V E R V E - Northern School of Contemporary Dance

VERVE
–2010
The postgraduate
performance
company of
the Northern
School of
Contemporary
Dance
a booker’s guide
to Verve 10
quick guide 01
selling points 02
target markets 03
resources 04
about Verve 05
about NSCD 06
quotes 07
key contacts 08
Images from Verve 09 repertoire. Photographer: Chris Nash

Verve 10: quick guide 01
What is Verve?
Verve is the post-graduate performance company of the Northern School of Contemporary
Dance. In 2010 Verve will comprise twelve dancers touring the UK and Europe with a programme
of brand new work created by some of today’s most innovative choreographers. Last year’s
company toured to 19 venues across the UK and Europe reaching over 3000 audience members
over 6 months. NSCD is a leading conservatoire dance school, home to some of the most
exciting young talents in the country.
What will be performed?
Verve performs contemporary dance by some of today’s leading choreographers. The 2010
programme is a mixed bill of new dance works specially commissioned from established
international choreographers Michael Schumacher (Amsterdam, Holland), Luis Lara Malvacías
(New York, USA), David Zambrano (Amsterdam, Holland / New York, USA) and UK London
based artist Laila Diallo.
Who is it suitable for?
Verve is ideal for adults and young people aged 13+, particularly those studying dance. The wide
variety of work offers something for everyone. The length of the pieces and the broad range of
choreographic styles make it particularly suitable for those new to contemporary dance. The high
standard of performance and choreography will delight dance fans.
What is the running time?
Approximately 120 minutes including a 20-minute interval at mid-point.
What are the technical requirements?
• A technician will tour with the company.
• A mid-scale venue.
• A minimum dance space of 8m 2 – Verve can supply a dance floor.
When is the tour?
Verve tours annually from March to June. We are currently discussing bookings for 2010.
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Is there marketing support available?
NSCD will provide high quality printed promotional materials for the Verve tour, as well as
extensive emarketing opportunities. Since Verve began touring in 2007 we have developed a list
of supporters who we keep in touch with Verve via our website, ebulletins and facebook.
Rehearsals will be recorded on the Verve microsite (www.nscd.ac.uk/verve) so potential
audiences have the opportunity to see photos and video footage of the choreography being
created. The micro site will also include full biographical details for all the choreographers and
dancers. Our website gets around 50,000 page hits per month, and some of our youtube footage
has been viewed over 10,000 times. NSCD’s Marketing and Communications Manager is a
contemporary dance specialist and will offer full support to your theatre marketing team.
What is the cost?
NSCD charges a negotiable one-off performance fee for this production. Dependent on travel and
accommodation arrangements, the fee ranges from £750 - £1,200. (Please note that the
Northern School of Contemporary Dance is an education institution and hence exempt from
VAT).
How do I contact Verve?
Please contact Helen Duncan by:
email helen.duncan@nscd.ac.uk
telephone 0113 219 3009.
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selling points 02
• Verve is the performance company of one of the UK’s leading conservatoire dance
schools, Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD). NSCD graduates are well
known for their technical ability and artistic expression and many have gone on to either
perform or choreograph for some of the world’s most highly regarded dance companies.
• This is Verve’s fourth annual tour. Each year they have performed to around 3000 people.
This tour provides an opportunity to invite this existing audience base to your venue,
whilst also developing your dance audience with a high quality programme appealing to
first time dance audiences.
• The dance works performed by Verve will be created by leading international
choreographers working in the UK.
• Verve will present a mixed bill consisting of very different styles and exploring different
subject matter. As such, a rich and varied experience is offered to the audience.
• The company consists of recently graduated dance artists who have a great deal of
enthusiasm and energy, which is translated in to their performance.
