Didy Veldman, The Happiness Project at The Place

Choreographer Didy Veldman is a versatile international dance maker, whose works always provide an intelligent and engaging exploration of something that piqued her curiosity.

And so it is with The Happiness Project, which marks the launch of her new company, Umanoove, and is about to reach The Place after an extensive tour of the UK. Umanoove, in case you were wondering, is a combination of human, manoeuvre, move and you.

The Happiness Project is choreographed for Veldman’s four dancers, with live music from the acclaimed violinist Alexander Balanescu and designs by Kimie Nakano.

Let Veldman herself explain what it’s all about.

Regular patrons of contemporary dance in Britain will be familiar with Veldman’s work: she has choreographed extensively for Rambert, where she was a dancer for the best part of the 1990s, as well as Northern Ballet and HeadSpaceDance.

Originally from The Netherlands, Veldman has worked with, and absorbed the influences of, such giants of contemporary dance as Jiri Kylian, Christopher Bruce and Glenn Tetley, to mention but a few. She has created work for a number of international companies in Canada, Europe and New Zealand.

Her choreographic language is eclectic and highly original. A critic who saw The Happiness Project earlier in its UK tour said it brought us 'some seriously eye-catching dance (…) made to look remarkably effortless, not least the difficult and innovative lifts and the way they all melt into and raise from the floor'.

With Veldman’s track record and this kind of praise whetting our appetite, we would certainly suggest that The Happiness Project is a must.

Post-show discussion with Didy Veldman and the dancers 2 May
Age Guidance: 10+