Peoples Republic of South Devon

Laban dance bursary

June 26th, 2008

posted by Cptn

Rudolf Laban is to dance what William Morris is to upholstery. And as part of its 70-year celebration of his shimmy across Dartington’s doorstep (and 50th anniversary of his death) the place is offering a limited number of bursaries to local people on its four-day Laban dance programme.

Apparently, “in keeping with Laban’s core principle that dance is for absolutely everyone, the course is suitable for people of all ages and abilities, including those with restricted movement. Non-residential places – which include entry, participation, refreshments and lunch – cost £200 for the five-days. Dartington is also able to offer a number of limited bursaries to local people, priced £70.”

But what of this Laban fellow? The Austro-Hungarian fled Nazi Germany in 1936, after a run in with the Government Propaganda Ministry and found himself popping along to Dartington in 1938. According to the Laban site, he then ‘worked in industry, introducing work study methods to increase production through humane means’. And in his latter years he ‘concentrated on movement as behaviour, studying the behavioural needs of industrial workers and psychiatric patients’.

The Dartingon programme, Laban: Then & Now, includes a participatory programme of workshops, lectures and debate, performance, exhibition and film, the course will run from Sunday July 6 to Thursday July 10 and has both residential and non-residential places available.

The blurb says: “Each morning and evening participatory activities take place, including movement classes, lecture demonstrations, evening performances and film screenings. Participants can choose to take part in either symposium events – including talks on Laban’s work and his time at Dartington – or creative dance workshops led by expert choreographers and leaders in dance, including Regina Miranda and Rosemary Lee.

You can find out more on the Dartington Laban site, or by by contacting Lara Lloyd on 01803 847078 or l.lloyd@dartington.org

And for more on Laban’s life and his legacy of dance visit the Laban site.

————————————————————————————
Has this information been useful?

Entry Filed under: Arts