Since its inception the Gavin and the company have created a strong portfolio of work. Keen to push the boundaries of dance performance, Gavin has created work across different mediums to demonstrate his experience of a rich and diverse career.
‘Sustainable’
An adaptable and dynamic artistic undertaking, conducted through digital exploration, showcased in diverse settings both indoors and outdoors, spanning site- specific locations encompassing urban and rural landscapes.
Supported by Arts Council England during the Covid-19 pandemic, this initiative unfolded through live streaming from rural outdoor settings and digital installations in
towns across Calderdale and Bradford.
This eclectic presentation aimed to enable Rees Dance to evaluate the efficacy of live streaming across contrasting environments and explores the physical and
technical elements of digital work for presentation outside the traditional theatre environment. Through several online platforms, the project garnered newfound
interest and expanded audiences for the company and its artistic work.
‘Living shadows’
Living Shadows is an exploration on the reality of homelessness, addressing the universally relatable themes of displacement and disenfranchisement, suggesting that homelessness could affect anyone, regardless of their background.
The idea involved crafting a site-specific outdoor performance inspired by the environments where homeless individuals often found themselves, drawing in an audience of everyday people caught up in their daily routines. These performances served as a platform to showcase the project’s work to the public.
This outdoor performance concept aligned with the outreach strategies of the homeless organisations participating in the project. They aimed to explore innovative ways to raise public awareness about the broader issues of homelessness locally and nationally.
Audiences attending these performances engaged in a comprehensive experience, witnessing physically and intellectually stimulating work aimed at challenging
preconceived notions and sparking conversations about the subject matter.
Additionally, screenings of Living Shadows as projected moving images occurred in busy city centres and towns, aiming to raise public consciousness about
homelessness on a broader scale.
QUOTES
Unspoken
Gavin Rees, Artistic Director and Choreographer of Rees Dance Company, collaborated with Digital Artist, Wayne Sables, on an innovative light night project.
Their creation featured a live dance performance integrated with captivating light installations and immersive soundscapes, all exhibited within retail shop windows during Barnsley Bright Nights. This was generously supported by funding from Barnsley Council.
“A bold and powerful, thought provoking piece of dance theatre.”
Yorkshire Connections
A series of unique high quality artistic opportunities which culminate in a special celebration event of which includes a digitally interactive innovative experience created in partnership with Rees Dance and Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL). Creative opportunities and engagement to the most deprived communities and young people of Leeds through dance.
In 2017 Rees Dance was commissioned by Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL) to challenge and develop their youth groups, mentor undergraduate & postgraduate dancers and offer insight into choreographic processes. Supported by Arts Council England and Public Health England, the resulting work he work was showcased at numerous dance platforms throughout 2018.
Helium
Choreographed by Gavin Rees, this poignant dance theatre piece delves into the profound experience of isolation tied to mental health. Through compelling physical portrayals and a stirring score, the stage becomes a platform for the exploration of
this sensitive subject.
The creative process began with an exploration of contemporary dance styles but leaned heavily towards character development. The goal was to craft performances that were deeply honest, almost autobiographical in nature. Topics such as the
causes of mental health issues, gender, sexual orientation, the use of medication, and the connotations of the word ‘mental’ were central to the exploration. The aim was to bring these themes to life for audiences through a voyeuristic lens.
Supported by Yorkshire Dance, CAST Doncaster, Bradford Council, and Arts Council England funding, this exploration of mental health isolation received recognition. Rees Dance Company had the honour of performing ‘Helium’ at the Alhambra Theatre in 2017 as part of Dance Bradford Network’s Exchanges project.
Additionally, a short film adaptation of ‘Helium’ was selected for Curator Space for screening twice daily throughout April 2019 on the Leeds Big TV in Millennium Square.
