Performances
PERFORMANCES
iNKT
This brand new work has been directed by Combination Dance Artistic Director Anne-Marie Smalldon & created by established Choreographers Chloe Mead and Matt Walker from Ombrascura Dance supported by Creative Producer Kath Morton-Smith. Film and photography is by Luke Toddfrey and our leading technology partner is Carbon IT.
Huge thanks to all the partners and artists involved.
Professional Dancers:
Synaet Nin, Leigh Shaked, Matt Biancheri, Tilly Woodford, Owen McHugh, Angus Philips-Higham, Amy Cook, Kerri De Aguiar & Luca Cattogio
The cast includes Combination Dance & Ombrascura professional dancers and students & graduates from Rambert School.
Please watch our festival highlights or the full dance below or watch our lab tour to learn about the science inspiring the work.
Highlights of The Festival:
Watch the full Professional Dance:
Lab Tour:
iNKT cells are part of the human immune system and can potentially destroy cancer cells. This piece is inspired by the incredible research happening at The Hugh & Josseline Langmuir Centre for Myeloma Research. A team of scientists lead by Professor Tassos Karadimitris are genetically engineering CAR-iNKT cells from donors with exciting results. The dance includes moving patients voice over, dancers behaving as iNKT cells battling myeloma cancer cells & then what happens when the CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) is added & cancer cells are destroyed. The dance ends with a moving poem created for the project by an inspirational patient. Meet Douglas here.
THE FINALE – GET INVOLVED!
The Together & Change Flash Dance was our fun finale, an open, inclusive and welcoming dance event with eye catching choreography and vibrant costumes performed across the capital in summer 2023 at 5 venues. The project involved participants from the local community who live or work locally and leading UK dancers.
The choreography highlighted these themes – Inclusivity, Togetherness and Kindness. The dance celebrated the vitality and energy of London. Together we are stronger so let’s dance! You can still learn the dance at home here! To take part in regular classes email us on [email protected]
Here is a film of the fun flashmob being performed at the end of the tour (video below) in the heart of Twickenham with diverse local groups & even local businesses!
The SMART-CELLS also toured to the inaugural Richmond Arts & Ideas Festival on July 2 2023 please watch the highlights video here:
We are proud to launch this performance in support of Imperial College at the Hugh and Jocelyn Langmuir Centre for Myeloma Research. This dance project is supported by Imperial College London, The Great Exhibition Road Festival, Arts Council England, and The City of London and Twickenham Business Improvement Districts and The National Physical Laboratory as a key venue partner.
The lead choreographers have been working with some incredible youth groups & schools. Together with the young people they devised the following new dance works performed on June 17 and June 18 2023
My Myeloma
This collaborative piece of work was created by choreographer Chloe Mead alongside some fantastic youth dancers from St. Angela’s Ursuline School. “Our bones are the factories of our bodies. Billions of cells, carrying, growing, protecting and fighting. But what happens when our cells aren’t able to fight? How will this devastating change impact the body an change a persons life forever?”
Stronger Than Ever
This collaborative piece of work was created by the Ombrascura Dance Company team and lead by Luca Cattogio and Connor Barros alongside some fantastic youth dancers from Westminster City Lions youth group.
This piece explores the concept of looking not just inward at yourself but also feeding off the support network around you when faced with adversities. Who do you turn to? Are you better alone or with people? Will you overcome and be stronger then ever?
Blood Line
This collaborative piece of work was created by choreographer Chloe Mead alongside some fantastic youth dancers from Richmond Park Academy “Our bones are filled with cells, some red, some white. Each with their own purpose and strength they work together to keep us alive”