Tickets & Booking Info
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20.01.22, Walsall Arena (Sold Out)
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15.10.22, The Riley, Leeds (Sold Out)
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20.10.22, Folkstone Quaterhouse (Sold Out)
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11.11.22, Dance East, Ipswich (Sold Out)
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14.03.23, The Lowry, Salford Quays (Sold Out)
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15.03.23, The Lowry, Salford Quays (Sold Out)
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23.03.23. The Point, Eastleigh (Sold Out)
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28.03.23, Storyhouse, Chester (Sold Out)
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06.02.24, Korzo Zaal, Den Haag
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07.02.24, Korzo Zaal, Den Haag
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08.02.24, Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam (Sold Out)
ILLEGAL DANCE
FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE
Tony Adigun’s Illegal Dance is a unique multi-sensory dance theatre experience in which every audience member must decide where they stand, pick a token, rebel or conform!
“The intricacy, the detail...phenomenal!”
Audience Member, The Riley, Leeds
Following the success of Fagin’s Twist, this new story, Illegal Dance, explores a future where artistic expression is forbidden by oppressive regimes around the world. Dynamic contemporary choreography blended with innovative technical stagecraft portrays the tensions in a society that pits order against chaos, security against freedom, and individualism against collective will.
Collect your wireless headphones on arrival and join the preshow silent disco, a carefully curated mix of dance-inspiring anthems for all ages. In this show like no other, you, the audience, decide which of the two 3D audio soundtracks accompany your version of events; enjoy the original and rich sound score or opt for our B-side, layered with insights into the secret thoughts and narrative of the show’s distinctive characters. Switch sound scores anytime during the show at the click of a button.
“So relevant; it hit the nail on the head.”
Audience Member, PDSW, Bournemouth
This mesmerising 80-minute show delivers laser-sharp ultra-HD projection beamed onto multiple surfaces. It will leave audiences of all ages marvelling as six dancers on stage become 60 through the magic of real-time kaleidoscopic video technology.
For the select few who opt for a ticket to follow the way of the rebel, an unpredictable and exhilarating immersive experience awaits.
The back story….
It’s 2030, and dance is a crime.
We should have seen it coming. We spent the first two decades of the new millennium gripped by fear. Facing the war on terror, financial turmoil, climate change, and global pandemics, an anxious public turned to big tech and invasive surveillance for a safety blanket – but at what cost?
While tax breaks were bestowed on the tech giants, funding for art lessons was cut. A generation of children forgot how to sing, paint, and dance, instead absorbing a curriculum of obedience, conformity, and compliance.
“The lights were crazy, the movement was crazy, so so sick.”
Audience Member, The Riley, Leeds
One after another, societies around the world watched as their paranoid leaders criminalised the arts in the vain hope of quashing subversive ideas and dangerous acts of collective expression.
Every life is now defined by an irreconcilable tension between the desire for free expression and the desire for safety. A former dancer must hide her past to protect her daughter. A politician suppresses not just his fellow citizens but also his own ethics. Under pressure from the government, an activist leading his disciples in an artistic rebellion must confront an impossible choice.
In a world where morality is painted in shades of grey, vibrancy can be found in resistance: with dissent silenced, the expressive power of movement brings together artists of all disciplines. This disparate collection of creative souls must motivate and mobilise themselves and their communities in order to harness their collective power against oppression.
“Absolutely fantastic, a powerful performance.”
Audience Member, PDSW, Bournemouth
Director and choreographer Tony Adigun use a synaesthetic blend of movement, music, and design to pull at tangled narrative threads, explore complex character relationships, and expose fragile morality.
Running time: 1 hr 40 mins
ILLEGAL DANCE
Stage Show
CAST
AJANI JOHNSON-GOFFE
Ajani Johnson-Goffe is a talented dancer and choreographer born and raised in the UK. He began his dance career in various community street dance groups and youth programmes such as Exposure, Ricochet, Definitives and Avant Garde Youth. Ajani studied at Brit School and later at London Contemporary Dance school earning
a 1st BA Hons degree in contemporary dance. He continued to hone his skills by performing with companies such as Avant Garde Dance, Richard Alston Dance Company, Riverdance, Boy Blue and ZooNation in theatres and festivals around the world, gaining recognition for his unique style, combining classical technique with contemporary & Hip Hop elements.
As a choreographer, Ajani has created numerous works showcasing his years of training and mastery in movement as well as his ability to tell a story and take the audience on a visual and auditory experience.
