A new dance experience created with and for children aged six and under is coming to Blackburn Central Library.
It is part of the Rekindle project, bringing additional arts and cultural activities to the libraries of Blackburn with Darwen Library Information Service.
Club Origami, by Takeshi Matsumoto, is an interactive dance show that uses the Japanese art of paper folding as a starting point to sweep family audiences away on a magical adventure.
Inspired by his Japanese childhood, Matsumoto has created a world built entirely with paper and play and fuelled by the imagination of his young audiences.
Club Origami was one of two new dance shows for children from birth to five years old to have been created as part of Little Big Dance. The major three-year national initiative is led by South East Dance in partnership with DanceEast, Take Art and Yorkshire Dance, with more than £370,000 investment from Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England.
As part of its creation process, Matsumoto focused his research on the developmental milestones that impact on very young children’s engagement with art to shape this new dance piece under the guidance of early years specialists and choreographers.
He said: “It’s been wonderful to reimagine contemporary dance through the eyes of children, allowing me to reconnect with my own playfulness and childhood memories.
“The world of Club Origami is an interpretation of the creation story – we begin with the delicate folding of paper to create creatures and natural forms.
“As our natural human curiosity and mischievousness takes hold, the world is transformed with ripping and scrunching. I wanted to plant a seed in the minds of very young children that they have power over their environment.”
Speaking ahead of the tour, Lyndsey Wilson, Spot On Scheme manager, said: “Since its premiere, Club Origami has been performed more than 130 times and in more than eight different countries.
“We are delighted to host this piece for audiences at Blackburn Central Library. It is so important to bring shows which the whole family can enjoy and we know this is a brilliant example of how everyone can get involved and have fun.”
It will be on Thursday, April 11 at Blackburn Central Library, with shows at 11am and 2.30pm.
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