Tandem Ballet is an outdoor dance performance by blind and partially sighted participants on, off and around tandems.
Subject to funding, there will be an R&D project in Wandsworth, in spring 2012.
The R&D will explore a range of ideas around the participants’ experiences of tandems/bicycles and cycling, for example, freedom, independence, fear and trust. The research process will be devised using contemporary dance and post modern dance techniques as a starting point, from which to evolve a unique form, of movement vocabulary and theatrical imagery, for participants and tandems.
The R&D also hopes to explore the potential for developing an innovative and intriguing soundscape. Current thoughts include interviews and directional sound, woven together in a main soundtrack; small iPod sound systems on two or more bikes to move sound around the space; woven together with a lyrical live audio description for the entire audience.
Amongst the outcomes, we are looking to create a model of best practise for working with this group, and to emerge with ideas for further developing the movement and soundscape.
We hope to be able to incorporate elements of the R&D into a routine as part of the Bicycle Ballet Mass Show, which will tour in 2012.
Tandem Ballet will be choreographed by Virginia Farman and is a collaboration with Karen Poley. The soundscape will be created by Oliver Aylmer. Project partners include the Thomas Pocklington Resource Centre, Roehampton University, Wandsworth Council, Linden Lodge School, Merton Sport and Social Club.
