COMMISSIONS

Douglas is available for commissions outside of MDDT and has recently made work for prestigious companies such as ACE dance and music and Phoenix Dance Theatre.

Piece: Beast
Company: Phoenix Dance Theatre
Premiered: September 2009
Choreographed by Douglas Thorpe
Scale: Middle Scale
No of dancers: 6

Thorpe’s Beast looks at rage and the battle between the sides of the brain. How do we as humans make sure that we act in the ‘correct manner’? What is it that stops us making the wrong choice? What happens if the wrong choice is made and rage takes hold?

The physicality of the movement portrays the shocking impact should this ‘wrong decision’ be made. The intensity of the piece displays how dark those thoughts are - even for a person of sound mind.

The piece shows dance at its most extreme both physically and mentally, the audience is plunged into the dark place of peoples’ brains. The side of the brain that can drift off in thought, even when you know those thoughts should never be carried out…...

Beast toured during Phoenix’s 2009 autumn tour, touring to venues including York theatre Royal, Harrogate Theatre, and the Riley Theatre Leeds.

Piece: Listen
Company: ACE dance & music
Premiered: September 2009
Choreographed by Douglas Thorpe with Artistic collaboration by Gail Parmel, Artistic Director, ACE dance & music
Scale: Middle Scale
No of dancers 6

An unsettling portrayal of modern day war, with impressive fast and precise phrases and eastern style ultra-controlled movement and mime. Listen explores post-traumatic stress, flashbacks and power struggles within military and home relationships.

Listen was performed as part of ACE dance & Music’s switch tour and will continue touring through 2010.

If you are interested in commissioning Douglas then please contact his Producer at dep arts ltd
David Edmunds  david@departsltd.com