The University of Leicester's arts centre - open to all

Friday 6 May at 7.30pm £15 / £12

Ireland: Quartet in D minor

Haydn: Quartet in E flat op 20 no 1

Beethoven: Quartet in F op 59 no 1

We are delighted to welcome back the everpopular Coull, one of Britain’s most-respected string quartets, for the second in a series of three concerts at Embrace Arts.

This highly-acclaimed ensemble boasts a rare combination of maturity and freshness and its performances have delighted chamber music lovers throughout the UK and around the world, from the USA to China.

www.coullquartet.com

Limited number of tickets for just £2.50 available for NUS card holders from 30 minutes before curtain up, subject to status and availability.

Dwayne Simms and Negotiation of space present Wordup
Wordup is two conversations overlapping where the dialogue takes place through sophisticated choreography. Inspired by lectures in psychology Wordup is a dance piece in response to collaboration with Dr Peter Lovatt, head of the dance psychology lab at the University of Hertfordshire.

Seeta Patel
Seeta Patel presents a beautiful piece of solo Bharata Natyam entitled Patra Pravesham. Usually presented at the beginning of and evening's repertoire, this piece describes the glorious dancing form of the elephant headed god Ganesha. With intricate footwork and rhythmic patterns alongside emotive expressions, this is a great introduction to this beautiful art form.

All Seeing performance by Keneish Dance
All Seeing is Commissioned by Creative Leap led by The Drum, Sampad, Ulpha Arts and Birmingham City Council. An enthralling African Contemporary work Inspired by Zimbabwean Shona sculptor Albert Nathan Manvura.

1984 by Lerato Lipere
1984 is 10-minute piece that tackles the 'Big Brother' style society we are living in today. With 24-hour surveillance empowered by technology it is controlling our every move, and our constitutional rights as human beings are being challenged. The piece is to alert audiences to the growing concern that the bigger these wars get the more freedom we end up losing.

With Your Partner performance By Kate Prosser
Choreography By Dwayne Simms
As artists we always enter a space with a plan or a mission but things change, get real and, for once, I just went with it. Currently I am intrigued by the idea of "The Human Vs the Mannequin", With Your Partner initially began by delving away at the idea of the mechanical aspect of the making process of lace manufactured in Nottingham, whilst physically challenging the aesthetics of lace in space.

Arrested Space
Choreographed and performed by Rachel Eke and Emily Bolton
Two performers in a single confined space with no escape route; depictions of panic and fear arise, followed by a sense of surrender. Sharing the area with another body in such close proximity poses more frustration and anxiety. Arrested Space is a challenging and hypnotic piece performed by two final year dance students at De Montfort University.

Ensnarement
Reworked and performed by Anna Simpson
(Original material by Kerry Francksen)
Ensnarement is a reworking of original material taught as part of my final year studying Dance at De Montfort University. Encouraged to find a personal response to this material, the piece draws from burlesque circus and associated ideas including physical manipulation and distortion. This solo reflects a range of movement practices that have informed my dancing over a number of years. I graduate from DMU this summer.

Dance and Movement

Let's Dance: Master Classes

Masterclass with L'AntoinetteStines, Founder of L'ACADCO
Thursday 12 May at 11am, £10 / £8

L'Acadco's mission is to present the rhythms of the Caribbean people on the world stage. L'Acadco had two beginnings. The first was in Miami, Florida. The vision was to bring together the tri-ethnic communities of Spanish, African-American and Caucasian. The second was in Jamaica with a totally different intention to present contemporary dance with a new voice, fresh and valid interpretations of the Jamaican landscape. This master class gives you a taste of the Caribbean rooted in its heritage and grounded in contemporary dance.

