After rehearsing in our studios for their upcoming Fringe performance, this week we interview MANA Dance Co to find out more about their exciting company and up-coming show.
After an absolute bonkers & bizzare year, Brighton Fringe is back from 28 May – 27 June 2021! Brighton Fringe is, in their own words, the ‘largest open-access arts festival in England’. It’s a staple to the community of Brighton that showcases an enormous range of performers and artists. One group that are performing are MANA Dance Co who are an emerging duo shaking up the scene on the 22nd of June at the Spiegeltent.
Who are MANA Dance Co?
MANA means: Spiritual, healing lifeforce and possession of power
Originally MANA Dance Company was founded in July 2019 by female performers and choreographers Colette Kite and Georgia Marshall. MANA creates thought-provoking work that reflects and promotes the values of inclusion, community and diversity.
At its core, the company aims to make contemporary dance more accessible. This is so that dance can bring communities together to express and reflect upon current issues. The emerging duo explores this by incorporating audience participation, live music with rhythmic patterns and ritualistic/everyday movements.
Tell us about your style of dance?
Their style has evolved from Turkish folk dance (Ceyda Tanc Dance) fused with a variety of contemporary and street dance styles. Colette Kite and Georgia Marshall trained at Northern School of Contemporary Dance (2017-2020) developing their technique and working with a variety of choreographers. MANA’s debut work IN-STINCT (commissioned at ADMIST, hosted by Callous Affection Dance, July 2019) – performed around the UK at a variety of festivals, community dance and theatre venues including LEAP (Liverpool Fringe Festival) and I.D. Night with 2faced Dance Company. The company’s second work is a dance film LONG LIVE has been programmed as part of South East Dance’s ‘2020 Visions’.
What are you performing at Brighton Fringe?
MANA DANCE X MR BONGO celebrates the reemergence of live dance and music (DJ) at the famous Spiegeltent. It will be a celebration of dance, music and human resilience. MANA will explore the turbulent journey of lockdown, human instincts, community and resilience. MANA will perform their three pieces; LONG LIVE, IN-STINCT and UPHOLD. After this, MR BONGO will begin playing live for you all. They will invite you to reflect on the recent challenges, unite and groove together.
What is ‘IN-STINCT’?
IN-STINCT is a 20 minute duet, performed by female performers Colette Kite and Georgia Marshall. IN-STINCT draws on human instinctual behaviours, rituals, territory and the protection of space and community. COVID-19 has shown us the necessity of community and connection and IN-STINCT celebrates this. Using audience participation, driving musical influences and strong dynamic movement IN-STNCT is a powerful and bold duet, leaving the audience united together and moving as one.
What dance films have you made?
So during the COVID-19 Pandemic MANA created a dance film entitled LONG LIVE. This dance reflects the issues of oppression and inequality and the inspiring movement for change. Shot in an industrial landscape we challenge the impact of capitalism and the global struggle for people to make ‘ends meet’ in a world with such disparity of wealth.
As a company we want to create dance that inspires people to come together as a community to question inequality and advocate change. This has been programmed as part of South East Dance’s ‘2020 Visions’ and will be featured in their performance at the Spiegeltent. MANA are premiering their new film UPHOLD at the Spiegeltent. UPHOLD celebrates the dynamic life force between humans and nature: the power, strength and resilience that we each possess and share. The piece offers gratitude and hope, uniting us as a community.
And when and where can we see your Fringe show?
We are performing at the Spiegeltent on Tuesday the 22nd of June 9pm. We would love for as many people to come to celebrate dance, music and unite together.
Link to tickets HERE
If you are a dance or theatre company, a student or a charitable organisation, email us at info@copperdollarstudios.co.uk to hire our studios at a really affordable rate. If you’re performing at Fringe this year, be sure to hire our studios as your rehearsal space! Check out our availability and enquire for more information.
So keep in touch with us as we aim to help groups as much as we can in reaching their creative potential.
