Company to tour China as cultural ambassadors of contemporary Wales

National Dance Company Wales (NDCWales), formerly Diversions, will build on its growing reputation on the international stage by making its debut tour to three cities in China in October.

The flagship arts company will travel in South West China for 10 days, enhancing its position as one of the nation's most active international touring arts organisations

Artistic Director Ann Sholem will take the company's 10 hand-picked dancers and technical team to the South West China cities of Kunming, Chengdu and Chongqing. In Chongqing, a region which celebrates a number of successful cultural connections with Wales, the Company will perform at the city's new Grand Theatre.

This unique opportunity made possible by the British Council will introduce new audiences in South West China to contemporary dance from the UK and build on opportunities for cultural exchange in the region.

National Dance Company Wales South West China tour has been organised by the British Council with support from Wales Arts International, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Chongqing Culture Bureau.

The programme for the tour will be two dances from the current repertory created at NDCWales' home, the Dance House at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

Hinterland by Company associate artist and co-founder Roy Campbell-Moore will also bring the music of Alun Hoddinott to Chinese audiences as Hinterland is set to music by the late Welsh composer using recordings by BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

The second dance is a new work currently being created in Cardiff by Andonis Foniadakis. This is the Company debut by the Greek choreographer.

Ann Sholem said: "Being invited to represent Wales and perform during the opening festival of the Grand Theatre in Chongqing is a great honour for the Company. We are also excited about taking the work through the region to Kunming and Chengdu. I'm sure the Chinese audiences will love the two pieces we are presenting as they both display the extraordinary technical virtuosity and charisma of the dancers."

Director of the British Council Chongqing, Sarah Deverall, also reflected her excitement about the tour: "We are delighted to welcome National Dance Company Wales to China, especially as they will be the first performing arts company we have brought to the new Grand Theatre in Chongqing and to audiences in the cities of Chengdu and Kunming. An innovative and award winning contemporary dance company, NCDWales will make a unique contribution to our cultural relations work. Many special cultural links have already been formed between Wales and Chongqing and this collaboration will build on these foundations to increase opportunities for exchange and collaboration in the future with our partners."

Welsh Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones, said: "This first visit to China by the Company is an excellent example of collaboration between the British Council, Wales Arts International, the Welsh Assembly Government and NDCWales. The Company's verve and sense of adventure meant they did not hesitate in accepting this creative and logistical challenge. I consider that we are lucky to have such a spirit of collaboration and partnership in Wales, and I am sure that audiences in China will be thrilled with the work of NDCWales. The Company will be excellent ambassadors for the contemporary face of Welsh arts and culture on the world stage."

The visit to China will follow the first stage of the Company's autumn tour in Wales and England. On their return the season continues with performances in three UK capital cities, Cardiff, London and Edinburgh.