This summer something quite breathtaking will be popping up in stunning locations across the North York Moors National Park including Rievaulx Terrace, Wykeham Abbey and The Moors National Park Centre, Danby.

Terrarium is a new dance performance created by Leeds-based choreographer Simon Birch and is one of the highlights of the National Park’s 60th anniversary celebrations. It runs from 1 to 12 August with a mix of afternoon and evening performances.

The performance takes place in a giant bubble, four and a half metres in diameter, enabling the audience to view the dance in relation to the surrounding landscape.

Performed by two dancers, Terrarium – dance in a bubble is inspired by the beauty and wildness of the moors and coast and the changes that take place with the passing time and seasons. It promises to be a beautiful visual experience and is also a comment on our connection to landscape recognising that all our lives are caught in the cycle of nature.

Composer Jon Hughes has created an extraordinary musical soundtrack, played through an ambisonic surround-sound system designed to give the listener an almost 3D sound experience.  He and his musicians have based the music on a series of recordings he made in locations around the National Park, including sounds from under the surface of the river Esk, recorded using underwater microphones, which are incorporated into the music itself.

Guided walks, displays and open rehearsals during August complement the performances (details below).

You can enjoy a sneak preview of the piece when an extract is performed at at Big Dance – Celebration, Yorkshire Dance’s day-long extravaganza of performance and participation for Big Dance 2012 in Leeds’ Millennium Square, on Sunday 15 July.

The creation and development of Terrarium – dance in a bubble has been funded by Arts Council England, produced by Spin Arts Management with support from the North York Moors National Park Authority and Yorkshire Dance, the Leeds-based dance agency for the Yorkshire region. JBL Leisure has supported the project by subsidising the design and manufacturing of the giant bubble.

Simon Birch, choreographer, says, “Our aim is to capture the audiences imagination by placing high quality live dance performance in unusual and inspiring rural locations. We are grateful to the North York Moors National Park for providing us with this amazing opportunity to perform in the stunning locations and to be part of their 60th anniversary celebrations.”

Sally Ann Smith, Events and Exhibitions Coordinator for North York Moors National Park Authority, says, “When we discussed how we wanted to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the North York Moors National Park, we were keen to put on a range of events that would appeal to those who know and love the area but that would also entice those who had yet to discover its beauty. We are thrilled that Simon has chosen to link his latest production to the North York Moors and to help us celebrate our anniversary in what I am sure will be a truly memorable way. I am also very grateful to the various venues who are allowing us to stage this wonderful performance in such stunning locations.”
 

Tour dates

Wed 1 Aug, 7.30pm
Wykeham Abbey, near Scarborough

Thu 2 Aug, 7.30pm
The Moors National Park Centre, Danby near Whitby

Fri 3 Aug, 3.00pm&7.30pm
Sneaton Castle, Whitby

Sat 4 Aug, 3.00pm & 7.30pm
Kirkleatham Hall, Redcar

Sun 5 Aug, 7.30pm
The Moors National Park Centre, Danby near Whitby

Wed 8 Aug, 7.30pm
Rievaulx Terrace, near Helmsley

Thu 9 & Fri 10 Aug, 7.30pm
The Moors National Park Centre, Danby near Whitby

Sat 11 Aug, 3.00pm & 7.30pm
The Show Field, Kildale, near Stokesley

Sun 12 Aug, 7.30pm
Rievaulx Terrace, near Helmsley
 

Terrarium Trails

Three Terrarium Trails follow the routes taken by choreographer Simon Birch and composer Jon Hughes during their research for the dance and are a great way to see the landscape through the eyes of the artists. They’re free and suitable for all the family.

These walks are led by voluntary rangers but places are limited so booking is essential. To book, call the North York Moors National Park Authority on 01439 772738.

Roseberry Topping - Tue 26 Jun, 5:30pm (approx 2 hours)
At: Newton under Roseberry Car Park on A173 (Grid Ref: NZ 570127)
Distance: 2.75 miles
Note: Steep sections

Sutton Bank - Tue 17 Jul, 10:30am (approx 2.5 hours)
At: Sutton Bank National Park Centre
Distance: 3.25 miles
Note: Steep sections and steps

Staithes - Tue 24 Jul, 1.00pm (approx 3 hours)
At: Staithes Old Station car park (Grid Ref: NZ 780186)
Distance: 3.25 miles
Note: Steep sections and steps

Follow Simon Birch’s blog, in which he and his collaborators write about the creative process behind Terrarium – dance in a bubble, here: http://terrariumblog2.tumblr.com/

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