Productions
Current and ongoing projects
October 2006 – ongoing
Movement Expert for CLUB CLASS, a performance intervention by FrenchMottershead for Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and the ICA http://www.frenchmottershead.com/?m=2&sm=0&p=current/clubclass/clubclass.html
December 2006 – February 2008
A research and performance project in collaboration with the Duncan Foundation, Athens, commissioned by the British Council, Greece. Vahla will collaborate with Film-maker, Kyriakos Katzourakis and work with migrants and displaced people on the theme of otherness. To be performed in Athens as a site-specific work.
February 2007 – Spring Tour
Movement for Graeae’s WHITER THAN SNOW by Mike Kenny, directed by Jenny Sealey, produced with Birmingham Rep www.graeae.org
March/April 2007
RETROVERTIGO
A collaborative dance theatre project with Pete Brooks and MA Scenography students from Central St Martin’s College of Art & Design. Created and performed at the Municipal Theatre Juan Barnabe-Lebriha, Seville, Spain.
May/June 2007
SPACES BETWEEN
Artistic Director for a site-specific work to celebrate the re-opening of the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/dance-performance/productions/spaces-between-16679
September 2007
Hellenic Dance Company commission, Athens as part of Europalia, Bozart, Brussels http://www.sdsc.gr/thedancecompany-en.html
Past productions
Selected choreographic work
July 2006
11.000 NIGHTS
A solo for the Small Dance Festival for Greenwich Dance Agency www.greenwichdance.org.uk
June 2006
POLYPTICHO
A commission for the Hellenic Dance Company, performed at the Athens Music Hall, Greece http://www.sdsc.gr/thedancecompany-en.html
May 2006
SLEEP OF REASON
A commission by London Metropolitan University performed with students at Jackson’s Lane, London in collaboration with Butoh artist Marie Gabrielle Rotie www.rotieproductions.com
April 2006
DE BANK
A collaborative process and performance with multidisciplinary artist Ben Benaouisse on the theme of catastrophe at VICTORIA, Gent, Belgium http://www.victoria.be
November/December 2005
BY YOUR LEAVE
Commission by Transitions Dance Company for Laban and international tour http://www.laban.org/laban/transitions_dance_company
“I was stunned by the vigour and rough violence of Vahla’s take on the Spanish bull-ring. Tall figures sharpening knives made a memorable image to open a series of sinister interactions which ‘render human desire futile’. The music by Vivaldi, Cave and one of Schubert’s most moving songs contributed to a satisfying whole.”
Musical Pointers
August/September 2005
IN PRAISE OF FOLLY
Commission by Candoco Dance Company for the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre and international tour http://www.candoco.co.uk/productions.php?tm=15&sm=12
“a deep and disturbing piece of dance theatre with atmospheric sound effects by Wajid Yaseen….. the dance is lyrical and fluid in movement with some stunning visual images” The Stage
“A wild ride” The Guardian
“a series of solos and duets in which man’s folly and ultimate suffering are portrayed as to beautiful and often heartbreaking effect. Most memorably the spotlight singles out a dancer, blindfolded, struggling and falling, in a metal tunnel – one of the most poetic representations of human suffering I have ever seen on stage”
MusicOHM.com
November/December 2004
WRESTLING AN ANGEL
A two-part, site-specific work for the Old Operating Theatre at St Thomas’s Hospital, Borough and a vast disused abattoir in Clerkenwell. Funded by Arts Council England http://www.pressdispensary.co.uk/releases/c99303.html
November 2004
SACRED GEOMETRIES
A LABAN commission, performed as a site-specific work at St Paul’s Church, Deptford
April 2004
MEMENTO MORI MEMENTO AMORI
Commission by Candoco Dance Company to create a work at Greenwich Borough Hall www.candoco.co.uk
November 2003
THE CRITERIA OF DEATH OFTEN INCLUDE EXTREME CAPRICIOUSNESS
A LABAN commission for the Bonnie Bird Theatre www.laban.org.uk
September 2003
THE WINDOWS WERE WALLED
Promenade performance for London Open House commissioned by Greenwich Dance Agency and performed at Greenwich Borough Hall http://www.greenwichdance.org.uk
September 2002
HOUSE OF KURTZ
Made for the Master Shipwright’s House, Deptford and inspired by Joseph Conrad’s novella HEART OF DARKNESS. Funded by Arts Council England http://onesquareyard.com/localExamples/houseOfKurtz/
August 2001
DINER
An interactive performance exploring live streaming in telematics as part of Cellbytes 2001 commissioned by RESCEN & Shinkansen at Midlessex University http://www.connectivity.org.uk/cellbytes.html
2000-2001
F-STOP
Promenade performance based on the short plays of Samuel Beckett and performed at Greenwich Dance Agency and Battersea Arts Centre
1999
HEART MUST PAUSE TO BREATHE
A ZONE3 commission for Jackson’s Lane, London http://www.jacksonslane.org.uk
1998
INFERNO 1, 32
Jackson’s Lane, London and Tower Theatre, Brighton
1997
FISSURE
Performed at The Albany, Turtle Key Arts and Jackson’s Lane, London
1996
LIQUID SPLINTERS
Performed at The Place as part of Evolution. Funded by London Arts http://www.theplace.org.uk
“Theatrical in performance, filmic in structure and intimate in atmosphere”
Time Out
1995
WINELUNGS
Commissioned by Storm for Lilian Bayliss Theatre
1994
LABYRINTH
Performed at The Place as part of Resolution http://www.theplace.org.uk
“A dream’s fuzzy surreality and yet a singular clarity of intent”
Sunday Telegraph