Dancework started life as a nucleus of three dancer-choreographers, Christine Juffs, Silvy Panet-Raymond and Tony Thatcher, working freely with other dancers and artists. The first performance was a collaborative dance as part of a poetry reading by Peter Redgrove – at the Royal Pavilion Brighton 19 June 1977. Followed by programmes given in London and Brighton. Based in Muswell Hill, they rehearsed at St Peter-Le-Poer Church Hall. Classes and courses were offered regularly throughout the 8 years that Dancework operated (1976 to 1984). Participants often travelled across London to attend, especially when there were guest teachers.
Dancework was fortunate to find a church hall that had a large space wooden floor in reasonable condition. The rent was cheap and due to the sympathetic management – able to be negotiated when needed.
For a long time Dancework managed with difficulty having no administrator. Then Julie Eaglen agreed to work for us, receiving a small commission based fee from performances and residencies. She was exceptionally dedicated with great skills. Up until then it was up to Chris & Tony to deal with the admin. Making calls, typing letters, etc.
The bank manager, firstly the kindly and supportive Mr Bunce – and later Mr Day listened to our requests. Mostly the loans and overdrafts were agreed – increasing our debt of course. But once negotiated we managed to produce new works. It seemed impossible to avoid running up debts. But as far as possible the company operated with restraint. Dancers worked for some time without payment. And even when paid the amount fell always way below Equity minimum.
Julie did a wonderful job for us. And later when she stopped for reasons since forgotten due to the passage of time – Ghislaine Boddington stepped in. Ghislaine was also excellent.
It was difficult for the Dancework founders after a day rehearsing to find the energy to draft or type letters.
Time Out and City Limits were very helpful in including the many courses and performances in Dance Events listings.
From early on, the company built opportunities to work with teachers/ choreographers such as Susan Alexander, Ruth Barnes (teachers at Merce Cunningham Studio, New York), Judith Moss (former dancer with Dan Wagoner Company) and Lisa Kraus (former dancer with Trisha Brown Company). London based teachers occasionally taught contemporary technique: Fionna McPhee, Stuart Hopps and Charlotte Milner (dancer with LCDT). Pat Garrett, and former Festival Ballet soloist Alex Pickford also taught ballet.
The founding directors, Chris Juffs and Tony Thatcher frequently worked as guest teachers abroad – in France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain and Yugoslavia.
Financial support for the company was project based and remained for the most part fairly modest. The Arts Council of Great Britain awarded specific grants and individual bursaries. A few regional Arts Associations also funded regional tours and guarantees against loss.
Commissions were awarded for various choreographic works, original music and lighting.
For its time, Dancework was innovative and sought to create work, evolving into their own style. They could be considered as the first Cunningham based dance company in the UK.
Jacksons Lane Community Centre where Christine Juffs and others taught Saturday dance classes – was a wonderful venue. There were classes, workshops, festivals and frequent performances of contemporary dance.
Rob Fleming, a Canadian dancer who was with Extemporary Dance Theatre taught Erik Hawkins technique at JLCC on Saturdays.
For anyone who is a follower of the TV series “Strictly Come Dancing” in the 2020s- one of the studio spaces seen when celebrity couples rehearse is JLCC.
Extemporary Dance Theatre often performed there in its early days, as did Dancework (with Tamara McLorg).
Muswell Hill and the surrounding areas was a particularly arty place to live and work. There was a sense of community and Dancework members formed many enduring friendships.
The company mostly performed in small to middle scale venues in the UK, with a number of performances in Italy (Turin in the North, and Sicily in the South).