Masterclass with Seeta Patel
Thursday 12 May at 2pm, £10 / £8

Born in London, Seeta began training under the guidance of Kiran Ratna in 1990 and has since worked with a range of Bharata Natyam and contemporary dance professionals. She has furthered her studies in Bharata Natyam under the guidance of Mavin Khoo, Padma Shri Adyar K Lakshman, Meena Raman and Pushkala Gopal. She has also worked with Professor C.V. Chandrashekar, Chitraleka Bolar, Liz Lea and Darshan Singh Bhuller. She has toured with Kiran Ratna's company (UK) and the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company (Canada and America).
Image: Peter Schiazza

Bookings can be made online only at www.serendipityartistsmovement.co.uk. Any queries should be referred to Jane Longthorne at Let’s Dance at [email protected]; tel: 07702 304096

Let's Dance: EDge

Friday 13 May at 7.30pm £7.50 / £5

An opportunity to see a new generation of the most promising contemporary dancers.

Commissions by some of Europe’s most exciting and critically-acclaimed young choreographers are brought to you by EDge, the postgraduate performance company of London Contemporary Dance School.

Led by celebrated new Artistic Director Jeanne Yasko, EDge’s 2011 tour showcases performances by a strong and diverse ensemble of five men and seven women, all trained at the world’s most notable dance conservatoires.

The programme features new full length pieces by leading international artists Ben Duke (UK), Jorge Crecis (Spain) and Martin Forsberg (Sweden), alongside other works including Jeremy James’ My Big Pants and a new short commission by Eva Recacha.

www.serendipityartistsmovement.co.uk

Friday 20th May, 8pm £8 / £6 NUS

Lluis Mather (Tenor Saxophone/Clarinet), Holly Thomas (Voice), Matt Ratcliffe (Piano) and Euan Palmer (Drums)

It’s always good to see a young Leicester musician going places. From Guthlaxton College in Wigston, saxophonist Lluis Mather studied at Birmingham Conservatoire, graduating with first class honours last year. Noose, with fellow musicians from the Conservatoire, plays in a contemporary jazz style, with a particular focus on exploring the boundaries between classically influenced composition and improvisation. The unusual bass-less ensemble combines openly with Lluis’ classically influenced compositions.

www.lluismather.co.uk/noose.php

Thursday 26 May at 6.30pm £6

Chopin: Waltzes, op posth 70; Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales; Handel: Suite no 5 in E, HWV 430; Beethoven: Sonata in A, op101
Although only in his early 20s, Richard has had a glittering career so far, gaining distinctions in his music studies and winning many competitions.
Most recently he received first prize and the award for best performance of a work written since 1950 at the prestigious Haverhill Sinfonia Soloist Competition.
Latest solo recital performances include the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Royal Festival Hall and the Wigmore Hall, as well as a broadcast on BBC Radio 3. He has also recorded two CDs.
www.richarduttley.com

Enjoy pre-concert food and drink in the licensed Arts Bar

Events and shows for children and their families across Leicester and Leicestershire, 31 May – 12 June.

Speakeasy Theatre Company presents Movers in Visitor

Wed 1 June 10am (SOLD OUT), 1pm (SOLD OUT) and 3pm

Thurs 2 June 10am, 1pm and 3pm

£5; £16 family (2 adults and 2 under 14s).

A unique theatrical event for all the family created and performed by Learning Disabled artists

Discover a magical world of strange delights in this inventive interactive installation.

Who knows what you may find as you explore the avenues of trees? Sights and sounds are hidden, ready to be awakened by each new visitor. Somewhere there are stories, waiting to be discovered.

Springing from the audience’s interactions with a multi-sensory environment, Visitor is as unique as the visitors themselves. This is a truly accessible environment for children aged 5+ and adults of all abilities.

Speakeasy Theatre Company brings its wealth of experience in facilitating inclusive and immersive theatre to this project alongside Movers, their Learning Disabled theatre company resident at Embrace Arts.

Speakeasy Theatre blog
www.speakeasytheatre.co.uk
www.sparkfestival.co.uk

Friday 3 June at 8pm £6

Perfect for lovers of Miles Davis, this popular tribute show celebrates the music of his famous 1959 recording and the artists who took part, including John Coltrane and Bill Evans. With special “vocaleased” arrangements of some of the master’s trumpet solos.

