Following a successful run at Edinburgh Fringe 2017, 201 Dance Company are pleased to present a UK tour of their acclaimed show SKIN. This intimate journey of self-discovery will be performed this Autumn, from Friday 7 September at Old Market, Brighton to Thursday 1st November at Cambridge Junction.
This outstanding dance/theatre piece explores a boy’s journey through gender transition. Blending urban and contemporary hip-hop style and original music, award winning choreographer Andrea Walker directs a cast of 7 dancers in a fast paced, emotionally charged story of identity, family, mental health and belonging.
In just 4 years 201 Dance Company have created a buzz at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and throughout the UK with their unique style of dance with a theatrical narrative. The company strive to confront issues and challenge social prejudices. Their performances crosses genres and has also been seen in New York at the Manhattan Movement Center and New York Symphony Space; 201 Dance Company had 3 consecutive sell-out years at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and won an outstanding award for choreography developed at The Broadway Dance Center. In August 2015 choreographer Andrea Walker was nominated for an Inspire: Change Maker Award by London Dance.
SKIN is notable for bringing the issue of mental health in young trans people to a popular art form. In 2017, Stonewall reported that 45% of trans youth attempted suicide, 84% self-harmed, 64% experienced transphobic bullying, and 9% received death threats at school. 71% of LGBTQ+ youth said teachers did not intervene when they witnessed LGBTQ+ bullying, while 40% of students are never taught about LGBTQ+ issues. This suggests a need for more conversations and public awareness surrounding the mental health of transgender youth, and issue that 201 Dance Company are keen to be part of the conversation.
Alongside performances of SKIN, 201 Dance Company will partner with Gendered Intelligence, a trans-led awareness raising and advocacy company, to run training that aims to make arts centres more inclusive and welcoming for trans audiences, artists, and participants.
