News
Photo©MichaelYoung
Photo by Jack Thompson
New Commission with Tom Dale Dance Company
Autumn 2019
Tom Dale Dance Company has commissioned Eleesha to create a new solo for the company. The show will be part of a full evening called Step Sonic, with a national tour in autumn 2019. Tour dates and more information to come. Check out Tom Dale Dance Co below.
Photo by Nicole Guarino
Infinite Glimpse
January 2019
Delighted to announce that we have received funding form Arts Council England for the creation and preview of Infinite Glimpse with a new score by Adelphoi music. Watch this space for more information coming soon. We are looking forward to getting into rehearsals in January and very thankful to Studio Wayne McGregor & DanceEast for their support.
Unique Feet at RAREfest 2018
November 30 & December 1
Unique Feet are a dance group of children, each with a rare disease and part of Cambridge Rare Disease Network. Commissioned by Studio Wayne McGregor performed at Guildhall in Cambridge as part of RAREfest 2018
Eleesha worked with the group to present an unforgettable performance and experience for everyone involved. The piece is called Skylark.
The Great Masked Ball
July 13 - August 11 2018
The Great Masked Ball is London’s immersive Swan Lake experience. It fuses dance, theatre, feasting, fantasy and a live orchestra into one enthralling whole.
Eleesha is diving headlong into this ballet classic to bring life to this Lost Estate production. As always working with some of the best dancers around, the evening promises to be one of a kind. Find out more and book tickets below. Space is limited.
Choreographing Vanara the Musical
Following a successful first workshop last July 2017 in London, Eleesha is currently developing new choreography for Vanara the Musical. This exciting large scale production with a cast of 22 performers is produced by Giovanna Romagnoli. Music is by Gianluca Cucchiara. For more information and to follow our progress click the link to Vanara the Musical facebook page, with videos, sneak peaks, behind the scenes and more to get inspired!
Conceived by Tony Cucchiara. Produced by Giovanna Romagnoli. Music by Gianluca Cucchiara. Lyrics by Andrew James Whelan. Choreography by Eleesha Drennan.
Photo by Alicia Clarke
Eleesha has been Shortlisted for the Arts Foundation Fellowship Anniversary Award 2018
12 October 2017
The Foundation exists to help individual artists who've shown comminment to and reached some standing in their artform. At this critical stage, a period of relative security in order to explore new avenues or consolidate existing work is often crucial.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the award, previous winners were asked to nominate an artist from any discipline to the longlist. Eleesha was nominated by former Fellow, Wayne McGregor and the shortlist was announced on October 12th.
Photo by Katherine Waters
before sleep at the end of love (description of a lullaby) an opera by Sarah Hardie at the V&A
10 November 2017
Performance begins 5.30pm, Friday 10 November 2017The Sackler Courtyard, Exhibition Road Entrance, Victoria & Albert Museum, LondonFree entry, non-ticketed
before sleep at the end of love (description of a lullaby) was originally commissioned by T.P.S.and Bold Tendencies and written for and premiered at Bold Tendencies in 2016. Hardie worked with composer Jack Sheen, choreographer Eleesha Drennan, actor Angela Hardie and choir MUSARC to realise this work, and will restage it again with their collaboration.
before sleep at the end of love (description of a lullaby) has been selected by the V & A to launch the Opera Weekender as an example of cutting-edge opera practice, which challenges the traditional form of the genre and disciplinary boundaries, existing simply as a total work.Hear a trailer for before sleep at the end of love (description of a lullaby) here
Photo by Joe Fox
Pause and Effect is Back On Tour
October 2017
Pause and Effect is currently touring around Northern Ireland. Maiden Voyage is taking to the road afresh and revived with a brilliant addition to the original cast.
Performances at:
The MAC, Belfast-6 & 7th October
SOLD OUT
themaclive.com
028 9023 5053
The Island Arts Centre, Lisburn-11th October
A FEW SEATS REMAINING!
https://www.islandartscentre.com
028 9250 9254
The Market Place, Armagh-17 October
The Theatre at The Mill, Newtownabbey-19th October
028 9034 0202
Photo by Joe Fox
Pause & Effect on BBC Radio Ulster
3 October 2017
Check out an interview with Eleesha and the Maiden Voyage cast on BBC Radio Ulster and skipping ahead to the 10:10 minute mark.
Collabotators Announced for Infinite Glimpse
29/06/2017
I am delighted to announce a new work in progress, Infinite Glimpse. Research and development starts today in Studio Wayne McGregor's impressive new space at Here East.
This new dance production employs original music, movement, design and technology to create a physical study about time and the phenomenon of time perception.
The project brings together a unique collaboration with an award winning artistic team: Adelphoi Music, Studio PSK and four exceptional dance artists from Eleesha Drennan Dance. Anouncing the incredible team of dancers from left to right: Mathieu Geffre photo by Rhyz Cozens, Natalie Corne, Lucy Starkey, Kenny Wing Tao Ho (photo by Rich Rusk)
Eleesha Drennan Dance would like to thank the many people and organisations who have supported the development of this work so far. Eleesha is supported by Studio Wayne McGregor through the FreeSpace programme. R&D for Infinite Glimpse is funded by Arts Council England and Sky Arts.
KSF Shortlist Announced
16/06/2017
We are pleased to announce Eleesha's latest project has been shortlisted for the Kevin Spacey Foundation (KSF) Awards, in the category of dance. With momentum building for Infinite Glimpse, there will be more updates to come. Watch this space. To read more about KSF follow the link below.
