Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Students bring Alchemy to life at Leeds Light Night
Gathering in Queen Square garden, opposite Leeds Beckett’s Rose Bowl, on Thursday 6 October from 6pm to 10pm, the BA (Hons) Dance and BA (Hons) Performance students and members of teaching staff brought to life their original collaborations, consisting of a series of dance, video and theatrical performances which explore the concept of alchemy.
Gillian Dyson-Moss, Senior Lecturer in Performing Arts at Leeds Beckett, explained: “We are thinking about the elements of the environment – air, water, fire and earth - but also the elements as understood by the early artists, chemists or alchemists who explored the possibilities of elemental materials like gold, mercury and sulphur as they tried to make sense of human existence in the universe. We are bringing this ancient thinking right up-to-date with our own experience of the scientific, political and creative thinkers of today.”
An original score by David Aldred, a Leeds Beckett Masters student in Sound Design, provided a musical back-drop to the event.
Oliver Bray, Head of Performing Arts at Leeds Beckett, commented: “Light Night is a highlight in our annual calendar as it offers us an opportunity to introduce new Performing Arts students to the professional creative community with a real and public experience. Students work quickly with their tutors to create and deliver a high profile event to an audience of several thousand people.
“Our work has become a feature of the Leeds city Light Night programme because it conveys an adventurous and rigorous approach to contemporary performance that is reflective of the work we do in our study programmes, and of the tutor’s global reputation as professional artists. Our events always seem to be a favourite with the Light Night crowd.”
Gillian added: “The performance works are created as part of the students’ autumn programme and will inform their practical and theoretical studies. The event not only offers students a chance to be creative, but offers a way to develop essential team and project management skills, an awareness of the regional and international impact of contemporary arts, a sense of community and a way to contextualise their studies.”