Mag North is heading to a very special night at the movies on Wednesday, as a short film launches at Tyneside Cinema (on 14 June 2023), celebrating 30 years of one of Newcastle's most influential contemporary dance companies - and explores the physical limits and self-discovery of performance.
The Becoming has been created by balletLORENT to mark its landmark anniversary and to share its nationally acclaimed work with a wider audience.
The film, directed by Game of Thrones actor and comedian Ben Crompton, captures a live performance recorded at Newcastle’s Boiler Shop in January 2023.
Choreographed by Liv Lorent and performed by ten dancers aged from 23 to 59, the action reflects themes of discovery, rebirth, transformation, incorporating the iconography of dance through the past century and looks to stretch the limits of dance theatre.
Featuring costumes by fashion designer Nasir Mazher and music from Dr Who composer, Murray Gold, the 25 minute film will be available to stream for free on BalletLorent social media platforms immediately after the premiere.
The action starts outside on the street, as a number of anonymously dressed figures seem almost compelled to reach the doorway of an unassuming looking building. Once inside, they start to transition and are explosively reborn in a multitude of physical forms.
The showing on 14 June will be followed by a Q&A with Live Lorent, Ben Crompton and Nasr Mazhar.
Liv Lorent formed balletLORENT in 1993 after graduating from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She relocated the company to Newcastle-upon-Tyne three years later and it’s now based in the west of the city where it works with numerous community projects and young people from all backgrounds take part in its Youth Academy.
Liv Lorent said: “It hard to believe we’ve been doing this for 30 years.
"The Becoming celebrates the physical and emotional business of performance. Interest in dance at every level has grown in the time we’ve been working. People are more willing to give dance space, culture has changed massively, and dance has definitely become more mainstream. In youth culture, on prime-time TV, in musical theatre and major music tours – most people have now seen contemporary dance. It’s a universal language that speaks to everyone.
“Our in-theatre audiences have been growing, with full houses and great turnouts for shows in Newcastle, Leeds, Darlington and London this year. Streaming The Becoming can take our work to a new and broader audience. We have had 30,000 views for the trailer in the first few days, which is very exciting – we are still getting used to those numbers.
"Newcastle has been very good to us over the last three decades. We have met and worked with some of the most amazing dancers from around the North East. Our dancers come from all walks of life. Many don't have a traditional dance background. They have trained in other fields including gymnastics, or they came to dance later in life.”
Caroline Reece, who has danced with balletLORENT since 1996, said: "Liv creates a special kind of magic on stage with synergy between all the dancers. The Becoming is an incredible tribute to what her company has achieved over thelast 30 years."
Tickets for the premiere are available HERE
