Sunderland dancer helps explore the dark side of Facebook

Abbie Ross is part of Fertile Ground, the region’s first graduate dance company which is touring a new dance triple bill.

Entitled Dancing the Road, the tour aims to bring contemporary dance to a wide audience with performances at venues in May and June including Sunderland College and the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art in Fawcett Street.

The company’s artistic director, Dora Frankel, founded the company to nurture and keep local talent in the North East and has commissioned two internationally renowned choreographers to create new work designed to appeal to audiences of all ages, especially those who haven’t seen contemporary dance before.

She said: “It’s an immersive triple bill that takes you beyond time and place.

“Our two brilliant guest choreographers are creating new works for this tour.

“Eight Steps by Malgorzata Dzierzon explores how we negotiate public spaces.

“Era by James Wilton delves into the dark side of digital technology.

“My own piece is called Elephant Dances and celebrates our connection to the majestic elephant.

“It’s all going to be colourful, joyous and thought provoking.

“With this exciting new work we really want to touch local people’s lives with dance.”

The show will premiere at Sunderland College, Bede Campus, on May 11. Tickets are £10, £7.50 concessions.

Sunderland Echo readers get 20% off ticket prices - Promo Code: COMM20SE (for Early Bird bookings valid up to 11pm on 11th April 2016)

Go to http://fertileground.org.uk/whats-on/ and choose ‘book tickets’ for the performance at Sunderland College on 11 May. Enter the promo code when you book.