Masked dancers go online for family show

Choreographed by Jennifer Rooney, with new music from internationally acclaimed composer Elaine Agnew, the text for Turnabout was inspired by stories of hope created by Belfast primary school pupils at workshops by poet Olive Broderick.

In a first for Maiden Voyage, the company has collaborated with Belfast Philharmonic Society to work with 80+ young voices from Belfast Philharmonic Youth and Chamber Choirs to bring this text to life in Elaine Agnew’s musical score.

Nicola Curry, Artistic Director of Maiden Voyage said: “The title, ‘Turnabout’, suggests movement and change which can be physical, emotional or mental.

“We look at times when we have lost hope and how we responded to that in our lives and how, keeping hopeful hearts and sharing our hope, it can be restored. It also suggests how we take turns to hold hope and can pass it on to others, which is especially relevant to us all at the moment.”

Turnabout has been made from the outset as a socially distanced piece, so the performers will be masked and will stay two metres apart in separate three metre squares throughout the filmed show.

In conjunction with the show, an online programme of movement, music and writing workshops on the themes of hope will be offered by Maiden Voyage Dance to primary schools and groups across Northern Ireland from March 8 until the end of April.

An audio described version of the final filmed piece will also be available.

Free screenings of ‘Turnabout’ by Maiden Voyage Dance will be available online and on demand as part of Belfast Children’s Festival from 6 to 14 March.

Book your places now at www.youngatart.co.uk/festival

To book a free ‘Turnabout’ primary school or group workshop with Maiden Voyage Dance, email [email protected].