CROSS GENERATIONAl projects

Protein brings together people of all ages in large scale productions which challenge participants' preconceptions of one another and audience's ideas about what dance can be.

8 steps for 08  
As part of Big Dance 08 in Liverpool, Luca Silvestrini created 8 simple steps which everyone could have a go at learning before the Big Dance finale. Local people learned the steps from You tube and uploaded films of themselves performing. Williamson Square in the city centre was the site of the grand finale, with young and old alike taking part.
Commissioned by Liverpool City of Culture
Choreographer: Luca Silvestrini
Premiere: 13 July 2008

Valfresco 
Valfresco transposes the themes of Alfresco to Valenciennes in Northern France in a full length piece made especially for a diverse cast of 57 untrained and amateur dancers of all ages.
Commissioned by Centre Chorégraphique National Roubaix Nord Pas de Calais.
Artistic director: Luca Silvestrini
Assistant choreographers: Pauline Huguet and Henri Mayer
Sound: Rémi Malcou
Lighting: Arnaud Seghiri
Projections: Seojin Yun and François Engrand
Premiere: 5 December 2007

CROSSROAD 
Performed as part of the Vyronas Summer Festival, in the rocky surroundings of the open Theatre Melina Merkouri in Athens, Crossroad was created during a month residency at the Isadora Duncan Research Centre with a cast of 70 non-professional performers aged 2-70.
Commissioned by The British Council/Greece; produced by Isadora Duncan Research Centre
Premiere: 22 September 2007

THE big dance class 
Commissioned by Arts Council England for the 2006 Big Dance, Protein’s dance routine The Big Dance Class was simultaneously performed by 8962 people all around the United Kingdom, breaking the world record.
Commissioned by Arts Council England, produced by BBC TV
Artistic director: Luca Silvestrini
Assistant choreographer: Natasha Gilmore
Premiere: 22 July 2006

Alfresco 
"A joyous celebration of life, and the flying babies hurtling around the stage with their carers had the audience in stitches." Dance UK News

First performed on the main stage of the West Yorkshire Playhouse as part of the second community dance festival Dansopolis, Alfresco was created over six weekends during Summer 2005. Bringing together 35 local performers aged 2 to over 70 years old, choreographer Luca Silvestrini observes the outdoors through a series of ordinary and extraordinary situations in which weather changes and generational differences create the backdrop for this unique celebration of dance and theatre for everyone.
Commissioned by Yorkshire Dance
Artistic director: Luca Silvestrini
Assistant choreographer: Bobak Walker
Sound and visuals: Darren Cummings
Music by: The Barry Gray Orchestra, Dr. Samuel Hoffman, Riccardo Tesi, David Earl, Livingston-Evans, Zutano, Kabalevsky, Martin Denny, G.P. Telemann, Roni Size/Reprazent, Pascal Comelade, Christina Aguilera /Lil’Kim/Mya& Pink
Premiere: 2 July 2005

CREOLA  
"With Creola, Festival Inteatro rediscovers the people...Creola revivies memories and nostalgias of the community, with a daring, affectionate show" Corriere Adriatico

Created during a month long residency in the rural villages of Marches’ Polverigi and Rustico, Italy, Creola celebrated the memories of the local community through past and present forms of social dancing. The cast was selected during a series of interviews at their homes and work places. As memories started to come out, and early resistances transformed into curiosity and enthusiasm, the idea of the event came to life. In the middle of the village public park, as if gathering for a dance night, the performers re-enacted memories of war and childhood and performed their familiar situations; some were playing cards, some were visiting the hairdresser, one was demonstrating how to make fresh pasta while the dancing kept going and going.
Produced by Inteatro, Centro di Produzione della danza
Choreographed by:Luca Silvestrini and Bettina Strickler
Performed by: a local cast of 31, aged between 9 and 75
Lighting design: Claire Malleson
Sound engineering: Paolo Principi
Video: Protein Dance
Premiere: 10 July 2000