Dance festival to pay tribute to ice-skating star John Curry

Artistic Skaters · Jul 11, 2019

Dance festival to pay tribute to ice-skating star John Curry

An international dance festival is dedicating the whole of its eight-day programme to Olympic ice-skating champion John Curry, who would have been 70 this year.The Birmingham-born […]

jerseyeveningpost.com

Here is the event website :

Billingham International Festival

Reviews would be very much appreciated if anyone has the opportunity to attend this event!

Artistic Skaters · Jul 14, 2019

Dance festival to honour Olympic skating legend John Curry is backed by Torvill and Dean

An ice skating legend is to be honoured at this summer’s Billingham folk festival with events backed by stars including Torvill and Dean.

www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk

There will also be a 300-strong flash mob inspired by Curry’s famous Don Quixote in Billingham town centre during the festival, and a piece has been created titled 1001 Dreams drawing upon key works and influences of Curry.

The show has received the blessing of Curry’s family and close friends, and also has the support of British Olympic champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. They said: “John Curry inspires a generation of skaters and his legacy continues today.”

CantALoop · Jul 14, 2019

There will also be a 300-strong flash mob inspired by Curry’s famous Don Quixote in Billingham town centre during the festival...

That's so cool! I wonder if it'll be like Nottingham's Torvill and Dean tribute for their Sarajevo 30th anniversary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WOO6qoEcgo

Sylvia · Aug 5, 2019

Press release that mentions MARK HANRETTY, VANESSA BAUER and Russia’s NINA ULANOV: https://billinghamfestival.co.uk/wp...RING-SHOWBIZ-SPARK-TO-NORTH-EAST-FESTIVAL.pdf
Excerpts:

The showcase event is “The Creative Spirit of John Curry” – a special tribute to the
sensational Olympic, World and European figure skating champion. Who took the world by
storm in the 1970s but whose life was tragically cut short at the young age of 44 from an
AIDS related illness. The celebration is choreographed by Mark Hanretty, Balbir Singh
Company and Yebin Mok (American figure skater) – who also appears in the showcase.
The showcase event has enjoyed endorsement from a host of famous names including Jayne
Torvill & Christopher Dean, and Robin Cousins.

“The Creative Spirit of John Curry” will enjoy its world premiere performances at
Billingham Forum
Ice Arena on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th August before heading over to Sheffield on 20th
August to be staged at iceSheffield.

"The Creative Spirit of John Curry" shows are on August 16 & 17 (event and ticket info): https://billinghamfestival.co.uk/events/the-creative-spirit-of-john-curry/
USA skaters Mauro Bruni, Adam Kaplan and Rohene Ward also are listed.

"The Creative Spirit of John Curry" at iceSheffield on Tuesday 20 August 2019 19:30 (ticket info): https://buy.sivtickets.com/allsites/Online/

Sylvia · Aug 10, 2019

Mauro Bruni's Instagram post/photo a few days ago: https://www.instagram.com/p/B02-q5iny-V/

Working on something fabulous and new with @yebinmok to be performed during ‘The Creative Spirit of John Curry’ at the Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance @biffdance can you guess what it is by just the picture?

If anyone goes to this, I'd love to hear a report/read some impressions!

Sylvia · Aug 13, 2019

Clip from Yebin Mok's IG captioned "#afternoonofafaun #rehearsal #johncurryproject #channelingspirit #artistic #beautiful #skating #inspired by #johncurry hoping to create beautiful numbers that he’ll approve.": https://www.instagram.com/p/B06dgV3H5HC/
Clip from Mauro Bruni's IG captioned "making ice babies with @yebinmok for the Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance ... #afternoonofafaun": https://www.instagram.com/p/B1HRbqpHTHN/

2 photos from Mark Hanretty's IG captioned "Working hard with @yebinmok to prepare for this beautiful homage to John Curry in Billingham on 16th/17th August and in Sheffield on 20th August.": https://www.instagram.com/p/B0c4QRunBka/
Another clip from Yebin's IG shows her skating with Mark Hanretty to "Meditation" from Thais: https://www.instagram.com/p/B0-iNXDH4_I/

A few more short clips:
#WilliamTell by #rossini rehearsal clip: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1CcsUQnzts/
Tango group number clips: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1E-p8gHEDm/ & https://www.instagram.com/p/B1E9yzKHjzt/

On ice group photo from the first day of rehearsals showing, L to R: Oscar Peter (SUI), Yebin Mok, John Kerr, Nina Ulanova (and daughter?), Vanessa Bauer, Mauro Bruni & Mark Hanretty: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1CbcX1HpG3/

skatesindreams · Aug 13, 2019

Sylvia said:
Clip from Yebin Mok's IG captioned "#afternoonofafaun #rehearsal #johncurryproject #channelingspirit #artistic #beautiful #skating #inspired by #johncurry hoping to create beautiful numbers that he’ll approve.": https://www.instagram.com/p/B06dgV3H5HC

I hope that we will be able to see the entire program at some point.

aftershocks · Aug 13, 2019

This is very cool.

The melding of the sport and art forms that meant so much to John Curry, that were his passions which he did so much to advance, uplift and evolve during his lifetime. :respec:

Sylvia · Aug 17, 2019

Mauro Bruni has shared 4 (fan cam) video clips from his "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" duet with Yebin Mok (as premiered last night) on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Qq__Gnkfq/

Photos by Danielle Cutler (costumes by Sue Naylor):

Dance festival to pay tribute to ice-skating star John Curry

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