At the start of the school year, Norwich Theatre and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures company will tour Doorstep Duets to schools across Norfolk, from Mile Cross Primary School to Wells-Next-The-Sea Primary School.
The pupils will see a performance of Hum created by choreographer and movement director Anjali Mehra, with original music by Grammy-nominated vocalist and composer Luke Brady. Hum features New Adventures dancers Anna Maria de Freitas, Luke Murphy, Holly Saw, Molly Shaw-Downie, Xavier Andriambolanoro Sotiya, and Mami Tomotani.
This new piece explores how one small gesture of kindness to a stranger ripples out to create a community for those who need it most. Just as the actions of the hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world, are essential to life in the towering rainforest.
Choreographer and Movement Director Anjali Mehra said: “Bringing dance to people that would not normally experience theatre is hugely important, and Doorstep Duets is doing incredible things for many communities who, for a variety of reasons, would not otherwise be able to see live dance. I’d love for audiences who don’t normally experience live dance to join us at a performance of Hum and discover how much dance can bring us together in shared joy.”
Doorstep Duets, which is now in its fourth year, offer free opportunities for people to enjoy world-class performance in their local neighbourhood, on their street, in local parks, and through community-based organisations, bringing the joy and wonder of dance to all and making dance more accessible to everyone.
Performances across the UK started on 13 Aug at Farnham Maltings, before traveling across the country visiting Woking, Faversham, Canterbury, Dover, Ramsgate, Margate, Colchester, Norwich and various locations throughout Surrey and Norfolk.
This year, Doorstep Duets will visit care homes, youth clubs, libraries, children’s hospices, a men’s mental health group in Farnham and The Turner Gallery in Margate, to name just a few. In addition, Doorstep Duets will be livestreamed for the first time, taking the production to doorsteps all over the world.