Clare will talk about her experience of programming and curating contemporary photography.

“In this hypnotic performance Angika gives Bharatanatyam a contemporary makeover, blending it with Midival Punditz’s score of fusion electronica. It works like a dream.”
The Stage

ANGIKA are a leading national touring company in the UK with a reputation for bringing an innovative contemporary approach and vitality to the rich vocabulary of classical Bharatanatyam dance.

ANGIKA present an evening of two new inspiring works that further their impressive and critically acclaimed creative partnerships with MTV award-winning composers Tapan Raj & Gaurav Raina of Midival Punditz, Aideen Malone (lighting design) and Gabriella Ingram (costume design).

In Ether the dancers explore the contrast between energised space and nothingness. In Indian philosophy the Ether or ‘Akasa’ pervades the Universe as the invisible vehicle of life and sound. To connect with the flow of this subtle force this metaphysical piece engages the sophisticated rhythmic element of Bharatanatyam with lyrical stillness. The geometrical abstraction and physical dynamics of ANGIKA’s dance sculpts the space to evoke a sense of the intangible.

Angika will also be performing another new dance piece Urban Temple, originally created in 2003 as a commissioned site-sensitive work for London’s South Bank Centre, it has been extensively reworked specifically for the stage as a new quintet. £9 / £5

The Brighton Hip Hop Festival is now in its 3rd year and is inviting you to come and get involved in workshops and watch demonstrations, all topped by a high energy Battle between Born To Rock crew from across the UK and the dancers from across the globe touring and performing in Renegade Theatre’s piece, Rumble*.

Sadlers Wells has also kindly donated 2 lucky-dip tickets to one day of their third Breakin' Convention - the annual festival of Hip Hop dance theatre that showcases immense dance talent from around the world.

Find out how you can get involved in ‘The Art Of Hip Hop Exhibition’, Fresh Styles UK, one of UK’s premier Battlejams, our famous Live day and much, much more.

In the meantime visit www.bhhf.org for further information.

Entry – Minimum donation on the door of £3 per person

A discussion on the varied roles played by magazines as a context for contemporary photography.

visions Discussion Forum Event
A debate on the current and future influence of practice-led research.

Through a programme of research, commissions, debates and presentations, visions plans to examine new approaches to the ‘creative manipulation of objects in space using both real and virtual spaces’ through research.

visions, promoted by the University of Brighton, is exploring new directions for its future development. We are looking at ways in which visions can develop as an essential platform for experimental visual performance, informed by practice-led research.  Our research across the spectrum of arts and architecture involves artists and scientists, academics, other creative practitioners and cultural organisations (please see attached statement for more context) and other relevant partners. The visions programme will present this work and research through a series of University-led events and symposiums rather than the previous festival format.  visions will not therefore not being organising a biannual visions festival in October 2006.

We are inviting key professionals who may have an interest in this area to the University for a free discussion forum which aims to:

1) Focus key partners on how visions can contribute to their objectives;

2) Discuss the issues raised by the forthcoming Arts Council Strategy for Higher Education for: visions, University of Brighton, artists, creative practitioners and researchers;

3) Discuss the possibilities of practice-led research and how these are relevant for – creative practitioners, cultural organisations, venues and Higher Education

4) Explore how visions can exploit its position to be a platform for experimental visual performance, informed by practice-led research.

The programme is as follows:

Prof. Jonathan Woodham, Centre for Research Development, (Arts and Architecture) University of Brighton and Chair of visions (project advisory group)
Welcome and setting out the context of visions future programme in research and development.

Prof. Bruce Brown, Dean of Faculty of Art & Architecture, University of Brighton, will speak about the current position of practice-led research informed by his paper Types of Research in the Creative Arts and Design

Case studies – Blast Theory / Mette Ramsgard Thomsen (University of Brighton) and Carol Brown Dances
Demonstration of successful models for practice-led research.
Demonstrate progression from experimental research to applications of ideas to more mainstream public performances/spaces

Directed discussions in forum groups led by Madeleine Hutchins (Arts Management Consultant and Trainer)

Plenary Session

Summary and Close

Professor Julian Crampton, Vice Chancellor of the University of Brighton presents his Inaugural Professorial Lecture
Admission Free

Czech Glass Symposium

Glass and the Decorative Arts in the Czech Republic in the 20th and 21st Centuries

Accompanying the stunning exhibition of glass from the internationally renowned Lhotsky Studio in the University Art Gallery at Grand Parade will be a day-long seminar that explores the place of Czech decorative arts and glass as key elements of national cultural production and projection. This history has been both distinguished and innovative in its willing embrace of the possibilities of new materials and forms of aesthetic expression, albeit tempered - or charged - by radically changing political and economic boundaries. 

Fresh insights will be afforded by leading practitioners and historians in the field, drawing on the contributions of leading figures in both the Czech Republic and elsewhere in Europe. This significant event will both draw upon and complement the Czech Design Symposium held in the University in early December 2005.

