
Producer for ArtHouse Jersey, Robyn Cabaret, said, “I am thrilled to welcome Casson & Friends to Jersey for a jam-packed week of activities engaging a wide range of Islanders. The work is vibrant, fun, and I have deep appreciation for how it not only delights audiences, but helps to connect people with inclusivity at its heart! This work uses dance as a form in its broadest sense and I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to join in whatever way you feel compelled.“
