The Red Shoes USA tour was accompanied by workshops, masterclasses and curtain raisers at each venue. John Campbell supported the project management of all activity alongside long-term company members, Alan Vincent, Mami Tomotani and Nina Goldman (in New York City).
We delivered a total of 23 workshops and masterclasses with curtain raisers in Los Angeles, Washington DC, New York City and a plaza performance in Charlotte. Through this activity we engaged with over 700 young people, professional dancers and dance educators.
We would like to say a special thank you to Alan and Mami for leading on all of our educational activity during the US tour. Alan first joined the company in 1997 performing in the original cast of Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella and has since played many principal roles in New Adventures productions, as well as most recently being Tour Director for Lord of the Flies for its international premiere at Arts Centre Melbourne, in Australia. Alan has led many workshops, masterclasses and curtain raisers for the company and is a Re:Bourne Associate Artist alongside Mami. Alan will be performing in the 2017/18 tour of Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella as Robert (Cinderella’s Father). Mami first joined the company in 1999 performing in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake and like Alan has featured in many of our shows. Most recently Mami performed in Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty in 2016, reprising the role of Miss Maddox, which she played in 2012.
Mami Tomotani said,“Creating curtain raisers can be very challenging because we don’t know the dancers until we arrive in the studio and we have less than a week to develop their acting, dancing and characterisation the New Adventures way. In the end they are always fantastic on stage, seeing them smile and experiencing their adrenaline brings me joy. We go away feeling that all the dancers learn something that they can use in the future and we also learn from them.
Leading workshops is a similar process - teaching dance, and any type of art, can change how people feel, can make them cry or laugh. It really is an amazing feeling to teach and going on a journey with your students.”
Alan Vincent said, "It was a great experience leading on all the workshops, masterclasses and curtain raisers during The Red Shoes USA Tour alongside Mami. It's always a terrific opportunity to meet such a wide range of young people and adults from different background and share the New Adventures way of working!"
