mapdance company
mapdance is an established exciting company of young, dynamic dancers recruited nationally and internationally. Over the years the company has included dancers from Japan, China, Canada, U.S.A., Estonia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and Norway, alongside dancers from across the United Kingdom.
In addition to the performance programme, mapdance offers a range of educational work including residencies, one-off workshops and the opportunity for young people to perform alongside the company, opening the show with a specially created ‘curtain raiser’ – guaranteed to bring an audience of friends and family. Pre and post show talks are available with a performance as well as part of the workshops.
“Breakneck energy, ironic vulgarity and voracious vitality” londondance.com
mapdance is directed by Jerwood Award Winner, Yael Flexer (Flexer & Sandiland), and rehearsal director, Luke Brown. The company adopts a broad approach to dance making and performance by working with established artists as well as emerging choreographers. Past mapdance commissions include works by British choreographers, Shobana Jeyasingh, Anthony Missen, Jose Agudo, Kevin Finnan, Ceyda Tanc, Seeta Patel and Sarah Golding among others, as well as new work and reconstructions by international choreographers Richard Alston (UK), Gregory Maqoma (South Africa), Niv Sheinfeld, Oren Laor (Israel), Lucinda Childs (USA) and Liz Aggiss (UK). The company is keen to work in partnership with venues, festivals and promoters, creating special events and participatory educational and performance projects.
Will Hodson
“mapdance was a huge learning experience in what company life would entail, from the creative side, working with new choreographers to teaching workshops around the country to different ages and abilities. Touring the UK and to Israel really allowed me to understand how to look after my body on tour. This has made professional life easier, knowing how to keep my body adaptable when auditioning, being able to optimise energy and reduce physical and mental fatigue when touring. My experience with mapdance has given me the opportunity to be able to teach in a higher education setting which I would like to do once I finish performing, allowing me to have a long and varied career in dance.”
Will is currently working with 2Faced Dance company and recently toured the triple bill ‘Everything (but the girl)’ with works by Fleur Darkin and Tamsin Fitzgerald. Since completing mapdance he has worked as a freelance dance artist, teaching for ZoieLogic Dance Theatre and a facilitator for Luke Brown Dance. He also performed for the opening of Dundee’s V&A Museum with Shaper/Caper and in Tribe dance company’s professional performance through Brighton.
David Mead
“The University of Chichester’s MA touring company, mapdance, again offers a varied bill of works in a fine evening of dance: one that is sometimes gritty, sometimes thought-provoking, but also one that ends colourfully and joyously. While the three newly commissioned works and one restaging are all ensemble pieces, they are neatly constructed so as to also give many dancers personal moments in the spotlight.”
See full review: https://www.seeingdance.com/mapdance-2022-220530/
Find out more about mapdance here – www.chi.ac.uk/ma-performance-dance-mapdance