The Stage

Choreographers’ Carnival takes first steps in London

Published Tuesday 21 September 2004 at 16:00 by Liz Thomas

Dance legend Arlene Phillips and Kylie Minogue’s choreographer Michael Rooney will join more than 100 dancers at the UK premier of the Choreographers’ Carnival.

The night is now a weekly event in Los Angeles and provides a forum for choreographers to demonstrate their work and come together to discuss projects and ideas. The UK event, to be held at Cirque in Leicester Square, is the brainchild of performer Patrick Allen. Allen hopes to emulate the LA event, which draws in stars, agents and producers looking for new talent.

Phillips, who created seventies dance troupe sensation Hot Gossip and has worked on shows such as We Will Rock You, Saturday Night Fever, Starlight Express and Grease, said: “This is the first time this event has been held in the UK and it is sorely needed. It will provide young choreographers the opportunity to show off their performances to the public and other choreographers or producers. In this country, they don’t often get the chance to do so.”

She hopes the night will become a weekly event here, drawing West End, commercial and new choreographers together.

“For some it may raise their profile,” she said. “Hopefully it won’t just be about nurturing new talent but also a place where everyone in the field can gather to create and develop ideas.”

Rooney, son of actor Mickey Rooney, has attended the US shows for the past three years and feels the event is necessary for development of the art in the UK.

He said: “I have hired many dancers that I would never have got to see if I hadn’t gone to the US Carnival. I am so excited to attend the first show here in the UK and I have been blessed with the ability to hire a lot of talented dancers in London.”