SECRET OF THE TREATIES SCREENING
Photography Mike Skelton
Thursday 1st December we had our special event in the Clore Ballroom at the Southbank Centre for the culmination of the artist in residence with the Philharmonia Orchestra. Starting with the screening of a behind the scenes documentary highlighting the take aways from the collaboration, the premiere of the film itself Secret of the Treaties and then followed by a Q&A with Ffion Campbell-Davies, Julia Cheng, Beibei Wang, Tom Spurgin, Teddy Prout and hosted by Jo Hudson-letts.
The event marked the end of the residency, which was a great opportunity to reflect over the past 2 years and all that we have achieved despite the challenges along the way. Starting a collaborative residency in the peak of a pandemic was bound to bring an array of barriers but we held strong and produced some great projects and events from Absolute June Weekender, the Hear and Now project to the premiere of Warrior Queens and the main creative challenge we applied for, the creation and filming of Secret of Treaties.
A huge thank you for all the support of our partners and to all the teams and artists involved!
NOTTDANCE 2022
STUDIO SESSIONS
FAYE AND FFION TALK ALL THINGS HOA AND
WARRIOR QUEENS
"Nottdance 2022 a season of dance and choreographic ideas and works. As a site for experimentation, Nottdance has and continues to be a context to explore new ideas and new approaches in dance and choreography. Sharing great works from artists whose home, place of work or international destination is Nottingham."
House of Absolute were honoured to be invited by Nottdance to share and talk about the development and creative process of Warrior Queens and House of Absolute’s company ethos and future visions as part of the Nottdance studio sessions.
It was a new format of sharing that as a collective we haven’t done before which Faye and Ffion took on and delivered an intimate and well-informed presentation. It was also a great opportunity to reflect and share the journey of Warrior Queens from when the seed was sewn at Open Arts Surgery to where it is now having just premiered at Sadlers Wells and the creative process and transformation it took to reach this place.
Sera Maehera by Jack Thomson
WARRIOR QUEENS PREMIERE
A HUGE THANK YOU
It was a successful two nights premiering Warrior Queens at Sadlers Wells alongside Matsena Productions and their piece ‘Shades of Blue’ for Sadlers Wells ‘Well Seasoned’ Programme 2022.
This recent development of Warrior Queens has been a pivotal shift in the journey of the piece and a huge step towards becoming a full-length show! It is with special thanks for the support from Sadlers Wells, Philharmonia Orchestra, University of Bedfordshire, DanceEast and Arts Council England.
The appreciations continue as we had the opportunity to collaborate with a team of outstanding creatives across the board who helped Julia and the House of Absolute team bring the vision of the piece to life and beyond.
Thank you so much to the incredible artists, creative team and supporters of our work.
HOUSE OF ABSOLUTE PRESENTS WARRIOR QUEENS AT SADLER'S WELLS 6TH & 7TH MAY 2022
DOUBLE BILL WITH HOUSE OF ABSOLUTE & MATSENA PRODUCTIONS
Experience first-hand the next generation of leading UK choreographers in this double bill which touches on both a social movement and cultural heritage.
Shades of Blue is a work from Matsena Productions that beats to the tune of change, in which performance and protest clash and mould together.
The work combines thunderous choreography, powerful text and a slick score that will not only make you rethink your position in society but celebrate a stronger future which we all have a part in building.
Interrogating displacement, cultural hybridity and power, Warrior Queens delves into ancestry and lineage inspired by the legendary folk myth of ‘Hua Mulan’ and Virginia Woolf’s ‘Orlando’.
Choreographed by House of Absolute Creative Director Julia Cheng, this work explores yin yang energy, identity and the adversity of the modern-day warrior. Embedded in a live musical soundscape with musicians from the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Warrior Queens originally debuted at Breakin’ Convention 2016. Supported by Sadler’s Wells, Philharmonia Orchestra, University of Bedfordshire, DanceEast and Arts Council England.
