New Adventures Announce ADVENTURES IN FILM

Tasha Chu PayneProductions_WiltonsMusicHall. Photo by Kate Parkes. Choreographer Gemma Payne

New Adventures is thrilled to announce their latest digital endeavour, ADVENTURES IN FILM. This exciting new project is a unique opportunity for three carefully selected and talented female choreographers to work with TEA films to create bold and innovative dance films based on the New Adventures love of Storytelling.

Once created, the three films will premiere this Autumn as stand-alone cinematic shorts across the New Adventures channels. Evolving from the New Adventures Choreographer Award (NACA) originally established by colleagues and friends in celebration of Matthew Bourne’s 50th birthday in 2010,

ADVENTURES IN FILM aims to bring about career developing opportunities to women from a multitude of backgrounds, experiences and collective world views; providing them with a platform to exercise and hone their skills as artists, producers and creative storytellers.

The three choreographers have been selected from the phenomenal pool of talent within the New Adventures dance company. Having performed in Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, they have been chosen for their work ethic, determination and courageous outlook on inclusive female representation in the world of performing arts, not to mention for their exceptional talent as dancers and choreographers in their own right.

The three selected choreographers are Tasha Chu, Monique Jonas and Anjali Mehra.

Moniquq Jonas. Photo by Jack Thomson
Monique Jonas. Photo by Jack Thomson

Mathew Bourne said today “Whilst we are unable to make work on stage, we have seen the power that film possesses, a means for people to connect, be inspired and thoroughly experience the joys of dance. We believe that this opportunity for financial support, mentorship and guidance to these three choreographers is a way for us to further nurture and develop the future of dance and protect the needs, not only for the performing arts, but for the next generation of artists to thrive in their chosen areas of dance, theatre and storytelling through the medium of film”.

Tasha Chu said today “I’m thrilled to have been given the opportunity to be involved in this project. It will be an exciting chance to learn from those I am collaborating with, to receive mentoring alongside exploring my process and delve into the world of choreography for screen. A time to question and to be questioned”.

Tasha Chu. Photo by Johan Persson
Tasha Chu. Photo by Johan Persson

Monique Jonas said today “Creating dance for screen opens up the possibility to create new realities and dimensions and adds to the lens through which dance can evoke, be conversational, be a form of escapism and so much more. It will be a new means of pushing and extending my creative practices, and hopefully a way of discovering so much more. I am looking forward to the collaborative element of the process and the freedom to explore the countless ways in which stories or narratives can be communicated, and then learning how to integrate movement as a central part within this”.

Anjali Mehra said today “To be given the opportunity to create a piece of work from our own voice with mentorship from Matthew Bourne and Etta Murfitt and resources and support from New Adventures is incredibly exciting to me. As a choreographer who often works within the premise of a director, having the chance to be both choreographer and director is something I have been aiming to do for some time. Because it is a dance film it will give us even more scope to express and explore our imagery and movement ideas as well as narrate the story for the viewer. I am really looking forward to the creative process and working with TEA films, Matt and Etta to bring my ideas to life!”.

Anjali Mehra in Matthew Bourne's Cinderella. KSP images
Anjali Mehra in Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella. KSP images

Working alongside New Adventures partners TEA films to bring their ideas to life, the choreographers will also be provided with dedicated mentorship and support from Matthew Bourne, Etta Murfitt and the New Adventures team. These choreographers will bring their

stories to life, developing their professional skillset and making long-lasting industry connections, in the hopes of giving our audiences new and inspiring young choreographers to watch out for in the future. Watch this space!

New Adventures is a national portfolio organisation supported using public funds by Arts Council England.

Header image: Tasha Chu. Photo by Kate Parkes. Choreographer Gemma Payne. Payne Productions. Wiltons Music Hall