Two show-stopping dance productions coming to Waterside

Prepare to be wowed by two extraordinary dance shows coming to Waterside in May.

Happy Father’s Day, which comes to Waterside on Friday 10 May, is a reflective coming-of-age piece with a comedic edge created by Dani Harris-Walters. A heart-stirring journey that focuses on a vital relationship from an experienced point of view.

With the use of hip hop dance, this engaging solo work navigates through a realm of anecdotal sketches with a fusion of movement, rap, animation and text. This relatable and uniquely crafted work is the unconventional puberty lesson you wish you had during school.

Dani Harris-Walters says: “Happy Father’s Day isn’t just your typical ‘5, 6, 7, 8’ dance show… it’s a theatrical story that will have you in stitches, feel enlightened and grateful for being the wonderful person you are”.

Emergence Dance: Triple Bill 2024 on Thursday 23 May is adrenaline-fuelled works performed by a company of extraordinary dancers. Emergence is the touring postgraduate dance company of Joss Arnott Dance and the University of Salford.

Israeli choreographer Noa Zuk presents The Ladder, with new music by Ohad Fishof. Noa's new dance work explores a slick and stylised movement language that is expressive, extremely rhythmical and driven by gaga technique.

Miguel Altunaga’s Dogma captures the raw physicality of the dancers brought to life on stage through their virtuosity and strength as performers featuring new music by Sabio Janiak.

Artistic director Joss Arnott completes the bill with SURGE, a returning work from last year’s programme celebrating Arnott’s trademark, exhilarating movement language reimagined with this year’s company dancers. A dramatic, fierce and totally rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza, be prepared to witness an exquisite interplay between movement and music, all of which is accompanied by electrifying, percussive music by composer James Keane.

Joss Arnott says: “The new Emergence triple bill for 2024 is a thrilling and ambitious programme, highlighting the quality of dancers emerging onto the global dance scene with work from internationally acclaimed choreographers. Audiences can expect an exhilarating dance programme performed by an extremely talented cast of dancers, featuring original new music and stunning lighting designs. It’s an event you don’t want to miss!”