A special week of live performance takes place online next month as part of a major dance festival. When theatres closed earlier this year, Let’s Dance International Frontiers, which was scheduled to take place at theatres across Leicester in May, went online. The re-named Alternative LDIF20 garnered global attendance and positive feedback from the dance industry and the media. Now, Pawlet Brookes, artistic director and chief executive of Serendipity, the festival’s team of curators, is putting on an extra week of live performance and online events from October 24 to 31. The programme will focus on the ‘reframing of Black British dance’ and offer a preview of next year’s festival. Pawlet said: “We had so much interest in our online Alternative LDIF in May that we’ve decided to create a week of dance in October as an exclusive preview to LDIF21 which we’re confident will happen in theatres across Leicester from April 29 to May 15 2021. We are excited that we can share live work again with Jean Abreu’s An Other (Solo for Two). “Given the changing nature of government guidelines and to ensure everyone’s safety, we will also have the opportunity to share a digital version if we are unable to gather in person. “In exploring how digital and physical programmes can work concurrently and interact, the October programme is designed to make the most of both worlds. The week will also focus on the hot topic of Black British dance and how we can unify practitioners as we continue to fight for greater visibility and respect.” The programme will be available on the Let’s Dance International Frontiers YouTube channel. There will be a variety of events shown online over the week, including films, discussions and masterclasses, as well as live performances. Most of the events are free to watch, although the masterclasses cost £10.Search for Let’s Dance International Frontiers on YouTube for more information.