JULIA CHENG
CABARET CHOREOGRAPHER AT THE KITKAT CLUB
Starring Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley at the Kit Kat Club, show is open now 2022
Kit Kat Girls pictured in 'Money' scene by Marc Brenner
9th April- 9th May 2021
Brecht & Weill Seven Deadly Sins | Mahagonny Songspiel
Directed by Isabelle Kettle
Choreography | Movement Direction by Julia Cheng
Design by Lizzie Clachan
Dramaturgy by Uzma Hameed
Lighting by James Farncombe
British Director and Jette Parker Young Artist Isabelle Kettle reimagines Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s darkly satirical operas in a timely comment on gender politics. This production has been created with streaming in mind, building the filming element of the piece into the viewing experience while drawing on choreographer and movement director Julia Cheng’s background in hip-hop, contemporary dance and physical theatre. The Seven Deadly Sins and Mahagonny Songspiel depict a crisis of femininity and a crisis of masculinity respectively.
Jonadette Carpio pictured in 'Gluttony' scene by Jay Kasitz
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA EXTENDS MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS COMPANY HOUSE OF ABSOLUTE AS ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE FOR ADDITIONAL YEAR 2022
Street Dance and Symphonies may seem like an unlikely combination, but when the Philharmonia Orchestra launched a call out for a brand new Artist in Residence initiative last year, the applications came in thick and fast from all quarters of the performance sector. Founded in 2014, House of Absolute approached the opportunity with a confident vision for what might be possible when Hip Hop and contemporary dance styles, eclectic musical processes and experimentation with classical music collide.
Amongst the eight-strong company are vocalists, poets, choreographers and composers who have created performances and events for theatres, exhibitions, festivals, and the fashion industry, built on a foundation of equality, empowerment and inclusivity.
This is the first residency of its kind - a complementary combination of cultures that will generate an energy and excitement across worlds that had previously been mutually exclusive.
Plans for the year are developing as House of Absolute push forward their vision of what they want to achieve from this collaboration:
‘We envision a powerfully rich collaboration between House of Absolute and Philharmonia with both entities’ incredible resources: the Orchestra’s irrefutable expertise in symphonic performance, digital innovation, and outreach, and our company’s technical dexterity and proficiency in traversing artistic disciplines including dance, music, theatre, writing, spoken word and digital art.’
Saskia Horton, Creative Producer
‘We will advocate for the cultural origins and heritage of Street Dance styles, bring together the intersectionality of our artistic communities, and represent voices from sub-cultures as part of creative projects across the residency. A key outcome of this process will bring grassroots, multidisciplinary and Hip Hop enthusiasts together with classical concert regulars to experience something completely new.’
Julia Cheng, Creative Director Ffion Campbell-Davies, Associate Director
BCA x UOB COMMISSION
November 01, 2020
BCA is working in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire and Dance East to create a centre for dance practice that focuses on the intersections of choreographic innovation, widening participation, diversity and social justice. The programme commenced in November 2019 with dance artist Julia Cheng commissioned to work with student at the University, and runs until mid 2021.
Three linked strands of activity will engage young people and support emerging and established dance artists through a series of commissions, CPD (continuing professional development) and mentoring.
Julia Cheng will be creating a new work called Qualms with MA dance students of University of Bedfordshire which will be performed as part of a triple bill at University of Bedfordshire theatre as well as in Malta and other spaces across 2020.
NEW ONLINE ZOOM CLASSES
September 30, 2020
We are doing Movement Meditation classes Monday's and Thursdays at 2pm GMT via Zoom. House of Absolute are doing these classes to help strengthen our energy during transition of coming out of Lockdown.
The class is an hour class applies movement exercises, meditation, gi gong exercises, body openings to create more space to flow in our mind and body.
This class is open to all , if you have no funds please drop us a message and we will make it work so you can still attend.
https://www.paypal.me/absoluteclass link for payment - people will receive link for class
RAD NEW RESIDENT CHOREOGRAPHER 2020
July 11, 2020
CHINESE ARTS NOW FESTIVAL
February 12, 2020
House of Absolute will be collaborating with composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman once again in creation of an immersive theatre and music experience combining live musicians, MC and dance at Shoreditch Town Hall as part of Chinese Arts Now Festival 2020!
The new work TRIPTYCH will be performed by Ffion Campbell-Davies and Faye Reader.
PAPERGANG THEATRE SOUTHBANK CENTRE
February 04, 2020
Invisible Harmony
Bear witness to East Asian political resistance through poetry, spoken word and dance that refuses to yield.
