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An Interview with Joss Arnott

4.5 min read

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4.5 min read

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Joss Arnott’s new dance production, Triple Bill, is set to take Blackpool Grand Theatre’s stage on 22 November.

Arnott trained at London Studio Centre and Laban. Upon graduation he joined Transitions Dance Company whilst completing his MA in Dance Performance.

‘’I was studying acting in college and then the A Level dance course needed people to sign up for it and that’s how I got into dance and the rest is history. I trained in a lot of styles but I wanted to hone in on the classical contemporary dance that I was to develop this choreographic language that has been developing over a number of years with the company repertoire and that is what’s really exciting for me and gets me up in the morning.’’

Joss has toured internationally as a dance artist and has worked with choreographers Cameron McMillan, Colin Poole, Tom Dale, Matthias Sperling, Yael Flexer and The Barbican on an installation for the Merce Cunningham Company.

‘’I think what drew me to contemporary dance is how it can have endless opportunities and possibilities when you’re creating work and that was really exciting for me to be able to explore that within a codified language which is always developing between each production we do. I trained in a lot of styles but I wanted to hone in on the classical contemporary dance that I was to develop this choreographic language that has been developing over a number of years with the company repertoire and that is what’s really exciting for me and gets me up in the morning.’’

Founding Joss Arnott Dance shortly after his training, Joss has been continuously supported and commissioned by leading dance agencies, venues and organisations.

‘’The dancers and the music inspire me completely. I work very collaboratively when we’re creating work, not only with the dancers, composers and musicians but also the lighting designers and the costumes. I work very visually as an artist so I like to have as much information as possible before we even get into the studio because that leads the way in which we develop each work.’’

Joss collaborates with award winning artists and has an infectious choreographic voice that excites and inspires audiences on an international level.

‘’I think what I look for is, whenever I’m working with dancers or musicians, composers, lighting designers is I’m always looking for people who are going to challenge me artistically and that’s really exciting for me to learn and nourish my artistic practice working with other people. Even in the studio and throughout the process we do work very collaboratively which is really great for me.’’

The new classical contemporary programmed for 2017 will take the audience on a gripping journey through powerful and heart-pounding choreography that has established the company as one of the most exciting voices in British contemporary dance.

‘’This production came together with 2 of the pieces already made and the third piece Rush was made earlier this year and all three pieces have had the music made for them before we even got into the studio so the stimulus behind all three pieces is the music and the stylistic brand of the classical/cotemporary adrenaline fueled movement that we’re currently developing as a company. So, A Movement in 3 is the first piece of the programme, it’s a trio work, visually stunning, stunning lighting designs. It’s more of a melodic and poetic work. Whereas V is real inquisite interplay between dance and live music. Rush the final piece is raw in its texture and it’s really exciting, grounded and earthy but still has the classical contemporary flair to it and we get that percussive excitement throughout.’’

A MOVEMENT IN 3

Set to a harmonious, original score for piano and strings by composer Quinta, Arnott’s signature, bold choreographic stylistic are contrasted with an edgy, yet effortless, fluid complexity. Exploring light and shadow, this collision of melody and dance creates a mysterious and dreamlike atmosphere enhanced by Yaron Abulafia’s visually exquisite lighting design.

V

V reveals the contrasting qualities of an extraordinary dancer ranging from radical and hyper-mobile movement to sensual and graceful subtlety.

Exploring a rare and agile beauty of movement through technical precision, this emotive work reveals an outstanding interplay between dance and live music for solo viola, composed by James Keane, through a stunning, serene landscape of ever-changing asymmetric lighting by Fabiana Piccioli.

RUSH

A tour de force of athletic virtuosity, RUSH captures the modern and athletic sense of power of this alpha female cast through percussive, adrenaline fuelled and infectiously gripping choreography.

A technical masterclass in performance, this full company work shows how movement can speak volumes, create multiple dialogues and provide exhilarating sensory experiences to excite and inspire audiences of all ages.

‘’You can expect to see three very different but cohesive works all that have choreographically and musically led standing dancing, powerful, adrenaline fuelled music. Something that is really going to resonate with the audience and something that’s really exhilarating, exciting and hopefully enjoyable and accessible. I’m hoping that audiences resonate with the work, it’s pure dance work and technically brilliant. I really hope that audiences can connect with it, it raises emotions within them that can really hit home but also make them really excited and exhilarated afterwards so if they leave quite buzzy.’’

The production will be at Grand Theatre Blackpool stage on the 22 November 2017. You can book tickets here.

 

 

 

 

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