Rambert Dance Company - Introduction

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Introduction

Awakenings

Malgorzata Dziernon & Pieter Symonds © Simon WeirA theatrical rollercoaster of emotions, Awakenings is based upon true life stories and inspired by Dr Oliver Sacks' book of the same name, made famous by the 1990 Hollywood film. Featuring a specially-commissioned score, both passionate and lyrical, the Rambert dancers and orchestra draw you into this dramatic and spine tingling new work.

In 1918 a mysterious sleeping-sickness epidemic swept across the world leaving hundreds of survivors in an unexplained paralysis. This moving new work is inspired by the powerful true stories of a group of very individual patients, catapulted temporarily but dramatically from their long slumber into their own emotionally-charged awakenings.

No two performances from Britain's most popular contemporary dance company are ever the same with a constantly changing repertoire and 22 of the world's finest and most versatile dancers. The Rambert Orchestra, under the music direction of Paul Hoskins, adds another thrilling dimension to each performance.

Awakenings had its world première at the The Lowry, Salford on 22 September 2010.

Awakenings is commissioned by Daniel Katz Limited.

Photo: Malgorzata Dzierzon & Pieter Symonds © Simon Weir