Choreographer Julia Cheng (creative director of dance collective the House of Absolute) and playwright Daniel York Loh (Forgotten, The Good Immigrant) take on the politics of oppression and protest in the region.
This collage of multi-disciplinary expression is a howl of pain from one of the most censored, silenced and sanitised ethnic groups on the planet.
As the diaspora ruptures and the world wakes to the raging fire in Asia, this piece asks how much freedom matters and what East Asians will risk and sacrifice for it.
Produced by Papergang Theatre, this collaboration between Julia Cheng, Daniel York Loh, performance artist enxi, director Kim Pearce, sound designer Nicola Chang and lighting designer Simisola Majekodunmi is a powerful blend of poetry, spoken word and dance.
The piece is followed by a panel discussion on images of East Asian political resistance.
Presented as part of CAN Festival 2020.
SKIN DEEP SONIC TRANSMISSIONS
September 28, 2019
Skin Deep presents Sonic Tranmissions an evening with House of Absolute at ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art).
In this debut collaboration between Skin Deep and dance collective House of Absolute we're hosting an evening of live performance and conversations.
House of Absolute are an all-female powerhouse – cultivating honest expression through dance, with music and art.
The evening will weave together conversations with curator/creator Julia Cheng , along with live performances from HOA. We'll be exploring identity, politics, music and style to offer an alternative to the way we usually experience dance, movement and sound.
This is our first Sonic Bodies event, a spin-off of our favourite Sonic Transmissions series.
COME MOVE WITH US, we're ready...
WILDERNESS FESTIVAL
August 03, 2019
The ultimate culture clash – classical music meets grime, house and electronica, each step taken with poise and finesse as ballet meets popping, waacking and ambient footwork. We like to move, come hustle with us.
Producer and composer JK Rodgman collaborates with cross-arts partners, stepping between genres and experimenting with classical music, sound design and electronics. Engaging with diverse communities and audiences, she is equally comfortable writing for the concert hall, as she is for VR film, dance, spoken word and digital arts projects.
Female powerhouse, House of Absolute, cultivate honest expression through dance and music. Based in London, they bring highly talented creative artists, specialising in interdisciplinary approaches, to performance through dance, music, art and mixed media.
POET IN THE CITY
June 05, 2019
The Importance of Music to Girls with Lavinia Greenlaw
Presented by Poet in the City
From the tracks that define a moment to the sounds that shape an identity, award-winning poet and novelist Lavinia Greenlaw hits replay on her celebrated memoir, The Importance of Music to Girls.
In this special event, Greenlaw, with the help of composer Harry Escott and dance artist Julia Cheng, as she shimmies, side steps, pirouettes and boogies through the pivotal songs that make up the soundtrack to her life, exploring the intricate relationship we all have with music from early encounters as children to the formative experiences of adolescence.
Following the performance, there will be a 1970s Village Hall Disco, with a playlist specially curated by Greenlaw herself.
ROUGH FOR OPERA 17
May 12, 2019
ROUGH FOR OPERA
A night of new opera
MON 13 MAY 2019
rough for opera #17 | 13.05.19
Join us for a scratch night for new opera produced and curated by Second Movement with new opera from composers Santa Bušs and Alex Ho
Speak Red (working title)
Santa Bušs (composer) and FXXX BXXXXX (librettist)
Presented by Oedipa
Dreaming Clouds
Alex Ho (composer) Julia Cheng (choreographer)
ARTIST EXCHANGE LUTON
April 26, 2019
This is free artist exchange session facilitated by Julia Cheng and supported by Little Red Creative Studios.
Artist of all disciplines are welcome to join our open cross-generation dialogues and open space sharings to build the Luton community.
This session takes place every month at Little Red Creative Studios in order to skill-share, connect and be a creative hub for artistic output.
The next date for Grassroots Luton - Artist Exchange II is Saturday 27th April ,
1-3pm Little Red Creative Studios
32A George Street,
Luton
BBC YOUNG DANCERS 2019
April 18, 2019
BBC Young Dancer returns to television in April. The Category Finalists in each of the Ballet, Contemporary, South Asian Dance and Street Dance sections have been announced. Indeed, those Category Finals have already been recorded at The Lowry, Salford and will be broadcast on BBC Four from 19 April.
The Grand Final will be broadcast live on BBC Two on 18 May from Birmingham Hippodrome.
