Dance, and music  will combine to create a visually stunning piece art as the acclaimed Illuminate comes to Wythenshawe Library on Friday. 

Following much-praised performances by Company Chameleon at Manchester Central Library in November, there will be special performances at three libraries this week.

The performance, on Friday Feb 2 is free, but booking is essential, bringing cutting-edge, contemporary dance to the heart of local communities, providing an extraordinary experience between the bookshelves and showcasing just what exciting and creative​ ​spaces libraries can be.

Commissioned by Library Live, the performances are supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, to promote great arts experiences within easy reach at Manchester’s libraries.

The performances by six of the company’s professional dancers are to be specially adapted to each of the three local libraries in Wythenshawe, Longsight, and Harpurhey with four scenes being performed in four different spaces at each library.​

Each performance will be followed by a free question and answer session, where audiences can quiz Company Chameleon and the dancers, to find out how Illuminate was created and performed.

​Inspired by classic story-telling and the seven themes that have underpinned literature since the beginning of time, Illuminate’s choreography brings to life the stories and characters which live in the pages of library books.  The performances at Longsight, North City and Wythenshawe will include excerpts from the seven, individual scenes, which wowed audiences and critics during the original, full-scale performances.

Premiered in November 2017 at Central Library, the four evening performances of Illuminate sold out quickly, taking an audience of 450 people on a journey around central library to experience the production.  Both Company Chameleon and Library Live will now take this success into smaller, local spaces to entertain and inspire new audiences.​

Kevin Edward Turner, Co-Director of Company Chameleon, says: “Our biggest commission to date, Illuminate at Manchester Central Library was without a doubt one of the most exciting projects we’ve undertaken. We’re delighted to be given the opportunity to take extracts from the production into different communities in Manchester through local libraries. We hope to give people a new and exciting experience of dance to remember.”

Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Schools, Culture and Leisure, Councillor Luthfur Rahman, said: “Illuminate was a huge success on its premiere at Central Library and I’m really excited to announce that the world-class dancers of Company Chameleon will now be performing at three more Manchester libraries.  These free events will offer residents of all ages the chance to be inspired by the best in contemporary arts, speak to the performers to understand how they developed this extraordinary performance – and see their local library in a whole new light.”