Matthias Sperling
“It’s a real pleasure to be joining Dance4 as Associate Artist. After working with Random Dance for a number of years, I’m now developing my own choreographic work, and Dance4’s focus on questioning choreographic practice makes it a brilliant and challenging environment in which to do that.
I’m originally from Canada and have been based in London since 1997. Over the past year I’ve become an increasingly frequent visitor to the East Midlands region for a series of exciting projects. Most recently, Dance4 presented the premiere of my newest work, Riff, at nottdance07. Created in part at Dance4’s studio, this solo explores the idea of sampling movement and choreography, aiming to create an original work entirely out of sampled material. Earlier this year, I also worked with secondary school students in Nottingham to create a site-specific performance celebrating the re-opening of Old Market Square, inspired by an encounter with Austrian choreographer Willi Dorner.
My varied past experience includes working with companies including Matthew Bourne’s Adventures in Motion Pictures and Kerry Nicholls Dance Company, as well as a wide range of teaching experience and work on the films Billy Elliot and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. After meeting through the Jerwood Bank Project 2006, Siobhan Davies generously agreed to mentor me in my creative work and I’m very excited to be participating in a creation with her in 2009.
I look forward to deepening my association with Dance4 and the many exciting strands of activity happening in the region. My plans include creating and performing new work, engaging in exchanges with other East Midlands-based artists and initiating creative projects with schools and communities in the region”
