Performance at Messums
Performance is the ephemeral artform, experienced in the moment.
It has been part of our artistic programming since 2016.
In 2022, we decided to explore dance and create a platform to support and understand choreography as an artistic language.
We launched
4X20 Choreography Platform and Festival of Dance.
4X20 Choreography Platform
2022-Now
Messums 4X20 is an emerging choreography support platform, which commissions two selected artists annually to present one pre-existing and one newly developed dance work of up to 20 minutes each, with a maximum of 4 performers – hence “4X20.”
The artists receive a financial commission, networking opportunities, production and marketing support, and free rehearsal space in preparation for their performances.
Festival of Dance
July 2022-2023
A ten-day annual summer dance festival, featuring live dance performances from leading UK-based dance companies and emerging artists. Two years in a row, a full theatre was built in the 13th century tythe barn to host spectacular performances, workshops, discussions, dinners and film screenings.
Festival of Dance welcomed companies such as Hofesh Shechter – Shechter II, Alleyne Dance, Spoken Movement and Alexander Whitley.
Festival of Dance also launched the prestigious Messums Dance Film Festival in 2023, which had its own screening and awards ceremony, gathering film-makers and films from across the whole globe.
Moments from 2023, Festival of Dance
All images by Jamie Randall
What is Messums 4X20 Choreography Platform?
ABOUT 4X20
4X20 Choreography Platform was first launched in 2022 with a vision to support emerging choreographers. After observing a lack of funds and performance opportunities created for up-and-coming artists, Messums team took this risk and created a never-seen performance set up.
4X20 encapsulates the parameters of the platform: 2 selected choreographers present 2 pieces, all work needs to be up to 20 minutes and involve no more than 4 performers. The choreographers are selected annually through an open call – the platform aims to give opportunities to artists who are bold, have a distinctive choreographic language and take risks in their practice.
The platform is open for all dance styles and selects choreographers who are suitable for this support – sometimes we are presented with amazing ideas and visions, however we are aware that our offered commission is not big enough to make it come true.
Artists presented in 2023: Chandenie Gobardhan and John-William Watson.
‘I was blown away by the quality of the dancers and the professional setting you have created.’
– Audience Member, 2023
‘Powerful and fresh.’
– Audience Member, 2023
As a part of the offer in 2022-2023 the choreographers received:
– Financial commission of £3500
– Free rehearsal space
– Free production and lighting designer support and guidance
– Paid accommodation and travel for premiere of the show and any touring dates
– Additional contracts for any touring dates
– Networking opportunities meeting supporters
– Continuous Messums support beyond the engagement
Through this platform we aim to provide the choreographers with real-industry experience, protecting them from the risks they would otherwise be taking on their own for the first time.
4X20 in 2024
Updates about the next year call out will be announced in April 2024.
If you have any questions please contact:
GABIJA CEPELYTE (Producer)
ga**@me*****.org
Associate Artists
Previous Performances at Messums Wiltshire
Alleyne Dance
FAR FROM HOME
July 2023
WINNERS OF BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE COMPANY AT NATIONAL DANCE AWARDS 2023
“Far From Home brings to the stage the humanity of told and untold stories by voices not always heard.”
Bringing Alleyne Dance’s dynamic, powerhouse style to the stage, ‘Far From Home’ is a hard hitting, atmospheric, abstract narrative dance production. Performed by 6 professional dance artists, the performance ensemble will highlight the emotional and mental stresses of migrant families, as well as the impact on communities where migrants ‘settle’, as we unpick the meaning of tolerance and practice of integration.
“A real gem.” Lyndsey Winship, The Guardian
Spoken Movement
FAMILY HONOUR
July 2023
‘Family Honour’ examines the eponymous concept through the eyes of a young girl trapped in the moral codes mandated by her immediate environment, confronting her past ‘sin’ against tradition. Abandoned by her father, she seeks solace from memories resembling him.
The performance draws the audience into a world where hip-hop isn’t just rubbing shoulders with theatre, but is theatre.
Family Honour won the prestigious French choreographic competition Danse Elargie and 2019’s Rotterdam International Duet Choreography Competition with Family Honour.
“Sophisticated in its use of hip-hop language for theatrical ends.” The Guardian
Hofesh Shechter, Shechter II
CONTEMPORARY DANCE 2.0
July 2022
A rhythmic, fiercely energetic and exhilarating performance by the award winning company Shechter II.
Contemporary Dance 2.0 unleashes the intensity of Shechter’s signature ensemble work combined with an eclectic sound-score of club-like euphoria and throbbing beats.
In a work that is dipped in ironic references to pop culture and making a playful take on Shechter’s own art form, in Contemporary Dance 2.0 only one thing is certain, the dancers do it their way.
Inspired by the original production created for GöteborgsOperans Danskompani in 2019 Contemporary Dance 2.0 is re-imagined by Shechter II, the very best of the next generation of world-class performers aged 18-25.
