by Jessica Wilson
Returning for its 24th edition, Resolution! at The Place is in the process of showcasing the work of 81 dance companies in nightly triple bills, in the biggest festival for new dance in the UK. Running from 8 January to 15 February, Resolution! is one of the best loved seasons for short new dance due to the sheer quantity and diversity of the pieces included over the 27 nights.
Emerging choreographers will have the chance to present their new productions, following in the footsteps of previous applicants such as the renowned choreographers Wayne McGregor, Hofesh Shechter, Kate Prince, and more recently James Wilton and James Cousins, Cousins being the winner of the inaugural New Adventures Choreographer Award. Cousins received in excess of £15,000 to create his own showcase, as well as being mentored by Matthew Bourne. This is just to name a few dance artists who have begun their choreographic careers during Resolution!
The festival, which was created in 1990 by The Place’s former Theatre Director John Ashford, is one of the main platforms in the UK facilitating the difficult transition from vocational dance training to the professional performance world. Supported by The Place’s professional team, Resolution! choreographers not only receive technical support, but are enrolled in a series of workshops designed to provide a comprehensive insight into all aspects of the profession, from lighting and design, to press, marketing and social media. In addition to this support of emerging artists, a further element is Resolution! Review, a scheme to support aspiring writers passionate about communicating dance. The scheme has paired these dance writers with six leading dance critics who mentor them throughout the season, contributing valuable experience to the writers’ undeterred enthusiasm. Each work included in Resolution! is reviewed by both a professional and an aspiring writer, and then posted on The Place’s website.
The works shown so far throughout the Resolution! run have been eclectic, inspiring, reaffirming and decisive, with emerging choreographers paving their way through the sector and making their own mark in the arts world. To see so much up-and-coming work is incredibly inspiring, with the view that today’s dance scene has much to offer, and is continuing to evolve as it adapts to new and rejects old, whilst steadying itself against rooted principals. With choreographers ranging from independent dance artists, to recent graduates, to professional dancers and back again, it is any wonder that the forefront of dance today looks fresh and varied, ready to cater for the audiences who gather with the potential to view the next big thing in dance.
Assistant Editor Jessica Wilson is a final year student at Middlesex university in London, studying Dance Performance. She is also a Marketing and Communications Assistant at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD).
Jessica reviews London shows for the Society of London Theatre’s initiative for 16-25 year olds, TheatreFix, writes features for A Younger Theatre and blogs for Cloud Dance Festival, with additional press responsibilities. She has completed many marketing internships, the most recent at English National Ballet.
Jessica has also previously interned for SOLT, East London Dance and the ISTD dance examination board. Jessica is a National Youth Dance Ambassador for Youth Dance England, focusing on young people’s access to dance. She is extremely passionate about opportunities for young people enabling them to succeed and hopes to continue advocating this in the future through a variety of means.
Jessica writes about dance for 4dancers, contributes to the “Dance in the UK” section, assists with interviews and handles a variety of social media duties for the site.
The opinions expressed here are Jessica’s alone and do not reflect the opinions of RAD.