Adad goes " virtual " and talks to Corrine Bougaard about Union's new production which will be touring in the autumn Union's new production Permanent Revolution V2R (which stands for virtual to reality) is about migration and how transition can effect and has affected cultural change and the individual. The intention is to achieve a synthesis between the vision and reality through clearly articulating the mapping through movement music and visuals. It is about stretching into unknown territory, the experience of immigration and cultural enrichment.

Adad: Why have you chosen the three choreographers?

Bougaard: These international artists (Bawren Tavaziza, Vincent Mantsoe and Doug Elkins) have different ways of working with movements and music. The choreographers and their intellectual approach to their art form are very aligned to the way of Union Dance.ùBawren Tavaziva brings dance and sound from Zimbabwe, Vincent Mantsoe of South Africa has a huge knowledge of traditional dance (zulu, Pedi, Zhosa, Venda and Shangaan Dance), and Doug Elkins (associate choreographer of Union Dance) can mix break-dancing with the Brazilian martial art, Capoeira, using his trademark energy and humour.

Adad: What are the benefits of the collaborations with media artists and choreographers?

Bougaard: Working with the media artists, the choreographers, the dancers and designers we have potential to overcome limitations and stretch our boundaries. One major achievement of digital technology is visualisation. Technology help to visualise processes, people and images which can foster and share knowledge. To integrate stunning visuals and sound into the performance, it is a challenge!!!

Adad: How have the structures supporting African/Black dance changed since you started out and now? Would you say it is better or worse?

Bougaard: As in the title of this production, everything seems to revolve, to go round in circles. The dance world generally has a huge infrastructure to support artists in a particularly constructive way. Sustaining excellence in dance and particularly sustaining black dance companies has been a huge issue in the past few years. Artistic development has occurred but slowly, so relatively British Black dancers and their art are still underrepresented, underdeveloped and out of public view.

Adad: Do you consider his next production could be labelled 'new black aesthetic'? What is your understanding of that term?

Bougaard: As our name suggest Union dance's interest do not lie in social and aesthetic separatism. Our work is successful in generating an interest not only in contemporary dance, martial arts and street dance but also the traditional forms of African dance and previously Classical Indian Dance. Union Dance creates an environment which allows dancers the freedom to express themselves, their ideas and their feelings that most people whish they could express. Our aim is always to clearly define, share and articulate our vision pursuing a policy of inclusivity and exploring cultural diversity through bringing cultures together. Union dance exists to express ideas and feelings that enrich culture in contemporary society. Union is a contemporary dance movement and exists to explore and address identity.