26 June 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

SHADOW DANCE

Open Call

Get ready to translate your psyche into physical movement!

From supple yoga fanatics to ballet dancers, artist Kai-Oi Jay Yung is inviting those with a penchant for any form of dance and movement to take part in a series of experimental movement and dance laboratories at the Bluecoat as part of their Portfolio NW exhibition.

Portfolio NW celebrates creative talent in the region by bringing together eight North West-based artists all creating new specially commissioned works.

No experience is necessary to participate so come along and explore emotion and gesture with artist Kai-Oi Jay Yung and professional dancers. These free, inclusive sessions led by Jay are a result of her techniques and skills exchanged and learnt from dancers specialisms in all types of dance/movement; from ballet and break-dancing to Brazillean

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dance. It will be an experimental, fun and engaging space to further explore and interpret issues related to the psyche, including trauma and memory through body and movement.

Jay will transform the gallery into a dance studio. Through workshop collaboration with local dancers, she sets out to learn new choreographic skills, documenting the process. Jay says Whether youre a supple yoga fanatic, ballet dancer or a stealthy parkour climber or dance/movement is more of an idea than an activity, come explore your internal beat and get in tune with your own expressive potential!

Just bring yourself and a willingness to work together with the artist and fellow Shadowers in these playful, self-exploratory activities that examine our inner impulses and their manifestation through physical movement.

Inspired by intersecting theories in theatre, psychoanalysis and dance, Jay invites you to join a series of workshop laboratories combining choreographed and openly improvised exercises and gestures. Following a week of working closely with professional dancers across Alexander technique to ballet and breakdancing, the artist will then lead and facilitate open sessions with the public to explore gesture linked to our innermost desires, hopes and fears with some of the dancers.

Diverse tasks and activity will employ props, the body and sound to explore such issues as emotion memory, observation, inner motive forces, why and how we move through action, relaxation and collaborative movement.

*DVD AMNESTY*

Also, whether its bajan stick licking, ballet, tap, tai-chi, yogalates and jitterbug stroll to folk, boogaloo and hip hop, artist Kai-Oi Jay Yung invites you to contribute towards this dance project by sending in your movement DVDs. The artist welcomes any hands on and theoretical choreography, exercise, dance and movement related DVDs, workouts, films and documentaries, however obscure or strictly dance- from Bausch, Davina, Pobereznic Fondaand Astair to Cunningham!

Please drop items into the Bluecoat reception or post all DVDs/related materials by deadline by Friday 26th July to:

Kai-Oi Jay Yung, Shadow Dance, the Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 3BX.

For more info, related calls or to take part contact Kai-Oi Jay Yung: misskjy888@gmaill.com

http://jayyung.wordpress.com/about/2013-2/shadow-dance-the-bluecoat/

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Editors Notes

Listings: Shadow Dance

EVENTS : All take place in Gallery 3

Sat July 27, 2pm- Artist talk/performance

Mon 29 July Sun 4 August - Watch dance sessions with Jay & dancers.

See artists site for danceforms & timetable http://jayyung.wordpress.com/about/2013-2/shadow-dance-the-bluecoat/

Mon 5-Fri 9 August Movement Exploration Sessions, 12-3pm

Open to public. Free, come along and explore emotion and gesture with the artist and dancers.

To take part: contact Jay misskjy888@gmaill.com or turn up on dates/times!

http://jayyung.wordpress.com/about/2013-2/shadow-dance-the-bluecoat/

Sat 10 August - Performance session, 2-4pm

Formoredetails,interviewortospeakwiththeartist,contactKaiOiJayYung

Yung_jay@hotmail.com and 07961 915011

About the Bluecoat

The Bluecoat is a dynamic, creative hub that showcases and develops talent across visual art, music, dance, live art and literature.

The most historic building in Liverpools city centre, the Bluecoat has four galleries. It is also home to over 30 creative industries and individuals including artists, graphic designers, arts organisations, crafts people and retailers.

Dating from the early 18th century, the buildings architectural importance is illuminated by its UNESCO world heritage and Grade One listed status.

It is believed to be the UKs oldest art centre, with a rich artistic history; early exhibitions included the first Post Impressionists show, which came to Liverpool in 1911 following an earlier showing in London and featured works by Picasso, Czanne, Van Gogh, Matisse and Gauguin, exhibiting alongside British artists for the first time.

Five years ago, the Bluecoat reopened after major redevelopment and has since inspired tens of thousands with its mission to engage, innovate and excel.

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The past few years have seen it attract internationally renowned artists such as Angie Hiesl, John Akomfrah and Mark Leckey, while simultaneously engaging the most vulnerable, from those with dementia to disadvantaged youths, through its community projects.

The Bluecoats location, in the heart of Liverpool city centre, has made it a welcome oasis from the hustle and bustle of the nearby shops, and the relaxing garden makes it the ideal place to escape for a while.

The Bluecoat is more than a contemporary arts centre in an historic building: it is an intersection between art and our times, a cultural and social meeting point where it creates a strong dynamic between art, the city and the culture of Liverpool, and everyday life.

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Funders & Supporters:

Thanks to the City of Liverpool for its financial support.