Russell Maliphant Company

Russell Maliphant
Type of work
Contemporary dance

Company Policy
Maliphant's work is characterised by a unique approach to flow and energy and a concern with the relationship between movement, light and music. Drawing on his experience and practice of the disciplines of Capoeira, Tai Chi, Yoga and contact improvisation, his language is one of form and dynamics; elegant, articulate and resonant.

The company is committed to

- assimilating the diverse ability and understanding embodied by experienced individuals into work resulting in productions of technical excellence and high production values.

- providing a laboratory for movement and collaboration, which in the process of creating and performing work, extends the parameters of the participant's artistic development.

- offering a range of high quality work to promoters and audiences.

Review extracts
"Clarity of vision and incisive brilliance... charged and enigmatic work" The Independent

"Superbly executed optical illusions which allow us to feel that the dancers have transcended gravity and are momentarily occupying a world with no constraints" Dance Theatre Journal

"A choreographer of persistent accomplishment and a performer of enduring fascination....mesmerising" The Times

"Magical architecture and poetry for the stage" The Guardian

'Light, shadow and distance were used enchantingly to create new spaces and make the 'stage' all but disappear. Can you imagine a live fairytale hologram floating in a black void? Very special." Live Art Magazine

Production Highlights
One Part 2 (15 mins) 2002 - solo. A development of the piece One which was originally commissioned by Dance Umbrella in 1998 performed by Russell himself and set to music by J S Bach.

Two Times 3 (10 mins) 2003 - trio. An expanded version of his acclaimed and energetic solo Two - in which one female dancer is framed in a box of light typifying his fascination with the relationship between movement, lighting and music. This powerful piece now features three female dancers whose movements are an abstraction of the original in different perspectives.

Choice (30 mins) 2003 - quintet. Maliphant takes his exploration of fluidity, dynamics, tensions and counter tensions into new territory, with movement vocabulary exploring notions of weight, gravity and tensile force. The relationship of light and movement is used to further define the sculpture of space and the body.

Critical Mass (35mins) -A duet; a power struggle involving tango and manipulative play. This concentrated duel of ducking and diving moves becomes a study of competing wills in which the two dancers wear each other's bodies like scarves, effortlessly exchanging weight as they undergo their journey. This piece was made into a Channel 4 film in 1999.

Shift (15 mins) with music by Shirley Thompson - a romantic, elegiac solo danced by Russell Maliphant and disappearing shadows

Russell's work is realised through the ongoing collaboration between with lighting designer Michael Hulls which explores the relationship between movement and light.

In 2002, the Russell Maliphant Company received the Time Out Live Award for 'Outstanding Collaboration' for the work Sheer, and also the 'Peoples Choice Award' from the Festival De La Nouvelle Danse, in Montreal.

In 2003 Russell Maliphant received the South Bank Show Award for Dance and his piece Broken Fall, for Sylvie Guillem and George Piper Dances won an Olivier Award for best new dance production.

In Autumn 2005 Russell Maliphant created a new duet for himself and Sylvie Guillem, Push, which was performed at Sadlers Wells to sell-out audiences.

Coming Soon
Transmission
The company's new work created for an ensemble of 5 performers takes Maliphant's exploration of fluidity, dynamics and tensions into new territory marrying this with Hull's brilliant lighting. The soundscape by Mukul brings an evocative and sculptural audio element to serve as a subtle foil to the choreography. (35 mins)

Presented in a programme which includes a new male solo and Push; the duet originally created for Maliphant himself and Sylvie Guillem and here reworked and presented for Maliphant's own dancers.

Permanent staff
Artistic Director: Russell Maliphant
Lighting Director: Michael Hulls

Contact details
Phillip Burton - Producer & Manager
Russell Maliphant Company
Sadler's Wells
Rosebery Avenues
London EC1R 4TN
T: +44 (0) 20 7278 1295
M: +44 (0) 7594 359 094
E: phillipburton@me.com
W: www.rmcompany.co.uk

Picture: Liquid Reflex
Photograph: Hugo Glendinning

Education
Russell Maliphant Company's unique approach to flow and energy and the diverse techniques that inspire its work put it in a strong position to deliver a broad range of insightful and challenging workshops. In addition to masterclasses offered by Russell Maliphant himself, company members are well qualified to teach and they offer individual one-off workshops as well as longer residencies (a two-hour minimum to two weeks).

Workshops offered can incorporate an extensive range of disciplines from classical ballet, contact improvisation and yoga to capoeira, tai chi and the martial arts. Teaching may focus on one form, a combination of styles, or emphasise a particular theme, such as release technique or body contact. Classes are of course tailored to the particular needs of a group but, as an example, a typical day workshop might take the following format:

A 2-hour long warm-up based on a series of exercises that mixes several body work and movement techniques such as yoga, deep stretching, capoeira, martial arts, contemporary dance and improvisation
1.5 hours contact improvisation technique leading into a short jam
2 hours learning extracts of Russell Maliphant choreographies or composition of a new work based on the techniques explored.
30 minutes of stretching
Post workshop discussion