it will come later, the fourth intercultural dance production from iCoDaCo (International Contemporary Dance Collective), finishes its international tour in Wales and England this autumn. Developed by six renowned dance artists across five countries, it will come later has already been performed in Sweden, Hungary, Poland and Hong Kong, and the tour is now being brought to the UK by Welsh company Gwyn Emberton Dance (GED). One of Wales’ leading dance artists, Eddie Ladd, is a choreographer and performer in the piece, which responds to unstable modern politics and the need to push for democracy and collaboration.
Working across borders, it will come later was developed through a series of residencies in each host country throughout 2018, exploring an initial theme of transformation with the artists and their local communities. Coming from Wales, Sweden, Hungary, Poland and Hong Kong, the rapidly transforming politics of the UK, Europe, Eastern Europe and Hong Kong lit a touch-paper of exchange between the artists. The collaborative process has resulted in a relevant, contemporary piece which particularly resonated in Hong Kong in July, with the country’s ongoing political protests demanding democratic reform.
it will come later is performed around a constantly revolving set, ebbing and flowing with light as the six dancers push against each other in a constant flow of transformation, representing the effort needed to keep working for democracy, equality and individuality. The stripped-back contemporary dance work is a microcosm of collaboration and negotiation in these divisive times. Each artist, including Wales’ Eddie Ladd, brought their unique perspective on the force of transformation to the room throughout the project.
Eddie Ladd, from Aberteifi, said: “It's been a pleasure and a pain and a challenge and a blessing to be a part of this project. In truth, and in cliché, I learned from everyone, mostly to accept and go ahead rather than test every idea to destruction. I was astonished by the choreographies that we six made, ones that I could not have imagined before we met up. The company is a society in miniature. And the work shows our efforts to stay together and move together.”
The 2018/2020 iCoDaCo choreographers and performers are: Lee Brummer (Sweden), Mui Cheuk-Yin (Hong Kong), Eddie Ladd (Wales/UK), Joseph Lee (Hong Kong), Weronika Pelczyńska (Poland) and Imre Vass (Hungary). Each were selected as leading artists in their home countries and internationally, with Mui Cheuk-yin bringing over 30 years of experience from the forefront of dance in Hong Kong.
The Wales and England autumn tour is supported by the Creative Europe Programme by the European Union, Arts Council of Wales, Wales Arts International and the Swedish Arts Council, and is produced by Welsh company Gwyn Emberton Dance who have supported the project internationally as a partner organisation of iCoDaCo since 2014. it will come later is also part of the Arts Council of Wales’ This Is Wales showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2019.
As well as the autumn tour performances, there will be public talks, workshops at Universities and Colleges, and a weekend of creative exchange between the iCoDaCo international artists and Cardiff’s performing community at the University of South Wales.
Beyond the iCoDaCo 2018/2020 performances of it will come later, a book will be published in June 2020. Featuring photography, written articles, and personal reflections from the international artists, the book will be an opportunity for people to explore and discuss the work – and its unique intercultural collaborative process – for years to come.
it will come later by iCoDaCo opens at Chapter, Cardiff on 24 September.
Then tours to Bristol, Aberystwyth, Montgomery and Carmarthen until 4 October.
For more information and to follow the progress of the iCoDaCo 2018/20 project and it will come later, visit icodaco.com/blog
