Program
The performance A Body of Rumours lays bare the intimate bond between three Black male dancers by finally bringing them together on stage. With fluid dance and live soundscapes, they celebrate the multiplicity within the African diasporas. This sensitive dance performance is a tribute to collective strength and brilliance.
Drawing on his experiences with professional dance companies, choreographer Liam Francis shows how Black dancers were often pitted against each other, as if there was only room for one star. The piece moves from isolation and rivalry to trust, intimacy and friendship, via invitation, resistance, acceptance and joy. The playful choreography contains subtle references to hip hop, ballet and contemporary dance.
The backbone of A Body of Rumours is the live soundscape by Chloé Mason. Built from the sounds of the dancing bodies, it makes audible how a community takes shape. Slowly, the performance unfolds into a personal reckoning and a collective awakening: the reclaiming of joy and connection.
