‘Rites’ – Company Chameleon
The Dep Arts team are questioning where the time has gone with just a week until our brand new website goes live and July drawing quickly to an end. That can only mean one thing – Edinburgh Fringe Festival is approaching! Watch out for our Edinburgh newsletter coming out soon detailing our brilliant companies taking shows there this year.
After the excitement of the summer we go straight into our autumn shows where four of our companies – Company Chameleon, Darshan Singh Bhuller, Phoenix Dance Theatre and Retina – will be touring the UK.
Company Chameleon will be premiering their new show Gameshow in Manchester and Leeds after developing the piece at the Choreodrome in London before embarking on a UK tour with Kith/Kin.
Kith/Kin consists of two parts – Before Night Fell and Rites. Rites was the first major work from Chameleon, making use of the personal and shared histories of Missen and Turner, whilst investigating those rites of passage shared by men in a more universal context. Before Night Fell choreographed by Beth Cassani is an exploration of male identity, friendship, camaraderie and bravery whilst together they develop concepts of physical risk, game structures, intimacy, vulnerability, power and manipulation.
Phoenix Dance Theatre are touring a mixed bill of Declarations and Reflected both of which contain four short and varied works combining to make a spectacular show. The autumn tour is also the start of a year of celebrating 30 years of Phoenix Dance Theatre and the third tour under Artistic Director, Sharon Watson. Both shows made great impressions on their last tour and are set to impress across the UK this autumn.

'Declarations' - Phoenix Dance Theatre
Darshan Singh Bhuller will be touring with the brand new Caravaggio: Exile and Death – dance theatre inspired by the life and work of the 17th century master painter. Exile and Death takes the audience on a journey of a man’s search for forgiveness and redemption after a life fascinated with youth and sexuality, violence, solitude and love. Scarred by imprisonment and the Catholic Church’s dismissal of his works, Caravaggio lived a painful and dramatic life. Combining highly physical choreography with stunning lighting design and projections and a beautiful soundtrack, Darshan has created a show that tells the story of Caravaggio’s life and art.

'Caravaggio - Exile and Death' - Darshan Singh Bhuller
Retina’s Layers of Skin unites their skills in creating artistic touring productions as well as leading large-scale participatory projects. Retina has firmly established itself as a company that produces high quality performances as well as a company that enables other dancers, either professional or community, to excel in process and performance. Artistic Director Filip Van Huffel has a unique ability to encourage individuals to move confidently and creatively and Layers of Skin will maximise his strengths.

'Layers of Skin' - Retina
Keep an eye out in the next week for the launch of our beautiful new website and keep checking back here for all news and updates on the Dep Arts team and our clients.