BBC Young Dancer 2019: Mentors
Ballet: Begona Cao-miranda; Bethany Kingsley-Garner, a Principal dancer with Scottish Ballet and Iain Mackay, former principal of Birmingham Royal Ballet and current Director of Yorkshire Ballet Summer School.
Contemporary: Artistic Director and choreographer of AVA DANCE COMPANYAvatâra Ayuso, and choreographer, dancer, founder and Director of N’da Dance Company Mbulelo Ndabeni.
South Asian: dancer and choreographer Geetha Sridhar and leading Kathak dancer Pagrav Dance Company - Urja Desai Thakore.
Street Dance: Artistic Director of Crxss Platfxrm Ivan Blackstock and Julia Cheng, creative director and founder of House Of Absolute.
The judges for the category finals are:
Ballet: Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet David Bintley and former Royal Ballet Principal Zenaida Yanowsky
Contemporary: Former Artistic Director of Scottish Dance Theatre Fleur Darkin, and Artistic Co-Director of Candoco Dance Company Ben Wright.
South Asian: dancer Seeta Patel andKathak performer and teacher Gauri Sharma Tripathi.
Street Dance: choreographer, performer and founder of The Artist Hub Rhimes Lecointe (Artist) and artistic director of National Youth Dance Company for 2019 Botis Seva.
GOOD ON PAPER , STROUD
January 05, 2019
Taking place on the first Saturday in January the annual Good On Paper Party acts as a fundraiser for the magazine (which continues to operate as a part-time fully independent project) bringing forth a hoard of local artists, musicians and poets to celebrate the vibrant, creative scene which Stroud is increasingly becoming renowned for.
As well as championing all things local we also invite performers from further afield to join the line-up resulting in an eclectic mix of live music, art, circus and spoken word…
This year’s all day party is the biggest one yet with over eight different bands and musicians, a DJ set, six stand up poets, a circus troupe, eleven exhibiting artists, a pop-up book shop, pop-up record shop, bars and street food spread across three historical venues in the centre of Stroud.
It all starts at 1pm with a series of free concerts in St Laurence Church with the ticketed evening event opening at 5pm at the Centre for Science and Art and Lansdown Hall + Gallery. Tickets cost just £15 and are available now on-line at picatic.com/GOPParty2019 and Sound Records Stroud at 24 Gloucester St (open Weds – Sat 11am-5:30pm)
Tickets are limited and the event sells out every year so we recommend booking early!
ABSOLUTE RAIN JAM
December 16, 2018
Winter is here, Rain Crew & House of Absolute bring you a celebration of street culture. Absolute Rain Jam 2018 will be bringing together an amazing lineup of dancers and musicians including, poppers, waackers, voguers, krumpers, hip-hoppers and Emcees for the ultimate party and battle. Featuring exhibitions and performances across two rooms with live music and dance battles.
FEATURING
2on2 BREAKING BATTLE
PRIZE: £400.00
HOST: Haseeb Chilly Hearn & Perry Howell (Rain Crew)
JUDGES: Karam (SMAC 19) | Law | Jessy (The Ruggeds)
Music: DJ Kofi-M Rain crew | DJ T-Sia
HOUSE OF ABSOLUTE 2on2 OPENSTYLE BATTLE
PRIZE: £400.00
HOST: Julia Cheng (House of Absolute)
JUDGES: Domiinant Wipez | Juna Leocaria | Brooke
Music: DJ Snuff | DJ DBO
Live Band: Wonky Logic | Vanessa Rani Chutturghoon
MEDIA
- Skin Deep: http://www.skindeepmag.com/
The magazine that amplifies voices of colour through the discussion of race and culture. Checkout the latest edition 'Issue 8: Movements'
PHOTOGRAPHY: @rosalindhobley | @williamhartley
Please post your name on the event wall if you'd like to compete or drop us a message via facebook or info@raincrewuk.com.