• The School has a long history of producing strong and distinctive professional dance
artists and Verve gives audiences the opportunity to see these dancers at the cusp of
their professional careers. Verve graduates have gone on to work with some of the most
highly regarded dance companies in the UK, including DV8 Physical Theatre, Phoenix
Dance Theatre, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, Richard Alston Dance Company,
Tilted Productions, Henri Oguike Dance Company, Balbir Singh Dance Company and
Tavaziva Dance.
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target markets 03
• Previous attendees of NSCD performances.
• Contemporary dance fans, particularly those who have attended EDge, Transitions or
other graduate dance company performances and those who have previously seen works
by Verve choreographers.
• Contemporary arts fans, for example music, experimental drama, new writing, physical
theatre, multimedia, visual arts, arthouse and short films.
• Dance and arts practitioners and professionals.
• Dance schools and classes targeted at young people or adults.
• Secondary school groups.
• Students of dance, drama, performing arts, contemporary music, wardrobe/textiles, stage
and technical management from GCSE level upwards.
• NSCD applicants.
• Youth groups, especially those interested in dance and performance arts.
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esources 04
Verve can offer venues marketing, technical and audience development resources.
Marketing
• 2 identical banner stands - 800mm wide X 2000mm tall (Verve will bring these with them).
• Leaflets.
• A3 posters.
• High quality photographic images of dance works.
• Copy for venue programmes.
• Press release template.
• National UK press support.
• School website - www.nscd.ac.uk with Verve micro site www.nscd.ac.uk/verve
• Free programmes and free-sheets for distribution by theatre staff (Verve will bring these
with them).
• Marketing pack.
• Regular Verve newsletters/ e-bulletins to keep venues informed.
Technical
• 1 technician who travels with the company.
• Portable dance floor.
Audience development
• Verve is a perfect way to encourage dance class attenders to a dance performance.
Verve is the performing company of a vocational dance training school, so in effect shows
young dancers what they may one day be able to achieve
• Programme notes are provided in both the free programmes given to all audiences
members, and on the Verve micro site. The notes explain the themes involved in each
piece of choreography, helping to demystify contemporary dance and deepen audiences’
understanding and appreciation of the work
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about Verve 05
Verve is the postgraduate performance company of Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
The company was launched in 2006 as an expansion of the College’s successful Graduate
Diploma, designed to facilitate the transition from training to professional practice. In 2008 the
Graduate Diploma converted to Postgraduate Diploma.
NSCD’s current Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Dance has three pathways: a graduate
apprenticeship scheme, an advanced training scheme and the touring company Verve. NSCD
also offers choreography at postgraduate/masters level.
Through open auditions held in the UK and abroad, dancers are chosen to join the company for
the one-year duration of the Postgraduate Diploma course. The final company comprises 12
graduates from leading conservatoire dance schools and talented young dancers with some
professional experience.
The company works with leading international choreographers to create a programme of bespoke
new work. In the past Verve have toured with commissioned work by Carol Brown, Darshan
Singh Bhuller, Fin Walker, Glenn Wilkinson, Henri Oguike, Hofesh Schechter, Kim Brandstrup,
Rafael Bonachela, Shobana Jeyasingh, Simon Birch and Wendy Houstoun.
Historically, performances from NSCD have had great acclaim from audiences and critics. The
School has played host to many exceptional choreographers whilst simultaneously giving
audiences the opportunity to witness the next generation of emerging dance artists.
Whilst 2010 marks the forth year of Verve as a mid-scale touring company, for over ten years
final-year degree and diploma students have performed to great acclaim at the School’s Riley
Theatre and at selected venues in the UK under the name of Verve.
The combination of a thrilling programme of brand new work from high profile choreographers
and a cast of emerging young dance artists makes Verve 10 an unmissable opportunity for
audiences across the UK and Europe to engage with the cutting edge of contemporary dance.
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about NSCD 06
Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) is a unique dance training institution offering a
select group of students the opportunity to develop and excel as dance artists in a conservatoire
environment.
It offers professional dance training for the most talented students, providing access regardless of
background or financial circumstances.
