Open Call : D2C Lab 2023
Human Collective, in partnership with Dance Ireland, present the Dance2Connect International Lab. D2C LAB aims to provide a space for the intersection of street and contemporary dance styles to spark ideas and create new performance work.
With an emphasis on intergenerational exchange, inclusion and diversity, the D2C International Lab and Festival creates opportunities for young artists, from a variety of creative backgrounds, who may not otherwise engage with theatre spaces or professional arts organisations
D2C LAB provides a space for street dancers and contemporary dancers to come together and share technical knowledge and approaches to performance.
Each participant will have the opportunity to delve into their own choreographic practice as well as learn from exposure to the methods of others in the group.
We are very excited to announce this year's mentor - Joseph Toonga - artistic director of Just Us Dance Theatre in UK.
When: March 20-24
Where: Dance Ireland, Foley Street
Level: Advanced/Intermediate
Apply: Via Google Form
Deadline: February 25th
Fee: A nominal participation fee of €30 will apply if chosen
Announcement: February 27th
A note from D2C Artistic Director Matt Szczerek:
"I believe Hip-Hop culture has a huge innovative influence on modern dance theatre around the world. It has been bubbling under the surface for the past few years and now it is carving its significant place in the arts. We want to be part of creating spaces for Hip-Hop Theatre practitioners in Dublin, Ireland, and bring mentorship with International acclaimed makers to introduce a variety of unique ways of devising dance for stage. This journey began in 2017, and each year it has brought new energy to the local dance scene.
This year we are bringing one of the UK's most prominent choreographers Joseph Toonga to Dublin for our International D2C Lab.
Joseph Toonga is a fore fronting Hip Hop Theatre maker, touring regularly in the UK & Internationally, continually looking for an authentic reason for choreographing. His expertise enables him to engage with individuals and communities in order to bring their stories forward and empower people during their artistic creation. To choose Joseph for me, was to invite ideas of protest in dance, work with highly energetic choreographies and challenge the physical performance of fellow dancers.
This development program is for advanced/ intermediate dancers in all genres of movement.
We will pick 10 dancers to delve into 5 days of intense creation process, concluded with showing on the last day. (Monday till Friday 12pm-5pm)
Each day will also be a chance to take an open dance class with Joseph for anyone who wants to develop their practice but couldn’t commit to a full week of rehearsals. (Monday till Friday 10am-11.15am in Dance Ireland for intermediate/ advance level)"
Read more about attending morning class here.
APPLY HERE
Originating from Cameroon and raised in East London, Joseph Toonga is The Royal Ballet’s Emerging Choreographer. He was appointed that position at the start of the 2021/22 Season. Joseph makes and performs dance productions relevant to the here and now which are embedded in Hip Hop and inspired by real life stories. His craftsmanship and signature choreographic style challenges conventions commonly used in Hip Hop dance and shifts audience perceptions by addressing racial stigmas and societal stereotypes.
In Autumn 2021, he was Movement Director for Fair Play, A Bush Theatre Direction by Ella Road. Other commissions and achievements to date include working with The Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School, DanceEast (where he is Associate Artist), Secret Cinema (in collaboration for the premiere of Les Miserables), Boston Conservatoire of Dance, Middlesex University, Codarts University of the Arts, Rotterdam, EDge, National Youth Ballet/ Bundesjugendballett, Richard Alston Dance Company, Junior Ballet Madrid (Elephant in the Black Box), and East Wall (with Hofesh Shechter). He was also awarded the Best Choreography Award at New York’s Reverb Dance Festival.
Alongside extensive teaching and independent commissions, Joseph runs his dance company Just Us Dance Theatre, a collective founded 2007 where he has established an international Artist Development Programme in Brazil and the UK’s first annually running Hip Hop Apprenticeship company. He is also co-founder of artist-led hip-hop initiative Artists4Artists.