Dance festival LEAP returns for 2015

Next month sees the return of Liverpool dance organisation MDI’s regular LEAP festival - this year part of its 21st birthday celebrationsto boot. LEAP 2015 aims to bring quality contemporary dance experiences to the city, and will offer not just the chance to see performances at the Unity and the Capstone Theatre, but the opportunity to learn to dance through a special LEAP MDI Studio 24 class programme, take part in discussions in creative conversations and dance the night away at a special dance hall club night. Kicking off the festival performances at Unity Theatre on March 4 and 5 will be PanicLab’s new show R.I.O.T (written and performed by a team Homotopia favourite Joseph Mercier), which sees a comic book come to life and question what might a superhero look like in today’s troubled world. The festival will also feature performances from Arno Schuitemaker (Netherlands), Company Boukousou (France), and Liz Aggiss (UK) alongside evenings of performances featuring dance from the north and a new event featuring graduate dance companies. There will also be an evening of performances from the Moving Dance Forward Associates, showcasing a variety of artists based in Merseyside and Manchester. Audiences outside of the city centre will be able to see festival works at the Arts Centre in Ormskirk and the Atkinson (Southport). New for this year, MDI has developed an exclusive programme of events at its base of Studio 24 on Hope Street, featuring ballet, contemporary, and fusion classes open to all. MDI’s artistic director Karen Gallagher MBE said: “MDI is so excited to be presenting this festival as part of our 21st birthday year, working in partnership with great venues in the city to give Liverpool the chance to engage in quality dance experiences through performances, conversations and master classes. It is so important that audiences have access to see quality dance regularly. This year the programme is so varied there is something for everyone to come and enjoy.” The full programme is available on the MDI website.