Something About Others

Nottingham Youth Dance (NYD) and the New English Contemporary Ballet (NECB) have been building up quite a reputation since their inception a few years ago. Being compared to the Nederlands Dans Theater 2 in terms of choreography and standard of performance is no mean feat; it certainly singles them both out as companies to watch. This year they’ll be performing Something About Others: a work consisting of three short pieces with choreography by Richard Wherlock and Jamie Thomson.

Thomson’s previous work, such as .com Together, No Plot, and Ctrl-Alt-Delete, mark him out as a contemporary choreographer; the dance titles alone clearly position the work within today’s technologically driven society. The music is strong and rhythmical, while physicals gestures are contemporary too, making it very accessible to modern audiences. This is an important element for Thomson. “I've always sought to break the boundaries of classical dance, probably due to a very strict classical training” he says. “I aim to create work which is challenging and stimulating for the dancers, audience and myself, and in that vein, try to make work that hopefully appeals to younger people.”

As a result, his choreography is influenced by both formal and informal dance forms. “I spent a lot of my youth in the London club scene and know how freeing those places felt when I danced in them. The constraints of classical ballet were gone; I could just really dance for the first time. Although aided by that strict technique training that I'd been afforded, I could mould it and meld it into a technique which transcended the usual lines. And so now, by using some of that knowledge of movement alongside the classical and contemporary forms I learnt in my training, I can hopefully bring something new to the roots of my technique and make it relevant for younger people.”

This year he’s been busy. Something About Others was originally choreographed as part of Fright Night, Nottingham Youth Orchestra’s show at the Royal Concert Hall earlier in the year. He describes the piece, danced to the Witches Sabbath from Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, as very bizarre. “The piece has an element of brooding menace to it as these two very opposite groups from different worlds come together. The girls represent spiritual beings and the boys something much darker and more sinister – imagine graveyards after dark, gargoyles, ghosts and others not of this world.”

One of the challenges for Thomson with this year’s show will be creating one piece in a short space of time. With the festival to start at the end of the week, the dance was still yet to be choreographed so it’s a good thing that his creative process fits in with tight schedules. “As a choreographer I've always worked quite quickly with my dancers, and as resident choreographer for NECB it means that I know the dancers and their capabilities very well and so I can plan ahead and know who would be best for each role.” He adds, “it does mean that the dancers need to keep up with me and doesn't allow too much room for creative work-shopping with them. However, I've been very lucky with the dancers I've worked with so far and all of us have thrived on having short time scales to work within.”

Emily Pottage, one of NYD’s dancers, will be performing in both pieces that Thomson has choreographed and she clearly revels in this shared creative process. “The most exciting thing” she says “about working with the choreographer as they create the dance is finding out the story behind the piece and watching them create movement to match and tell the story. Another really exciting thing about it is getting a piece choreographed on you as an individual and adapting the piece to fit your own body and the way you move.”

Thomson believes the audience plays a major part when choreographing new works. “The main thing I always keep in mind when I'm creating is that my work is there to entertain. A lot of contemporary work, I feel, can often be too driven by its concept and ends up alienating most of the audience. So I like to make work that really stimulates the audience on a broad scale. My concept is always there for people to try and understand but for those who just want to be entertained; it's just as enjoyable an experience.”