Contemporary Dance 2.0 is produced by Hofesh Shechter Company and co- commissioned by Düsseldorf Festival!, Espace 1789 Saint-Ouen, with production support from Théâtre de la Ville Paris, Teatro Comunale Città di Vicenza, and a production residency at Arts Depot, London.
‘The mighty contemporary choreographer – a combination of dance-maker and rock-star, but with film-director sensibilities.’ The Times
Alexander Whitley Dance Company
July 2022
ANTI-BODY
Bits and bytes flicker in the cold light, while wild, expressive bodies move between translucent screens. Three dancers are immersed in streams of motion responsive visuals, presenting a symbiotic relationship between body and technology.
Through a live motion capture system, the dancers become at once set, lighting and characters in a narrative where the boundaries between self and other, human presence and digital pattern, become increasingly hard to define.
Set to an electrifying and soul-stirring score by Mercury Prize nominated composer Hannah Peel and music producer Kincaid, Anti-Body explores our drive to transcend the material constraints of the human body and the promise of freedom this dream is built upon. Charting different courses through an illusory visual world of abstract code and uncanny beauty created by digital artists Uncharted Limbo Collective, the performers represent the many questions and tensions facing humanity as possibilities for life in a disembodied form become ever more real.
Kennedy Muntanga
GREATER THAN LION
The Matsena Brothers
GEOMETRY OF FEAR
Anthony Matsena
WHEN IT ARRIVES
Ruby Portus
SHALL WE JUST RETIRE TO THE LAKE?
Alexander Whitley
NOUMENA | ULYSSES | BETWEEN TWO FIRES
Russell Maliphant
CONCEAL | REVEAL
Dance Outreach
As a part of dance activities we always consider creating outreach opportunities.
In 2022 Festival of Dance we:
– Worked with St. John’s School in Tisbury to deliver a day of free dance workshops led by Kennedy Muntanga
– Offered 2 free workshops to Tisbury communities led by emerging choreographers
– Offered 1 free youth dance workshop led by Gabija Cepelyte
– Held a professional dance class with Alexander Whitley
In 2023 Festival of Dance and 4X20 Platform we:
– Offered 2 free workshops to Tisbury communities led by emerging choreographers
– Offered 1 free youth dance workshop led by Gabija Cepelyte
– Held 2 4X20 choreographer workshops with PDSW partners in Bournemouth: COAST youth dance company and Glenmoor Academy
Through our outreach activities in 2022-23 we engaged over 200 people so far.
Creating legacy for dance in the South West
'A paticular hooray for Messums Wiltshire, a new space for dance both spectacular and exquisite...''
Ismene Brown
Messums Wiltshire is aiming to become a greenhouse for dance creativity in the South West and beyond, providing a platform and continuous support for emerging choreography and a space for world class dance presentation. We work to:
- Provide the local audiences with quality art
- Create opportunities to connect with artists through social events, community workshops, performances and shared learning
Support our work
Preparing for 2024 without Charitable funding and community support we are not able to programme a festival of the scale seen in 2022-2023.
We looked at the outcomes of 2023 and discussed it with our audience, Choreographers and Alumni. We wanted to distill the most durable and important parts of the 4X20 Choreography Platform.
We clarified, that the most important is the opportunity to create new work with no strings attached, to be considered and share a platform within an art as well as dance community, to receive advice from producers and technical experts, to share time and thoughts with alumni and to meet key influencers and potential supporters. These things come with the 4X20 platform so we have looked at how to deliver this more efficiently and more impact.
In 2024 Messums 4X20 Choreography Platform will move to supporting research in London with a larger budget for research time, more connections, network and focus on support rather than a finalised performance.
Creating impactful work is a team effort – none of our activities would’ve been possible without the trust and support of our audiences and donors.
We invite you to be a part of our team and bring more impactful work through performance and dance to the UK.
All of our donors are:
– Invited to related VIP dance engagements throughout the year for free
– Recognised on messums.org website for a year or more
– Recognised on all print marketing related to supported activity
– Continuously updated about our progress through e-marketing, live or online meetings and social media communication
From Artistic Director Johnny Messum:
‘The 4X20 Platform provides opportunity at a decisive time in a creative career, which is crucial for the growth and development of the dance industry.
Together with Messums we are aiming to raise £ 35 000 to continue supporting emerging choreographers in 2024.’
You can donate now by clicking the button below or contact our team to discuss your support and benefits.
GABIJA CEPELYTE (Producer)
ga**@me*****.org
4X20 Foundation support in 2023
4X20 Affiliated Partners in 2023
Messums Wiltshire would like to thank our judges, Sir Alistair Spalding CBE, Sadé and Kristina Alleyne, Victor Fung and Jeanette Hinton for their valuable contributions during the 4X20 selection process, as well as our affiliated partners, Rambert School, Pavilion Dance South West, East London Dance and Northern School of Contemporary Dance for their ongoing support on this project.
PRINCIPAL SPONSORS 2023
Christina Dawson
Alexis and Frances Prenn
Johnathan Messum
SUPPORTERS 2023
Harry MacAuslan
Sarah Radclyffe
