UTOPIA
Birmingham International Dance Festival – Victoria square
direction/choreography ARTHUR PITA
creative producer DAVID MASSINGHAM
assistant director & costume designer YANN SEABRA
musical director FRANK MOON
lighting design CHAHINE YAVROYAN
sound designer ANDY PINK
set designers Nicola Richardson & Marianne Taviner
costume supervisor Giulia Scrimieri
idfb producer Hannah Sharpe
production manager SIMON MACCOLL
live band THE DESTROYERS
Charged and vibrant, this folkloric celebration was a brand new commission for our 2010 Festival. Directed by Arthur Pita, contemporary dancers formed a brand new dance company collective alongside Russian, Spanish, Indian and African folk dance groups, all moved to the turbo-folk Gypsy and Balkan beats of Birmingham’s very own band The Destroyers. Spells were conjured up as wild rhythms drew pulsating movement from this international spectrum of exceptional dances. Horned figures in gleaming gold made their presence felt while rituals, fire and a relentless stampede of exotic dances and frenzied songs brought together this riotous 40-strong cast in a 30-minute outdoor extravaganza unlike any other.