Opera in a Car Park
27/09/2016
Eleesha is choreographing movement for a one off event in a car park. It’s that one in Peckham where no one can park because there’s art going on. It’s going to be great. It’s called, Before Sleep At the End of Love (Description of a Lullaby) and it’s by, Sarah Hardie, who will be performing with her twin sister, Angela and MUSARC Libretto. The music is composed by Jack Sheen.
Follow the link to book tickets.
A Polyphonic Playground
July 2016
Eleesha was commissioned by Studio Wayne McGregor to choreograph on London College of Fashion’s installation, The Polyphonic Playground. From this came a subtle duet called, Thigmo.
Think, Tom Hanks in that scene in Big but swap the giant keyboard with a jungle gym and swap Tom Hanks with a couple of incredible dancers and you get the idea behind the Polyphonic Playground.
The internal child gets a chance to indulge in this giddy feast for the senses and yet there is so much more than graceful bodies and clever technology at work. The door has been opened on a stunning collaboration with endless possibilities. Studio PSK and Eleesha teamed up with great dancers to explore an entirely new realm of this elegant design. With such a simple idea done well, the future looks promising.
The Polyphonic Playground was originally designed by Studio PSK, commissioned by Fashion Space Gallery and London College of Fashion. This has been the first time dance/choreography has been brought into the fold but probably not the last.
Photo by Jo Grabowski
Whiskers at Alternative Routes
June 2016
Eleesha’s award winning solo, Whiskers, was performed by the virtuosic firecracker, Camille Giraudeau, at Cardiff’s annual dance festival, Alternative Routes. Camille did herself and the work proud, plunging guts first into the viscerally charged material. Big thanks and a tipped hat to all involved in the production.
Photo by Joe Fox
Pause and Effect at Belfast Children's Festival
March 2016
Eleesha, in collaboration with Maiden Voyage, created a special piece for the 2016 Belfast Children’s Festival. Never one to talk down to an audience the piece entitled, Pause and Effect, captivated toddlers and and adults equally with stunning visuals hinting at a deeper meaning lurking just beneath the surface.
Longtime collaborator, Joe Fletcher, revealed yet another layer of his artistic brilliance in the lighting design and Northern Irish musicians Willie Drennan and Davey Angus performed live for the event.
Photo by Joe Fox
Maiden Voyage Dance premier Tipping Point in Belfast
September 2015
"Tipping Point amazes on its own terms: an energetic, emotional and eclectic work of art for all ages." - Simon Fallaha, The Thin Air review. A new commission for Maiden Voyage Dance as part of their Dance Exposed programme for public spaces. Original music by Colin Reid.
Photo by Camilla Greenwell
Fertile Ground performs Eleesha's latest creation: Shields Of Bone
February/March 2015
Sheilds of Bone had it's debut performance last night to much success and will go on tour for a few more dates around the north of England.
Eleesha thanks, Kate Collins for her her brilliant costume design and Dora Frankel, artistic director of Fertile Ground who called called it "galvanising"
Sheild of Bone
4 women looking for the source of their own power and weakness. The dependency they feel, the support they can be. In the quiet moments alone what is our flux of strength and weakness? Looking at the skeletal system as a map of our solid, strong structure and the flesh as a map of our soft tender being that senses and shields the strength of our bones.
Click the button below to open the Fertile Ground website.
Photo©ChantalGuevara
Recent Creation for Fertile Ground
January 2015
Fertile Ground, the postgrad company based out of Newcastle recently commissioned Eleesha to make a piece. The work, entitled, Shields of Bone and explores a relationship between fragility and strength. To find out about dates and book tickets click the button below.
PHOTO©NICOLEGUARINOPHOTOGRAPHY
December 2014
A welcome 4 stars from Buzzmag who were in attendance as Channel Rose was unveiled to the public.
Photo©TessHowell
Exciting Times Ahead as Collaborators for Channel Rose Come Aboard
JULY 2014
The Channel Rose creative team is built and now for the fun part. The Sky Academy Arts Scholarship told applicants to "think big". The calibre of talent involved in this project is a great stride in direction of that goal. Tessa Howell, former producer and manager for Jasmin Vardimon Company and Vincent Dance Theatre has now taken on the role of creative producer for Eleesha Drennan Dance. She will bring her wealth of experience to the table giving a holistic boost to the project.
Composer Mark Bowden brings his cutting edge talent and skills to Channel Rose, riding the momentum of their successful 2012/2013 Virtual Descent/ Heartland collaboration. The reunion was completed by the addition of legendary solo percussionist Julian Warburton and renowned Saxophonist Simon Haram who will Perform Channel Rose live in Cardiff and London.
Annabeth Berkeley is an exceptional talent and has been a key highlight in Eleesha's previous work at NDCWales, will bring creative understanding to the dance team with her incomparable presence. Returning to the scene after 6 years in Germany Annamari Keskinen will pick up unfinished business to fulfil a long awaited collaboration. A uniquely voiced dancer who leaves her soul on the stage. Kenny Wing Tao Ho completes the trio of dancers with his fresh and prodigal talent bringing new life to Drennan's work.
Channel Rose will be expertly lit by Guy Hoare, bringing the whole thing to life with his reputable design. Finally, lending artistic flare and know how, NDC Wales technical director, Nia Thomson will be collaborating with Eleesha on costume and production logistics.
New Comission announced
July 2014
Eleesha has been comissioned to choreograph a new piece for Edge. She joins a prestigious list of choreographers who have also made work on the company including Siobhan Davies, Wayne Macgregor and Hofesh Shechter. The work will be performed as part of the company's 2015 tour. More details to follow.
