Tees Valley Arts, working with the African Arts Association and Middlesbrough Council, will once again be lighting up a dark time of year with WinterFest ’07 – the Tees Valley Festival of World Music and Culture.
There will be numerous events taking place from 21st – 27th March (yes, we know it’s officially Spring, but we’ll still have our vests on!) including a headline concert from Tinariwen – soul rebel poets and blues-players from the Sahara – on tour across the UK in March, and playing WinterFest at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Saturday March 24th.
Earlier in the day on Saturday 24th March there will be a youth event in Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt – details to be confirmed – but which will definitely include a performance of Masked Ball.
Masked Ball is an exciting new commission, managed by Tees Valley Arts and funded through Creative Partnerships Tees Valley, in which musician Maurice Dezou, dancer/ choreographer Merville Jones (formerly of Phoenix Dance in Leeds), and designer/ maker Kate Ryder are working with 45 students from Manor College of Technology, Hartlepool to create a theatrical dance piece based on African masks. The premiere of Masked Ball will take place in the WinterFest Youth Event, which will also include local young bands and top name DJs.
More WinterFest details will be released as soon as plans are confirmed, and will be available from Tees Valley Arts and at www.winterfest.org.uk.