Dancers who performed with Dancework & Works they appeared in:
David Armstrong: “Duet with 2 Handkerchiefs”; “Gazebo”; “Grainger Suite”; “Rita & Jimmy” and “Tail Toddle” 1979
Leslie Bryant: “Gazebo” and short suite of dances for outdoors (Polgooth Fayre, Cornwall 1978/79)
Marilena Celestini: Alexandra Palace and grounds improvisations 1978; “Losing the Patter”; “Luna”
Gill Clarke: (Alexandra Palace and grounds 1978 performances) improvisations; “Dress Piece”; “Losing the Patter”; “Luna”
Howard Cooper: “Gazebo”; “Half of Six Pianos”1979
Sue Curtis: “Grey Window”; “Insect Dance”; “Joycewords”; “Kupcake”; “Monkey’s Wonder” and “Ronsaria” 1982-1984
Sallie Davies: “Animated Shorts” 1978
Mary Evelyn (Mary Goodwin): “A Day in the Life of a Romantic Novelist”; “Corresponding Dances”; “Duet with 2 Handkerchiefs”; “Gazebo”; “Glove”; “Grainger Suite” and “Tail Toddle” 1980-1981
Jane Franklin: Alexandra Palace and grounds improvisations 1978; “Dress Piece”; “Luna” “Losing the Patter”; “Daydream”; “Gazebo”; “Grainger Suite”; “Half of Six Pianos”; “Rita & Jimmy” and “Tail Toddle” 1979-80
Sallie Gardner: “Answerphonedance”; “Five Afield” ; “Pythagoras’ Trousers”; “Sixteen” and “Suds” 1981-82
Christine Juffs
Sue MacLennan: “Beachy Head” Gardner Arts Centre, Brighton 1978
Tamara McLorg: “Dress Piece”; “Half of Six Pianos” and her solo work “Rudimentary Dances” (Programme Dancework & Tamara McLorg 1978) & 1979
Fionna McPhee: “Fence” and “Luna” 1977-78
Gregory Nash: “Ronsaria”; “Monkey’s Wonder” and his solo work “Slippery Afternoon” 1983-84
Silvy Panet-Raymond: “Beachy Head”; “Fence”; “Luna”; “Sadie’s Quartet” and “Trapp via Crwbn to Cross Hands and Tumble” 1977 – 1978
Martha Partridge:” Sadie’s Quartet” (ADMA Festival & Jacksons Lane Midsummer Dance Festival 1978)
Pashyanti: “Half of Six Pianos”; “Gazebo” also outdoor dances (at Polgooth Fayre, Cornwall) 1979-80
Caroline Pope: “A Day in the Life of a Romantic Novelist”; “Five Afield”; “Sixteen”; “Skerry” 1981
Carolyn Priest: “Duet”; “Fence”; “Trapp via Cwbn to Cross Hands & Tumble”; “Luna” 1977-1978
Janet Smith: Shared programme in which Janet also performed “Luna” 1978
Tony Thatcher
David Turner: “A Day in the Life of a Romantic Novelist”; “Five Afield” ;”Sixteen” & “Skerry” 1981
Dancework Choreo- Chronicle
“3 Military Dances” 1978 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher Music: Band of the Royal Marines
“A Day in the Life of a Romantic Novelist” 1980 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher Sound score (voices) by John White.
“Animated Shorts” 1978 Choreographer: Silvy Panet-Raymond
“Answerphonedance” 1981 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher. Tape by Carl Faber
“Beachy Head” Choreographer: Silvy Panet-Raymond. Music specially composed by Barnaby Priest (ACGB commission). Played by William Ennals – percussion.
“Corresponding Dances” 1980 Typewritten score by Ruth Barnes – interpreted and realised by Christine Juffs. Music by Christopher Benstead
“Daydream” 1978 Chorographer: Jane Franklin. Music by Telemann
“Dress Piece” 1978 Choreographer: Christine Juffs. Music specially composed and played by Stephanie Cant
“Duet with 2 Handkerchiefs” 1980 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher
“Duet” 1977 Choreographer: Christine Juffs Music: Martha Partridge
“Duet” 1978 Choreographer: Tamara McLorg Music: Christopher Bowman
“Fence” 1978 Choreographer: Janet Smith
“Five Afield” 1981 Choreographer: Judith Moss Music: Tape collage – “The Old Grey Horse” Jews Harp; Recording Big Apple Auction; “Quill Blues” played by Big Boy Cleveland. Costumes: Sherri Alley
“Gazebo” 1979 Choreographer: Ruth Barnes. Music: “I Wonder Who’s Kissing her Now” sung by David Vaughan (Archivist of Merce Cunningham Dance Company)
“Glove” 1980 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher. Music: Specially composed by Howard Friend – initial performance Duet Programme at ICA Dance Umbrella. New music commissioned from John White for all further performances. Costumes: Beatrice Berry & Katie McPhee.
