From Greenwich with Love (Abbey Wood)
Dates and times
15th August 2021: 12:00, Plumstead Gardens, Church Manorway, Abbey Wood, SE2
15th August 2021: 13:30, Plumstead Gardens, Church Manorway, Abbey Wood, SE2
From Greenwich with Love is a new outdoor contemporary dance piece commissioned and presented by Greenwich Dance. Choreographed by Mathieu Geffré, this work invites audiences on a love themed promenade. Featuring six outstanding performers, this piece presents three love duets inspired by true stories that have been gathered throughout the creative process. Poetic, surprising and entertaining, expect to be taken on a happy voyage of great dancing, celebrating love in all its diversity.
From Greenwich with Love will be popping up all over the borough this summer. Be sure to check out the Digital Stage for lots of From Greenwich with Love content!
Suitable for all ages.
Please note: the nature of the choreography in this show means that if there is wet weather we may not be able to perform safely and therefore will need to cancel performances. Please check our Facebook and Twitter for updates on the day. We will work with the event organisers to try and find an alternative performance area where possible.
#FGWL
Artistic Director and Choreographer Mathieu Geffré
Producer Martin Collins
Composer Fabian Reimair
Performers Theo Arran, Tania Dimbelolo, Fern Grimbley, Marla King, Michael Marquez, Paolo Pisarra Bucci
From Greenwich With Love is supported by the Royal Borough of Greenwich part of the Royal Greenwich Festivals and Greenwich Dance.
Photos: Roswitha Chesher
Who's Who
Mathieu Geffré (He/Him)
After graduating from the Paris Conservatoire in 2006, Mathieu Geffré has danced across Europe for the past 15 years. As a member of companies such as Dansgroep Amsterdam, Noord Nederlandse Dans, and National Dance Company Wales, he collaborated with numerous leading choreographers including Itzik Galili, Johan Inger, Mark Baldwin, Christopher Bruce and Angelin Preljocaj among others. Alongside his performing career Mathieu has created and presented work on many European stages including Internationales Solo Tanz Theater Festival in Stuttgart, Figueres es MOU in Spain, Mermaid Dance Platform in Northern Ireland, Aids TanzGala and Regensburg-Germany since 2012. Mathieu was awarded the 3rd Prize Choreography at the prestigious Copenhagen International Choreography Competition in 2016. He has recently launched his company, Rendez-Vous dance, with which he creates inclusive projects to tell past and current LGBTQIA+ stories. Mathieu has also made work for Nationaltheatre Mannheim, Rambert School, Phoenix Dance Theatre Youth Academy and Boston Dance Theatre.
Theo Arran (He/Him)
Theo began his training as a breakdancer and was introduced to ballet and contemporary dance later on in his studies. He studied at Rambert and then Trinity Laban graduating with a first class BA Honours in Contemporary Dance. He continued his training at Verve, the postgraduate company of Northern School of Contemporary dance, achieving a Distinction level Masters Degree. During his training he has had the opportunity to work with artists including Ben Wright, Hannes Langolf, Sita Osthiemer, Matthew Robinson, Ihsan Rustem and Lenka Vagnarova. Since graduating Theo has worked with Joseph Mercier (Desperate Gestures and Freddie), Wilhelminaa Ojanen (Land), ZoieLogic Dance Theatre (Heist) and Mobius Dance (Vibrant Matter and Encounters 3). He has also been part of processes and performances with Holly Blakey, Abbott Dance Theatre and Andrea Galvani. Theo currently works with Sofia Nappi and Barnaby Booth and is working in collaboration with Beatriz Calzado for their work Facing North.
Tania Dimbelolo (She/Her)
At 14, Tania began her training at Swindon Dance- ‘CAT Scheme’ before commencing at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance to attain her Bachelor of Arts Degree. During her training, Tania further developed her style of movement in the fusion of Contemporary/ Ballet with Bone Breaking and Contortion. Upon graduation, Tania has worked with a number of acclaimed choreographers such as Leo Lerus, Paul Sadot, Dane Hurst, Sally Marie, Jamaal Burkmar and Holly Blakey. She has also worked with several luxury companies including; Kenzo, Burberry, Nike, Netaporter, Ellesse, Ferragamo and Jo Malone. Tania also had the pleasure of starring in Uber Advertisement ‘Effortless Night’, directed by Kim Gehrig.
Fern Grimbley (She/Her)
Originally from York, Fern Grimbley trained at Northern School of Contemporary Dance on the BPA course, where after she continued her training with the Post Graduate company Verve gaining her Masters and touring internationally and nationally with pieces created by Matthew Robinson, Hannes Langolf, Lenka Vagnerova and Sita Ostheimer. Since starting her freelance career Fern has worked, performed and collaborated with various artists and companies including Northern Rascals, Company Nil, Extended Play, Northern Connections and Jaz Woodcock-Stuart. Alongside this Fern has featured as the lead dancer and actor in the art film ‘Quarantaine’ by Georgina Starr and Prep Bands music video ‘Carrie’, as well as featured in music videos for Mykki Blanco x Dazed x Gucci, Emily Burns ‘Is It Just Me’ and the short film ‘Limelight.’
Marla King (She/Her)
Marla is originally from Wales and graduated with a first class BA(Hons) degree from Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2019. Following this, she spent time as an apprentice dancer with National Dance Company Wales, learning and performing work by Ed Myhill, Nikita Goile, Anthony Matsena, Fearghus O’Conchuir and Alexandra Waierstall. She has since worked with Gwyn Emberton (Jones the Dance), Elisabeth Schilling and Rhiannon Faith Company. Marla is also a sports massage therapist, climate justice advocate and greatly values a strong sense of connection and humanity within her dance practice.
Marla hosts a podcast called ‘A Little Bit of Lagom’ (accessible on Spotify) which takes a more human approach to climate conversations, highlighting the connections between social and environmental injustices and exploring ways that individual and community action can evoke positive change.
Michael Marquez (He/Him)
Born and raised between the Philippines and Italy, Michael (he/him) is an independent dance artist based in Leeds, UK. After pursuing a BFA from The Juilliard School in New York City, he went on to dance with Cleveland based GroundWorks Dance Theater, where he originated roles in many creations. Aside from performing, he was a dance faculty member at the Cleveland State University, and a freelance choreographer.
In the Autumn of 2017, he moved to the UK to perform with Alexander Whitley Dance Company and later with Phoenix Dance Theatre, where he also choreographed work through Phoenix Youth Academy and Rural Tour 2019. Most recently, he is pursuing independent creative endeavours in collaboration with different medias, as well as a faculty member at CAPA College (Wakefield, UK).
Paolo Pisarra (He/Him)
Originally from Italy, Paolo is a London-based dance artist. He has performed works by Celia Rowlson – Hall, Emanuel Gat, Sivan Rubistien, Luca Braccia, Merce Cunningham, Jose Limon and Mauro Bigonzetti. Paolo also danced with BalletBoyz, Zoielogic Dance Theatre and Scottish Dance Theatre performing works by Colette Sadler, Botis Seva and Fluer Darkin. He has been selected as understudy for the “Night of 100 solos”, the Centennial event for Merce Cunningham. From 2019 he is member of Rendez-vous Dance directed by Mathieu Geffré.