Diversions the Dance Company of Wales

Diversions is the National Dance Company of Wales and was established in 1983 by Roy Campbell-Moore and Ann Sholem. It is funded by the Arts Council of Wales.

Diversions is a resident company at the Wales Millennium Centre and is a contemporary dance company which performs work from established international choreographers and tours throughout the UK and abroad. Programmes of dance are presented within the format of double and triple bills.

The Dance House

The Dance House is Diversions’ part of the Wales Millennium Centre and includes a 100-seat theatre known as the Blue Room which is a creative laboratory for dance artists. Led by Diversions’ Director, Roy Campbell-Moore, the Dance House presents work from both local and European companies. The Dance House also co-produces and supports the work of selected independent dance artists.

The company

The directors

Roy Campbell-Moore (Director): Scottish born, but educated in Australia, Roy danced with Scottish Ballet from 1975 until 1981. In 1983, he and Artistic Director, Ann Sholem, founded Diversions, the Dance Company of Wales in partnership with the Arts Council of Wales. His recent choreographic work mixes improvisation techniques with more ‘classical’ forms of contemporary dance, producing fresh and lively work from every performance.

Ann Sholem (Artistic Director): Born in London, Ann started ballet lessons aged five and completed training in 1975 at the Rambert School of Ballet. Her performing career included Stadtische Buhne Hagen in Germany, Scottish Ballet and Northern Ballet Theatre. In 1983, with Roy Campbell-Moore, she founded Diversions, both performing and choreographing before retiring from the stage in 1990. Ann was appointed as Artistic Director of Diversions in August 2004.

The dancers

Wayne Parsons: trained at London Contemporary Dance School and was a member of the National Youth Dance Company. Wayne was apprenticed to Richard Alston Dance Company, before joining Diversions in November 2003.

Karol Cysewski: Born in Poland, Karol trained at Laban, graduating in 1998. He has performed with Poznan Opera House, Polish Dance Theatre, Transitions and Carte Blanche. He joined Diversions in August 2005.

Lee Johnston: from Sydney, Australia. She graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2003. Before joining Diversions in March 2004, Lee was a member of Australian LINK Dance Company, performing works by Phillip adams and Chrissie Parrott.

Chris Tandy: from Wales and joined Diversions in June 2004. He as also worked with the MArk Bruce Company and Boc & Vincenzi. This year he was awarded a training grant from The Arts Council of Wales to develop his career.

Eleesha Drennan: from Nova Scotia and trained at The Northern School of Contemporary Dance. She performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before joining Diversions as an apprentice in 2004. In June 2005 Eleesha became a full company member.

Jennifer White: born in London and trained at the Rambert School. She has worked with Ana Lujan Sanchez and has performed in the Linbury Studio at the Royal Opera House. Jenny joined Diversions as an apprentice in March 2005, becoming a full company member in May 2006.

Sarita Piotrowski: born in Leeds, Sarita trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. A dancer with the Henri Oguike Dance Company for 4 years, Sarita joined Diversions in August 06.

Stephanos Bizas: studied at The Place in London and performed for companies in both the UK and his native Greece, joining Diversions as an apprentice in August 06 and becoming a professional member of the company in May 07.

Maria Haday (Apprentice): from London and studied at Arts Educational Schools before studying dance at London Contemporary Dance School. There she worked with choreographers including Hofesh Schecter, Akram Khan and Jan de Schynkel before joining Diversions as an apprentice in August 07.

Sara Accettura (Apprentice): from Bari, Italy where she studied dance from age 5 at Artedanza Rossana before coming to the UK to study at London Contemporary Dance School. There she performed works by Jan de Schynkel, Ben Ash and Hofesh Schecter before joining Diversions as an apprentice in August 07.

Repetoire

The company's repertoire in the last 15 years is:

*"Struck by Lightning" 2006 Choreographer: Juan Carlos Garcia
*"Chase the Glowing Hours with Flying Feet" 2005 Choreographer: Helene Blackburn (Quebec)
*"Practice Paradise" 2005 choreographer: Stijn Celis (Belgium)
*"Between" 2004 choreographer: Roy Campbell-Moore (Wales)
*"Psycho-Delia" 2004 choreographer: Sean Tuan John (Wales)
*"Monolith" 2003 choreographer: Toni Mira (Spain)
*"Tough Love" 2003 choreographer: Roy Campbell-Moore (Wales)
*"Unspoken Agreement" 2002 choreographer: Shigehiro Ide (Japan)
*"Five Beginnings" 2002 choreographer: Tommi Kitti (Finland)
*"Svadebka" 2001 choreographer: Nikolai Ogryshkov (Russia)
*"Etch" 2001 choreographer: Roy Campbell-Moore (Wales)
*"Clearing" 2001 choreographer: Zvi Gotheiner (Israel/USA)
*"The Collector of Moments" 2000 choreographer: Toni Mira (Spain)
*"Constellation "2000 choreographer: Roy Campbell-Moore (Wales)
*"Motets and Sawing" 1999 choreographer: Orjan Anderson (Sweden)
*"Metropolis" 1999 choreographer: Roy Campbell-Moore (Wales)
*"Nowhere But Here" 1998 choreographer: Bill T. Jones (US)
*"Lumen" 1998 choreographer: Toni Mira (Spain)
*"From the Desert through the Forest" 1997 choreographer: Matjaz Faric (Slovenia)
*"How Does it Feel" 1997 choreographer: Roy Campbell-Moore (Wales)
*"Maxen's Dream "1996 choreographer: Beppie Blanker (Holland)
*"Strangers in the Night" 1996 choreographer: Toni Mira (Spain)
*"Tableaux" 1995 choreographer: Roy Campbell-Moore (Wales)
*"Remembrance" 1995 choreographer: Toni Mira (Spain)
*"SVSPLKT" 1994 choreographer: Daniel Ezralow (USA)
*"Dig" 1994 choreographer: Terry Beck (USA)
*"Straight Jacket" 1993 choreographer: Roy Campbell-Moore (Wales)
*"Exhibo" 1993 choreographer: Kenneth Kvarnstrom (Finland)
*"Collecting Gravity" 1993 choreographer: Terry Beck (USA
*"Vernacular Rhythms" 1992 choreographer: Jerry Pearson (USA)
*"Spirit Catchers" 1992 choreographer: Roy Campbell-Moore (Wales)
*"History of Collage Revisited" 1991 choreographer: Bill T Jones (USA)
*"Never Enough" 1991 choreographer: Dan Shapiro & Joanie Smith (USA)
*"Atalantique" 1991 choreographer: Robert Kovich (USA)

External links

* [http://www.diversionsdance.co.uk/ Diversions the Dance Company of Wales]