NSCD is an affiliate member of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CDD). The creation of
CDD has opened the way to exciting new developments at the forefront of international
professional practice in vocational arts training.
There are approximately 200 students from all over the UK and abroad studying at NSCD.
Courses include a BPA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance, a Postgraduate Diploma in
Contemporary Dance and a Postgraduate Diploma/MA in Choreography which are accredited by
the University of Kent, as well as a Foundation Course in Contemporary Dance.
History
Northern School of Contemporary Dance was founded in 1985 as the first conservatoire dance
school within the public sector. It is based in a Grade II listed former synagogue in Chapeltown,
Leeds, and is one of the UK’s leading dance training institutions.
Gurmit Hukam has been Principal and Artistic Director since 2002 and Akram Khan MBE and
Darshan Singh Bhuller are the School’s Patrons.
Over the School’s twenty-three year history it has produced some of the UK’s leading
contemporary dance artists including Akram Khan, Tom Roden, Robert Hylton, Benji Reid and
Fleur Darkin.
www.nscd.ac.uk
www.cdd.ac.uk
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quotes 07
“Verve 09 had the essence of being life changing.”
Audience Member
The Lowry, Salford (2009)
“This excellent company danced four specially commissioned works that amply revealed the
talents of the 11 graduates.”
Jonathan Gray
Dancing Times (2009)
“One of the most enjoyable evenings of dance that I’ve been to.”
Audience Member
The Riley Theatre, Leeds (2008)
“Absolutely stunning, every piece blew me away and that’s saying something!”
Jodie
The Riley Theatre, Leeds (2008)
“…we bring you the superb dancers of Verve [video review], the graduate company of the
Northern School of Contemporary Dance. They were great last year, and they're great this year!”
www.article19.co.uk (2008)
“…a stunning performance. The emotion was palpable - it made the hairs stand-up on the back of
my neck and I do believe there were one or two moments when I let out a little groan of wonder. I
want to watch it all over again - to absorb the complexity and yet the simplicity of it.”
Christine Barraclough
Wakefield Theatre Royal audience member (2007)
“More often than not, graduate companies are the best place to spot the up and coming dancers
that will be making their presence felt in companies all over the UK, Europe and, with any luck,
the rest of the world.”
www.article19.co.uk (2007)
“In the competitive world of dance such companies are rare and Verve has become the only one
in the country outside London, making Leeds and Yorkshire leading lights in the dance world.“
www.bbc.co.uk/leeds (2007)
“They presented a challenging, mixed bill – five different pieces by some of the dance world’s
most sought after contemporary choreographers.”
Deborah Weiss
Dance Europe (2007)
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key contacts 08
The key contact for enquiries relating to Verve’s touring plans is
Verve Administrator
Helen Duncan
helen.duncan@nscd.ac.uk
0113 219 3009
Other personnel are
Artistic Director
Rehearsal Director
Technical Manager
Marketing Manager
Head of Post-Graduate
Study
Gurmit Hukam
Rachel Lancaster
verve@nscd.ac.uk
Mark Baker
mark.baker@nscd.ac.uk
Ceri Brierley
ceri.brierley@nscd.ac.uk
Russell Trigg
russell.trigg@nscd.ac.uk
How to contact us
Verve
Northern School of Contemporary Dance
98 Chapeltown Road
Leeds LS7 4BH
West Yorkshire
United Kingdom
T: 0113 219 3000
F: 0113 219 3030
E: verve@nscd.ac.uk
W: www.nscd.ac.uk
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information
contained within this document. However, NSCD reserves the right
to introduce changes to the information given. This document is
issued on the condition that it does not form any part of any contract
between NSCD and any organisation or individual.
Northern School of Contemporary Dance
98 Chapeltown Road, Leeds LS7 4BH
T: 0113 219 3000 F: 0113 219 3030
E: verve@nscd.ac.uk W: www.nscd.ac.uk
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