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House Of Absolute | www.houseofabsolute.com | @houseofabsolute
Rain crew | www.raincrewuk.com | @raincrew
LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
October 05, 2018
Jasmin Kent Rodgman presents CONTOUR
Sat 6 Oct 2018 7.00pm - 9.00pm
LSO St Luke's, London
KAIJA SAARIAHO Selections from Maa
SOHRAB UDUMAN Breath Across Autumnal Ground
JASMIN KENT RODGMAN feat. HEMABHARATHY PALANI idol lost (world premiere)
QUINTA feat. ALEXANDRINA HEMSLEY Themistocles is Captured
OLIVER COATES feat. THE HOUSE OF ABSOLUTE Innocent Love
JASMIN KENT RODGMAN feat. ALEXANDRINA HEMSLEY CONTOUR (world premiere)
Jane Chapman harpsichord
Quinta musical saw
George Jackson conductor
LSO Chamber Ensemble
Hemabharathy Palani dancer / choreographer
Patricia Okenwa choreographer
Julia Cheng choreographer
Faye Reader House of Absolute
Alexandrina Hemsley writer / dancer / choreographer
Step into new worlds and tear down your idols. Music meets dance, film and electronics in an evening exploring movement: the body, sound and geography.
Built around the imagery of doors and the crossing of waters, we step into a soundworld of journeys and yearning through Kaija Saariaho’s ballet Maa, and Sohrab Uduman’s Breath Across Autumnal Ground, featuring celebrated harpsichordist Jane Chapman.
We’re then transported to Bangalore, India, where Jasmin Kent Rodgman’s music and Hemabharathy Palani’s dance meet. idol lost is a new experimental dance film with live score, performed by LSO Ensemble.
Keeping us moving, Quinta and Oliver Coates fuse elements of electronica, house and ambient footwork, accompanied by powerful performances by dance artist Alexandrina Hemsley and contemporary/hip-hop company, House of Absolute.
Completing the journey, Alexandrina Hemsley and Jasmin Kent Rodgman present the concert’s finale CONTOUR, an expression of the female form and self-censorship.
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL 2018
September 14, 2018
A unique collaboration with the world’s leading museum of art and design and London’s foremost contemporary design festival. London Design Festival at the V&A fills the museum with an extraordinary range of design installations large and small, intricate and majestic.
House of Absolute will be presenting their work Stardust at 11am/1pm/3pm on Saturday 15th September and Saturday 22nd September as part of the festival.
Produced by Scanners Inc.
Commissioned by V&A with funding by Arts Council England.
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Sponsored by Kowtow.
V&A LATES
August 30, 2018
Orlando Warrior will be a part of Friday Lates : Threads at the V&A . Tapestries, Room 94 19.30, 21.00
Please note this performance has a limited capacity
An exploration of the myth of Mu Lan and the novel Orlando by Virginia Woolf, this contemporary dance piece examines displacement, hybrid identities and time travel. Presented by House of Absolute, originally choreographed by Julia Cheng and re-imagined with artist Saskia Horton. Accompanied by live music by Simon McCorry.
Black and Asian histories are a vital part of Britain’s fabric. How are these voices recorded and remembered today? Join us this Friday Late as we reframe the archive and put untold histories on the map. See dancers explore hybrid identities and hear poets recount stories of inheritance. From improvised music to independent publishing, celebrate those claiming space and building new communities on the foundations of heritage. A collaboration between Historic England and the V&A.
LOVE SUPREME JAZZ FESTIVAL 2018
June 28, 2018
We are very excited to presenting our work in the line up for the new stage Bands & Voices at Love Supreme Jazz Festival this year.
Showcasing a dynamic range of poets and next generation hip-hop artists as well as cabaret, dance battles and workshops!
FRIDAY 29TH JUNE Line Up
15:30 - Dance Battle: Swing Patrol Vs Grounded Movement B-Boys
17:00 - K.O.G (Acoustic)
18:45 - Jazz Plus Presents Beats on Book
20:30 - House of Absolute: Dedication to Dizzy
IMAGINE LUTON FESTIVAL 2018
June 22, 2018
House of a Absolute are hosting the After-Party and live dance /music set for Imagine Luton Festival in June 2018 with a live DJ and performances of poetry, dance and music. We are excited to be back for the second time in the town! Free entry festival non-ticketed event.
V&A 2018
May 27, 2018
House of Absolute are performing their newest work commissioned by V&A Museum. Stardust is a new commission produced by Scanners Inc and funded by Arts Council England, with costume sponsored by Kowtow.
Catch the performance 28th May-1st June , 15th & 22nd September at the V&A museum.