Speakers will include: Zdenek Lhotsky, Prof. Sylva Petrova, PhD
Lhotsky Glass www.lhotsky.com Czech Centre                                    www.czechcentre.org.uk Institute for International Research in Glass, University of Sunderland www.sunderland.ac.uk

The fruity, highbrow tones of Art Critic Brian Sewell are mercilessly mimicked … Here’s a chance to sample the real thing. A favourite with millions of TV and Radio fans such as his recent critically acclaimed and highly popular ‘Naked Pilgrim’ television documentary on the traditional pilgrimage to Compostela (Spain) and Art Critic for the Evening Standard for 20 years.

Brian will talk with passion about everything from superb classic cars to Middle East politics, from animal rights to his great love (since childhood) … the Art and Architecture of Turkey. With a sharp wit, an unforgettably entertaining delivery and a guarantee to break every PC taboo and leave audiences with plenty to talk about and an appetite for more with the opportunity to ask questions.

• Banned by the Mayor of Manchester for remarks about Lowry
• Told never to set foot in the Royal College of Art
• Punched in the eye outside Harrods by a young artist

Come and see what all the fuss is about!
£10 / £8

World famous Huun-Hurr-Tu, foremost international representative of Tuva's remarkable musical culture returns to Brighton for one night only with their unique throat-singing. Their concerts have always demonstrated the significance of combining tradition and innovation. They are intent on preserving the Tuvan musical heritage whilst also recognizing the need for vitality and "room to move", maintaining its relevance to the life of a community.

They focus on the musical technique and best know genre of Tuvan music "xöömei" or throat-singing, in which a single vocalist simultaneously produces two distinct pitches: a fundamental note and, high above it, a series of articulated harmonics that are sequenced into melodies and manipulated with extreme virtuosity in several canonical styles.

It is the Tuvas’ keen perception of natural landscapes and soundscapes that has most conspicuously shaped their music, imitating the sounds of nature - domestic animals, the physical environment of mountains and grasslands, and the elemental energies of wind, water, and light. Natural sounds are transformed into musical representations. £15 / £12

Contemporary music ensemble Scratch the Surface will bring together musicians, composers, visual artists and choreographers to offer a fresh and stimulating platform for multi-media performance. Under the guidance of artistic-director, Conall Gleeson they will broaden the interface between music, sound and visual performance through the use of acoustic, electronic and digital instrumentation and technology. This event will challenge experienced listeners and be of interest to those who are new to contemporary music

The performance will include music by Arvo Part, Kevin Volans, John Cage as well as several audio-visual premiers.  £7 / £5

Award winning, Brighton- based, BandBazi, in co-production with The Circus Project, bring together their skills in circus, theatre and grass roots appeal in this visually stunning and totally accessible family show.

A Persian telling of the well-known fairy tale that takes the story you thought you knew down new and surprising twists and turns.  Hilariously inventive, the show will grab the imagination of young and old alike with its combination of circus wizardry, good old-fashioned story telling and the magic of ancient Persia.

Who is the mystery guest with the star-shaped mole on her cheek at Prince Mehrdad’s New Year festivities?  Is she the owner of the tiny diamond anklet found when the party’s over? The Prince is smitten and searches through all of Persia to find Settareh, his ‘Star’.  But just when it looks as though it will end happily ever after, Settareh’s wicked stepsisters come up with another evil scheme that has to be overcome before Mehrdad can claim his bride…

A highly visual and entertaining fusion of circus with theatre, Persian folk music with Western pop classics.  This is a family show for all ages, cultures and walks of life.

Featuring Tamsin Shasha, from Actors of Dionysus, trapeze artist Emma Taylor (Cirque des Spectacles) and actress and aerialist, Philippa Vafadari (Breakfast at Audrey’s, In Audrey Hepburn’s Arms, Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus). Directed by John Binnie
Designed by Jessica Worrall

In Association with Made In Brighton Ltd. www.bandbazi.co.uk; www.thecircusproject.co.uk £8/£6

An evening of experiemental circus and theatre performed by emerging new circus artists from Brighton & Hove.

Produced by The Circus Project, the showcase is an exciting mixture of aerial dance, theatre and circus performed by artists
embarking on a career in the world of circus.

Produced by The Circus Project
Directed by Philippa Vafadari & Emma Taylor
Free

Introducing the very first Balkan Beats Special at the Sallis Benney Theatre… 

The infamous Baghdaddies come all the way down from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to bring their astounding and anarchic melange of traditional European and world musical styles. Influenced by the wedding brass band and gypsy music of Eastern Europe - through reggae, ska, calypso, jazz and punk rock.

The Matzos – play their own brand of kicking Klezmer: Wild, exhilarating Eastern European melodies tied to a compelling and driving beat. www.balkanbeats.co.uk