Midlands Saxophonist Ian Hill returns to Leicester with his unique tribute to the music of Miles Davis and with his original `vocalised arrangements` of Miles Davis playing on the celebrated album `Kind of Blue`.

2011 marks the 20th Anniversary of the passing of the great man himself, and in order to celebrate this important moment of jazz history, Ian has assembled some of the finest jazz players in the region to perform a selection of songs associated with Miles Davis and his famous quintets of the 1950's and 60's, including songs from the "Kind of Blue" album. The band members are:

This Phenomenal Band consists of

Ray Butcher – trumpet

Wayne Mathews - bass

Chris Watts – Synth and vocals

Dave Anderson – drums

Mike Sole – Piano

Ian Hill Saxes

Songs include:- Four - Freddie Freeloader - Funny Valentine - All Blues - Round Midnight – Nardis – Green Dolphin Street - So What - Stella by Starlight – Oleo - Blue in Green – Summertime- There will never be another you.

www.ianhillmusic.co.uk

Great range of hot and cold food available, including curry and naan for just £3.50. Licensed bar.

Thursday 9 June at 6.30pm £6

Including works by Quantz, Saint-Saëns and Howard Blake
Formed at the Royal Northern College of Music in 2006, The Sterling Trio has since established itself as an innovative and engaging chamber ensemble.
Their commitment to new music includes collaborations with several composers, including Howard Blake, whose work is part of the programme for this concert.
As well as formal recitals at such venues as St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Trio enjoys performing at arts festivals and education and community work in schools and hospitals.
Member Sarah Atter began playing the flute at Launde Primary School in Oadby, and was principal flute of the Leicestershire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra and in the LSSO quintet.
www.thesterlingtrio.com

Enjoy pre-concert food and drink in the licensed Arts Bar

This show is an ideal first musical experience for you and your baby, combining recorded music and live singing.
Enter a secret garden full of busy bees, ducks and splashing fish where you will meet the singers and begin your special adventure.
BabyO uses sounds and words that babies can understand, helping to stimulate the beginnings of language development. The vocals vary to mirror and enhance the beautiful scenery, props and the movements of the professional singers in the performance.
Composer: Rachel Drury; Designer: Ali Maclaurin; Singers: Gloria Ellis – soprano, Alan McKenzie – baritone and Arlene Rolph – mezzo-soprano.
www.scottishopera.org.uk

“He’s never sat still that long before!” Esther with Joshua (17 months)
“She absolutely loved it” Sarah with Evie (6 months)
“It was lovely to see how they were stunned into silence as soon as the singing started”
Anna with Maya (17 months)

To get the most out of this show Scottish Opera advise that, wherever possible, each baby is accompanied by one adult.
Limited places for each performance so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Thursday 23 June at 6.30pm £6

Schumann: Frauenliebe und Leben
Kathryn has performed as a soloist on the concert stage as well as in a number of choirs, including the CBSO Chorus.
A music graduate of the University of Birmingham, her roles have included Tormentilla in the rarely-performed opera ‘The Poisoned Kiss’ by Vaughan Williams.
Kathryn, who is studying voice at the Royal Academy of Music under Sarah Walker, grew up in Great Glen and played principal clarinet in the Leicestershire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra.

Art exhibition

Beyond the Horizon

Opening Monday 9 May - Friday 8 July

Preview evening Friday 6 May 6pm - 8pm- all welcome.

Landscape has long been a subject for artists, who have represented it in many forms and media from prehistoric times up until the present day. This exhibition features some of the best contemporary art practitioners in the East Midlands, expressing their connection with, and interpretation of, the land and nature through paintings, prints and photographs. Curated by Embrace Arts.

Wednesday 18 May, 1pm – 1.45pm Free talk and tour of the exhibition by Dr Magnus Gestsson PhD. Please contact us in advance to reserve your place.

Also on show, landscape artwork from students from Judgemeadow Community College.

Free Preview evening – all welcome Friday 6 May, 6pm – 8pm.
Talk by David Crouch, author of ‘Flirting with Space: Thinking landscape relationally’.