“Grainger Suite” 1980 Choreographer: Christine Juffs. Music by Percy Grainger: “Country Gardens”; “Knight & Shepherd’s Daughter”; “Molly on the Shore”; “Lullaby”.
“Grey Window” 1983 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher Music specially composed by Gavin Bryars. Film collaboration with cine films by David Robinson. Costumes: Adele Thompson. Cine projectors operated by Irene Hall.
“Half of Six Pianos” 1978 Choreographer: Christine Juffs. Music by Steve Reich
“Island” 1977 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher. Created whilst members of Islington Dance Factory but then formed part of the first programme by Dancework. Sound tape by Alan Clayden. Costume designed and made by Nicola Gregory.
“Insect Dance” 1983 Choreography collaborative: Sue Curtis, Christine Juffs & Tony Thatcher. Sound recording of insects (from BLOWS at BIRS)
“Janis” 1977 Choreographer: Christine Juffs Music by Janis Joplin “Summertime”
“Joycewords” 1982 Choreography: Christine Juffs to a 1929 recording of James Joyce reciting the Anna Livia Plurabelle from “Finnegans Wake”
“Kupcake” 1982 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher Music by Ladislav Kupkovic “Morceau de Genre”
“Losing the Patter” 1978 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher Music specially composed by Robin Hartwell (ACGB commission) Music performed live at Alexandra Palace performances.
“Luna” 1977 Choreographer: Christine Juffs Music by Keith Jarrett “Spheres” 7th Movement
“Monkey’s Wonder” 1983 Choreographer: Lisa Kraus Music by Peter Gabriel “Shock the Monkey” and Double time Balinese Gamelan, backward music
“Planes” 1978 Choreographer: Christine Juffs Music by Keith Jarrett “Spheres” 1st Movement.
“Pythagoras’ Trousers” 1981 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher Music specially composed by John White
“Rita & Jimmy” 1979 Choreographer: Jane Franklin Music by Poulenc
“Ronsaria” 1983 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher Music: Holger Czukay/ Live radio tuning & Donizetti “L’Elisir d’Amore”. Taken into the repertory of Diversions Dance Company (Wales) in 1984
“Rudimentary Dances” 1978 Choreographer: Tamara McLorg Music: Popular
“Sadie’s Quartet” 1978 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher
“Sidescraper” 1980 Choreographer: Christine Juffs Music specially composed by Gavin Bryars
“Sixteen” 1981 Choreographer: Christine Juffs Music specially composed by Gavin Bryars. Choreographic and music commissions by the Bolton Festival for which it was premiered.
“Skerry” 1981 Choreographer: Ruth Barnes Music by Dick Gaughan
“Slippery Afternoon” Choreographer: Gregory Nash. Music: Traditional East Anglian. This solo work performed by Greg, formed part of the final Dancework performances as a quartet in 1984
“Solo With Hand” short site specific piece Hobson Gallery, Cambridge 1980 Choreographer: Christine Juffs
“Suds” 1981 Choreographer: Sallie Gardner
“Tail Toddle” 1979 Choreographer: Jane Franklin Music: Boguslav, MacColl & Spence.
“The Check Up” 1980 Choreographer: Stuart Hopps Music composed by Christopher Benstead Both were ACGB commissions.
“Trapp To Crwbin Via Cross Hands & Tumble” 1977 Choreographer: Silvy Panet-Raymond. Music: Anna Lockwood “Glass World”
“Video Solo & Lonely Fragments” short site specific piece for Hobson Gallery, Cambridge 1980 Choreographer: Tony Thatcher
Images from above Works
