Introduction
In 1986 DV8 Physical Theatre was formed, and since the beginning it has been led by Lloyd Newson. 16 highly acclaimed pieces have been produced by the company, they have all toured internationally, and have won four award-winning films for television. DV8 has received project support from The British Council, but that’s not all it receives, DV8 also receives regular funding from Arts Council England and is known to be an Artsadmin associate company.Lloyd Newson
- Since 1986, the director of DV8 Physical Theatre, Lloyd Newson, has had a dynamic impact on theatre and contemporary dance.
- Lloyd was born in Australia and went to Melbourne University and studied psychology, whilst doing this Newson’s interest in dance arose.
- He has consistently received major awards in his DV8 stage and film work.
- His interest in dance grew rapidly and this led him to a full scholarship at London Contemporary Dance School.
- Before starting his own company, Lloyd choreographed and danced for many companies such as, Extemporary Dance Theatre, Impulse Dance Theatre/New Zealand Ballet Company, Modern Dance Ensemble and One Extra Dance Theatre.
- Because of its narrative underpinnings, Newson believed that his work would translate well onto film.
- Filmmakers Clara von Gool and David Hinton translated three of DV8’s stage works into film with Newson directing DV8’S last film, The Cost of Living, himself.
- Rather than performing existing plays or reinterpreting classical ballets, Newson decided that he was interested in conceiving original work.
Who inspired Lloyd Newson?
Martha Graham was one of the few people that inspired Lloyd.
Martha Graham was born in 1894 and died 1991. She was an American dance choreographer and was recognised as one of the foremost pioneers of modern dance. For seventy years Martha choreographed and danced, and during those years she was the first dancer ever to perform at The White House.
Martha also has her own company called The Martha Graham Dance Company, it was founded by Martha in 1926. It is the oldest and most celebrated modern dance company in the world. It is in the city of New York and is on tour, which is featuring an international list of today’s most talented dance artists. There is the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, its arts education programs involve New York area students in exploring Martha Graham’s genius and her creation of art form – American modern dance.
Isadora Duncan
Isadora Duncan was also an inspiration to Lloyd Newson.
Isadora was born in 1877 and died at the age of 50 in a terrifying car accident in 1927.
In 1909, Duncan moved to two large apartments and lived on the ground floor and used the first floor for her dance school. Duncan became very famous and gradually inspired authors and artists to create sculptures, jewellery, poetry, photographs, prints and paintings of her.
Duncan performed at Rio de Janeiro’s Theatro Municipal in Brazil in August of 1916 and writer and journalist Paulo Barreto, known as Joao do Rio, claimed to have seen Isadora dance ‘naked’ in the forest of Tijuca, in front of Rio’s most famous waterfall.
Throughout her career Duncan did not like the commercial aspects of public performance, she just wanted to concentrate on the creation of beauty and the education of the young.
Merce Cunningham
"You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive. It is not for unsteady souls."
Merce Cunningham
That quote is an inspiration to most dancers who have heard of and/or researched Merce as it is aimed at dancers who aspire to be successful in the dance industry.
Merce Cunningham was born 1919 and died 2009, he was a leader of the American advance guard throughout his seventy-year career and is considered one of the most important choreographers of our time. Not only did Merce expand the frontiers of dance, he also expanded the frontiers of contemporary visual and performing arts.
Cunningham began his professional modern dance career at 20 with a six-year tenure as a soloist in the Martha Graham Dance Company. He received his first formal dance and theatre training at the Cornish School in Seattle.
In 1944 he presented his first solo show and in 1953 formed the Merce Cunningham Dance Company.
DV8 and their performances and history
Newson’s personal interests in political, psychological and social issues are linked to DV8’s work. He uses contemporary dance ideas and then transforms them into conceptual and/or narratively driven work.
In 1986 Wendy Houstoun came to a DV8 workshop and began performing with the company shortly thereafter. Since Wendy left DV8 which was in 1992, she then guested with the company in Bound to Please, Living Costs and has been involved in editorial capacity for To Be Straight With You.
Newson says that ‘DV8 work is about subject matter. Dance isn’t about anything. DV8 is about something. Lloyd’s concern is to try and present images through movement and to talk about the whole range or social and psychological situations. The cost of living is very much about those people who don't fulfil the market value — in the sense of playing on the words 'the cost of living' in terms of the financial issue — and looking at what happens through experience as you live.’
Conclusion
I think that DV8 is incredibly unique and interesting in many ways. I have drawn to that conclusion because from what I’ve researched, ie, looking at images, reading text and watching videos, the stories that each piece of dance shows is very clever, clear and I have learnt about the importance of connecting with emotions and using life situations in pieces of dance.
I am going to expand on this piece of work because I believe I could add more. I am going to add how Merce Cunningham, Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham inspired Lloyd.
