During an unprecedented time for the arts and culture sector, Z-arts and Sustained Theatre Up North (STUN) are delighted to be able to support and commission artists to create work. In this instance, through partnering with HOME through HomeMakers, we’re really pleased to be able to bring an amazing performance into your home through Chad Taylor’s dance performance, Lost Online.
The Show
When we’re cooped up inside, we’re still able to see the world outside thanks to the magic of technology. Lost Online is a conversation between hip hop dance and social media, inspired through young people and families’ use of dance challenges on TikTok and Instagram. After years of limiting screen time for our children, our devices have become a portal to the outside world and a place for everyday creativity. In Lost Online, this is captured through dancers who share movement, but are in completely different places.
Children and families are now using lockdown as an opportunity to meet online, dance together whilst staying apart and creating and maintaining interests and friendships. After years of differentiating “online” and “real life”, we’re all starting to realize that online is real life after all – and this new dance piece explores this new reality.
The Artist
Chad Taylor has been dancing from the age of 11, training in the foundations of hip hop. At 14 years of age started to widen his dance vocab, incorporating other styles including ballet, tap, and jazz, His professional experience started at the young age of 15, where he appeared on TOTP and CD:UK.
At the age of 19, he graduated from the Hammond School with a National Diploma in Dance, having obtained a Full Scholarship to study there. He then went on to work in the professional world, with artists such as Cheryl Cole, Paloma Faith, Sade, Take That, Meatloaf, Joe McElderry, Little Mix andLMFAO and has also worked with renowned choreographers, including Fatima Robinson. In addition to this, he has performed at the X-factor final at the O2 Arena, Brit Awards and the Royal Variety Show.
Chad has always had a creative side and had an interest in choreography and theatre. He has received Arts Council Funding to present his own production at Contact Theatre as apart of the Black Gold Arts Festival. His work has been platformed at events such as Breakin‘ Convention at Sadlers Wells, London and Let’s Dance International Festival in Leicester. He choreographed for CBBC program ‘ZinZillers’ in 2012. He has also worked with the winner of Britain’s Got Talent, George Sampson, as a choreographer for his live performances and has choreographed for Manchester Fashion Week.
We are really excited to be bringing you exclusive clips from this piece as a work in progress before the final release of the project online on Thursday 21 May, through HOME’s website.
Information about Commissioning Partners
Z-arts
Z-arts is the UK’s only arts centre dedicated to children and families. We believe that theatre and the arts are inspiring, immersive and magical, and that they are for everyone! We want to share the joy of creativity, imagination and storytelling with children and families in Greater Manchester and beyond, and we work with and support local, national and international artists to promote creativity, create amazing work and encourage bold new ideas.
www.z-arts.org | Twitter: @Z_arts_mcr | Facebook: Zartsmcr
STUN (Sustained Theatre Up North)
STUN is part of a National Movement dedicated to the growth and prosperity of BAME Creatives across the UK. We are a membership organisation of individual practitioners and organisations making art based in Manchester, and offer offices and a studio space for developing new work currently under construction at Z-Arts in Hulme. We look to support BAME creatives in creating new work and are working to diversify the arts.
Twitter: @stunlive | Facebook: SustainedTheatreUpNorth
HOME
HOME is Manchester’s centre for international contemporary culture. Since opening in May 2015, HOME has welcomed over two million visitors to its two theatres, five cinemas, art gallery, book shop and restaurants. HOME works with international and UK artists to produce extraordinary theatrical experiences, producing an exciting mix of thought-provoking drama, dance and festivals, with a strong focus on international work, new commissions and talent development. HOME’s ambition is to push the boundaries of form and technology, to experiment, have fun, take risks and share great new art with the widest possible audience. The patrons of HOME are Danny Boyle, actress Suranne Jones, playwright and poet Jackie Kay CBE, artists Rosa Barba and Phil Collins, filmmaker Asif Kapadia, and actress and author Meera Syal CBE.
www.homemcr.org | Twitter: @HOME_mcr | Facebook HOMEmcr