About BlacBrik, Louiseanne Pui Chi Wong and Madi Plunkett

Episodes of Blue by BlacBrik

'Episodes of Blue' showcases two choreographic duets, deeply rooted in black culture. 'Death of The Bachelors' explores the bond between two elderly men reminiscing on life, highlighting the essence of friendship and time's passage. 'Don't Step On My Shoes' unravels the pride and sentiment tied to iconic footwear in the black community, representing more than fashion; but a deep respect. These pieces intertwine tales of friendship, love, and identity, providing a captivating insight into the nuances of black cultural experiences.

About The Artist

BlacBrik is a dance company co-founded by Nahum McLean, originally from Manchester, and Darius Drooh from California. Their collaborative journey began in New York, where they both trained and took early steps in choreography, notably contributing to the NYC Jazz Choreography Festival. Despite branching out as movement artists, the duo maintained their commitment to their shared choreographic vision. The essence of BlacBrik lies in its unique approach to dance, utilising it as a medium to explore and depict the complexities of relationships and reality.

Cast and Credits

Choreographers: Nahum McLean and Darius Drooh
Lighting Designer: Joshie Harriette - Lab13

I Am. Am I by Louiseanne Pui Chi Wong

I Am. Am I (me, my fridge and I) is a work in progress - a human story told through movement, dance, and circus. Louiseanne explores their struggle with social norms, displacement, and unlearning how they were ‘conditioned’ in Hong Kong.

They question labelling theory - some given, some self-identifying (e.g. from-from, foreigner) - and raise awareness of social inequalities using a fridge, sloganised t-shirts, sound design, and urban anti-establishment forms like parkour, art du deplacement and krump.

About The Artist

Louiseanne Wong (she/they) is a non-binary East Asian artist and coach, born and bred in Hong Kong. Their curiosities brought them to study Bachelor of Music at University of Manchester and MA Choreography at Laban. Probing deeper into concepts of identity, under Esprit Concrete & Crying Out Loud mentorship, they explore stigmatisation towards BAME artists and how this impacts their practice. They fuse Dance, Circus, Parkour and Art du Deplacement to map themself in space playing with non-horizontal dimensions, object manipulation and overcoming obstacles.

@louiseannewong

Cast and Credits

Sound Designer: Sharon Tsang
Outside Eye / Movement Director: Aline David
Lighting Designer: Jen Roxburgh
Counselling Psychologist: Kasturi Torchia
Dramaturg: Daniel York Loh
Krump mentor: Amanda Pefkou
Crying Out Loud mentor: Rachel Clare
Production images: Shawn J Stephen

First work-in-progress sharing at The Lowry's Scratch Nights x Circus April 2023: The Lowry Artist Development Programme

As They Danced Their Body Shed by Madi Plunkett

New body, new space observe yourself, consume yourself, embody yourself.
The piece is an abstract exploration of trans and queerness in the body and how it makes us move, the relationship between our bodily experience and our movements as dancers and specifically what it feels like to move in a body you don’t necessarily align with.
5 dancers explore the sensations of their movements through the narrative of a group of bodies learning, playing and molding into a unit.