SAM FORD
Sam is an experienced professional dancer, choreographer and teacher based in Leeds. Sam first met Avant Garde as a part of The Place’s Company EDge in 2016/17. He has since joined the company for numerous R&D’s and company works over the past 5 years including most recently, SCRUM
and Illegal Dance.
Sam trained at Northern School Contemporary Dance and upon graduating has worked professionally across the contemporary and commercial industries for esteemed choreographers such as Rhiannon Faith, Barnaby Booth, Tony Adigun and English National Opera. Alongside his performance career, Sam is Co-Artistic Director of Northern Rascals, a dance theatre company based in Leeds.
His choreographic highlights include commissions from NSCD, The Place via Choreodrome, The Piece Hall and frequently with the National CAT Schemes across the UK. Outside of dance, Sam is a passionate cook and has become resident company chef for AG when the company is away from home.
DANI HARRIS-WALTERS
Dani is an experienced dancer and choreographer based in South West London. Graduating in 2013 from the University of East London - studying Dance: Urban Practice, His passion is to express his appreciation for the previous and current pop cultures in dance (specifically hip-hop dance).
A product of the Avant Garde Dance Youth Company since 2009, most noticeably being a part of ‘The Black Album’ that toured domestically and internationally. In addition, he was cast as Bill Sykes in their most recent production Fagin’s Twist co-produced by The Place.
As a creative, he leads #PPL Dance Company (est. 2011) where he explores his fusion of street and contemporary movement delivering energetic, powerful, and emotionally moving solos, duets, and group pieces. Dani regularly travels around the UK to teach, train, and mentor young and aspiring dancers. Recently, he has produced his own battle Can’t Touch This Battle in partnership with Scariofunk Collective and now Comperes and DJs at various events.
EVELYN HART
Evelyn is from the UK and started her training in hip hop, jazz & contemporary age 7. She continued training at London Contemporary Dance School.
After graduating and receiving her BA Hons degree, she joined Hofesh Shechter Company apprenticeship for 2 years, in an international tour of ‘Political Mother Unplugged’ and a new creation with The Royal Danish Opera.
She then joined Jasmin Vardimon Company for the creation and national tour of ‘ALiCE’, Evelyn then performed ‘Tannhäuser’, an opera with The Royal Opera House.
ED MITCHELL
Ed is a dance artist based in Leeds/ London who graduated at NSCD in 2020 before touring with Verve 21.
Ed first worked with Avant Garde in the ‘ SCRUM’ 2022 summer tour before joining the company for the stage production.
Currently, Ed has been working with artists such as Barnaby Booth, Bullyache and Northern rascals.
GABBY SANDERS
Gabby is a Brighton/London based dance artist, performer and teacher.
She trained at Northern School of Contemporary Dance (2019) before completing her Masters Degree at London Contemporary Dance School as part of EDGE Postgraduate Company (2021).
Gabby has since worked professionally for companies/choreographers including TRIBE//, Ceyda Tanc Dance, Morvell Dance and Katie Dale Everett. She is now excited to be joining Avant Garde for the tour of Illegal Dance.
CONNOR GRIBBEN
Connor, a 26-year-old artist from the north east, is a talented breaker who has been guided and tutored by the legendary Bad Taste Crew (Ireland) for 14 years.
He represents Battalions Crew (UK) and From Down Town (France) and has made a name for himself in the hip-hop dance scene.
In addition to his impressive dance skills, Conor graduated from Northumbria University in 2020 with a Fine Art degree, showcasing his versatility as an artist. We are excited to see how Conor's artistic vision and unique approach to dance will add to the dynamic nature of our productions.
Aaron Nuttall
Aaron initially began his journey as a footballer but transitioned to a career in dance. He graduated from the prestigious London Contemporary Dance School in 2014.
His professional experience includes collaborations with Avant Garde Dance on various projects, including the reimagining of the solo Vesalii-Icones, a site-specific adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, and his role as an original cast member in Fagin's Twist. Additionally, Aaron has partnered with Zoo Nation on productions such as Some Like It Hip Hop and Message in a Bottle.
Following on from his contribution to Illegal Dance during the research and development, Aaron is thrilled to be back with the team for the international tour.
ILLEGAL DANCE
Spring 2023 Tour Dates
Book Early (Limited Ticket Availability)
Illegal Dance - The Lowry, Salford Quays | Wed 15 Mar
Address: The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ
Date: Wed 15 Mar, 7.15pm
Tickets: £14
Illegal Dance - Storyhouse, Chester | Tue 28 Mar
Address: Storyhouse Theatre, Hunter St, Chester CH1 2AR
Date: Tue 28 Mar, 7.20 pm
Tickets: £22.50
