Let’s Dance

Latest 7 speaks to Lloyd Newson, artistic director of DV8, about dance films without the dull stuff.

On Sunday 21st May, Lloyd Newson will be in town for the screening of The Cost of Living, DV8’s Channel 4 film which has won a clutch of prestigious awards including Outstanding Achievement in Dance at the Time Out Live Awards 2006, the prestigious Prix Italia 2005 and the Rose D’Or (Switzerland). A powerful piece of television drama, The Cost of Living is a superb combination of storytelling, physical theatre and dance. It follows the fortunes and misfortunes of a group of transient performers based in an English seaside town.

Tell us about The Cost of Living – what was the artistic motivation for this work?

The stage production, not the film, was first commissioned by the Olympic Arts festival in Sydney in 2000. As I was being commissioned to make work for the opening ceremony festival, I was interested in the people who were, and more importantly, who weren’t being invited. The idea of who is desirable at any given time has always interested me, and the concept of what is currently fashionable, sexy and sellable. How often are the old, disabled, fat and ugly excluded from the guest list?

You call yourselves DV8 Physical Theatre, not DV8 Dance Company. Why is this?

For me the word ‘dance’ has many negative connotations – decorative, shallow, meaningless, basically display without reason, so that I felt it better and more accurate to describe ourselves as a physical theatre company. Although I should add that only highly trained physical performers are capable of doing DV8’s work, and therefore that often means trained dancers.

What do you look for in a performer?

Brilliance – dancers who want to do more than just dance. They need to be free of any dance stylistic trappings – so when they do move they maintain their individuality; which is particularly hard if you have trained as either a classical or street dancer, where the style often overrides personality and meaning. So versatility is important. Lastly, intelligence and humour are the hallmark of dancers who have become DV8 regulars.

Does Brighton inspire you?

When we had to cancel a week of performances at the Brighton Festival last year due to illness – a very rare occurrence for us – inspired wasn’t quite the feeling going on inside my head. But generally we have a great time in Brighton. Shows have always been sold out in advance and I think Brighton audiences are as interested in challenging work as they are in being entertained; so that helps.

The Cost of Living screening and An Audience with Lloyd Newson are part of Dance Shorts 2006 – South East Dance and Brighton Festival’s annual celebration of dance film and video. After the screening Lloyd will talk to Channel 4’s Jan Younghusband about his transition from choreographer to film director.

The Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, Sun 21st May, 2.30pm, £5/£4, full event pass for Dance Shorts £15/£12. Book online www.brightonfestival.org or call 01273 709709. For more information visit www.southeastdance.org.uk and www.dv8.co.uk