Little Big Dance presents Skydiver: a pioneering multi-sensory children’s dance show

A new pioneering, multi-sensory dance theatre show, created by international Dance Artist Xenia Aidonopoulou for children under five, will premiere at Dance Umbrella, London’s international dance festival, in October before embarking on a national tour.

Skydiver, by Xenia Aidonopoulou, has been commissioned by the Little Big Dance programme, a partnership of dance organisations around the country, which is challenging the industry to rethink how dance is made and presented for very young audiences.

Greek Dance Artist and Dramaturg Xenia Aidonopoulou was selected from an open call last year to receive £30,000 to create her new work Skydiver, with mentoring support from early years dance workers, practitioners and specialists; and in collaboration with pre-school children in early years settings around the country.

‘It’s a rare opportunity to be able to actually spend time with your potential audience – in my case, with under five-year-old children- before entering the rehearsal studio,’ says Xenia Aidonopoulou. ‘The Little Big Dance research process has helped me deepen my relationship to this very special audience, made me feel more confident about my creative ideas and the means I use to communicate them. Creating magic onstage has always been my target, and Skydiver is no exception to this approach. I am extremely lucky to be collaborating with an amazing creative team of very talented artists and a group of mesmerising performers, sharing the vision of a highly poetic, immersive, multi-sensory dance theatre performance for early years, Skydiver.’

The resulting piece is a highly visual theatrical experience for families that evokes a magical dream-like world in the skies, brought to life by a stellar cast of creatives.

Music for Skydiver’s dreamy soundscape is being composed by Lana Del Ray’s Musical Director, Jonny Pilcher, who has scored Oscar and BAFTA-winning documentaries and feature films; as well as award-winning plays and contemporary dance pieces.

Puppetry will be created by Alison Alexander, who has collaborated on design with companies including Little Angel Theatre, Goblin Theatre, Monstro Theatre and Tate Modern.

Costumes and designs come courtesy of Mayou Trikerioti who has dressed prestigious actors including Jim Carrey and Charlotte Gainsbourg; and who recently designed costumes for the latest David Cronenberg film Crimes of the Future.

Cath James, Artistic Director of South East Dance, lead partner of the Little Big Dance programme, says: ‘Very young children and their families have been an overlooked audience for too long and Little Big Dance is here to change that. In the first cycle of the programme we commissioned two beautiful new works: it’s ok by George Fellows and Club Origami by Takeshi Matsumoto, which continues to tour internationally. Now, we can’t wait to see where Skydiver takes young audiences.’

Skydiver will continue to tour the UK in 2024. For further information visit www.XeniaAidonopoulou.com

Skydiver is a Little Big Dance commission, led by South East Dance, in partnership with Dance East, Yorkshire Dance and Take Art. Little Big Dance is funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England and is supported by Dance Umbrella, and Strike a Light Festival.