dv8-partitioner

Dv8:-physical theatre company

What is dv8?

Dv8 is a physical theatre company based in Artsadmin in London founded in 1986 by Lloyd Newson and his colleagues who were independent collective of modern dancers at the time. After the company was formed Lloyd became the director and choreographer of the company till today, and since it foundation dv8 managed to establish a reputable condition company.Dv8 since is opening managed to distance and establish a different from the others physical theatre companies both in UK and around the world, like for example while others companies, choreographers and director focus more one telling fiction stories,dv8 focus more on the events on every day that happens to people on their basic routine.

Dv8 is about taking risks, aesthetically and physically, about breaking down the barriers between dance and theatre and, above all, communicating ideas and feelings clearly and unpretentiously. They work hard to push human body and mind further and beyond of what our brain is capable to and our imagination would go which is fantastic because they push the body and mind beyond their limits and still suave with their movements, they embody and pose the entire question that we have about human race and beyond

The way dv8 approach the audience and also the meaning delivered to them is very different from many others company’s, as we can see and know Newson have a background experience in psychology which helps him study the mind and behaviour of the human being and also ask “why “to certain things, which in my opinion is good and very advantageous for him because not only will it help him understand and take measurement more quickly, easily and affectively, but also improve the dancers body language and movement accordingly working with them individually or in groups.

And one of the good examples of that is “strange fish” made in 1992

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcYt90OBlJw(link to a video of the strange fish for further explanation and understanding of dv8)

Strange fish explore our quest for someone or something to believe in and someone to love, and also the pain that people get and receive when they don’t fit in a society, and the fears that erupted of being alone are literally laid in a serious and powerful series of image and films. Strange Fish mixes humour, religious iconography and physicality, taking it beyond the boundaries of traditional dance.

Who is Lloyd Newson?

Lloyd newson was been the director and choreographer of dv8 since its foundation moment and he had and still have a big impact on the contemporary dance and theatre, the major of his films and stage work that he did with dv8 had won and nominated for many awards.

Wail in university Lloyd newson studied psychology and social work, and during his stay on the university he started gaining interest in dance and because of his fascination and hard work he was able to win a full scholarship to London contemporary dance school.

Lloyd’s biggest influence on his fascination about dance is Lasica, whom he wanted to dance with so he move from his major of psychology and social work in the Monash University to Melbourne University, to dance with Margaret Lasica modern dance ensemble, Lasica’s influence was the central point to the development of Newson's dance career, particularly as he had no early formal dance training, During his involvement with the Modern Dance Ensemble he performed in works by the Ensemble's dancer/choreographers as well as choreographing and structuring' a number of works, including Impasse (1977), Not-Me (1978), and Marmus (1979).

When he graduated from psychology and social work in 1978 newson decided to pursued a career in dance, and during his time working in the different companies 

as an actor/dancer he went in tours with them around the world and also he also choreographed many different shows, the last company that he worked with was Extemporary dance theatre, During his time with Extemporary Dance he worked with a wide range of choreographers, including Karole Armitage, Michael Clark, David Gordon, Daniel Larrieu and Dan Wagoner, and choreographed a number of works including Breaking Through (1983) and Beauty, Art and the Kitchen Sink (1984).

In 1985 Newson left Extemporary Dance Theatre to pursue his own choreographic interests more fully and approached dancer, Michelle Richecoeur, to work on Bein’ Apart; Lonely Art, a commission from Dance Umbrella (UK). The following year Newson invited Nigel Charnock to work with him on My Sex; Our Dance (1986). That year DV8 Physical Theatre was officially formed. In 1987 Wendy Houstoun came to a DV8 workshop and began performing with the company shortly thereafter. Both Nigel and Wendy were principal performers with the company until 1992 when they left to pursue their own choreographic/directing voices. Since then, Wendy Houstoun has guested with the company in Bound to Please (1997), Living Costs (Tate Modern - 2003) and been involved in an editorial capacity for To Be Straight with You (2008).

 This picture is from a stage play called Death, drugs and survival by dv8, as we can see the physicality of this actor/dancer is extremely different from the normal position of any other physical theatre company

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/oct/29/death-drugs-and-survival-dv8-physical-theatre-tells-the-story-of-john (this link is going to take you to a website where you will be able to get more information about the play and also the video)

 

http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/780059?c=people