From 29th April until 8th May, Leicester will host a vibrant programme of world-renowned dance companies. Let’s Dance International Frontiers is an annual festival of dance, which brings together a plethora of exciting performances as well as workshops, talks and networking at various venues across the city. So if you’re looking to combine a city break with some stunning dance performances then this is a great time to visit.
Dance companies visiting the city during the festival include: Ballet Hispánico (USA); Tabanka Dance Ensemble (Norway); Jona Dance (UK) Yinka Esi Graves and Maya Taylor (Spain/USA/UK); Makeda Thomas (USA/Trinidad); and Artincidence (Martinique).
In addition to the performances, visitors to the city will also get the opportunity to attend talks by some of the top names in modern dance. Speakers from across the globe will include: John Hunte (Barbados); Monique Jonas (Jamaica/UK); Yinka Esi Graves (Spain/UK); Henri Tauliaut and Annabel Guérédrat (Martinique); Thomas Talawa Prestø (Trinidad/Norway); Makeda Thomas (Trinidad/USA); Eduardo Vilaro (Cuba/USA); Sandie Bourne and Marsha Lowe (UK).
LDIF22 highlights include:
Ballet Hispánico: The legendary New York-based company currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, makes its long-awaited English stage debut at Leicester’s Curve theatre on 6 – 7 May with a mixed bill of works that span Latinx cultures. The company’s charismatic Artistic Director, Eduardo Vilaro (left) will be giving an LDIF+ Masterclass on 4 May at Curve – an event not to be missed.
Philip Herbert: The award-winning British classical composer, provides his evocative new score, Siren Calls: To an Illusive Journey to choreographer/dancer Monique Jonas (Richard Alston, New Adventures) and to Thomas Talawa Prestø, the Oslo-based Artistic Director of Tabanka Dance. The two artists will share their work on 29 April – International Dance Day at the official launch of LDIF22 – and on 30 April respectively.
Artincidence: Henri Tauliaut and Annabel Guérédrat will be making a welcome return to LDIF22 on 30 April with a sharp new interpretation of their site-specific piece Nus Descendant L’Escalier, inspired by the title of Marcel Duchamp’s 1912 Modernist painting. Tabanka Dance Ensemble: The electrifying dance company from Norway directed by its founder Thomas Talawa Prestø, will perform at the Sue Townsend Theatre on April 30th with a mixed bill from their repertoire.
Yinka Esi Graves and Maya Taylor: Two collaborative solo works, first shared online as part of LDIF’s 2020 and 2021 programmes, come to life with Leicester’s historical Guildhall as a backdrop on 5 May.
Signatures and Black British Dance Platform: A performance platform for emerging talent which will take place at Curve on 4 May. Signatures will showcase new talent supported and developed by Serendipity while Black British Dance Platform is a collaboration between Serendipity and Dance4.
Dance Dialogues: A series of conversations, inviting contributors to share their expertise on a broad range of topics from the mental wellbeing of Black male dancers through to Black presence in ballet and decolonising dance practice.
In addition, there will be a range of outdoor performances taking place on the streets of Leicester from 29th April to 8th May.
The full festival programme is available to view on the Serendipity website.
If you’re planning to come and enjoy this fantastic season of international dance in Leicester, then be sure to stay at The Gresham. You'll be in good company as The Gresham will also be home to over 50 dance artists throughout the festival.
Set in the heart of Leicester City Centre, The Gresham is just a short walking distance from all of the performance spaces. Newly opened in November 2021, our stylish and comfortable studios all include their own kitchenette facilities, adding an extra degree of flexibility during your stay.
