Jan 28th: Diamond Night 8
Feb 18th-19th: Workshop - Yael Karavan
Mar 17th: Workshop - Adrian Freedman
Apr
May 4th: Witney Festival / 26th: Diamond Night 9
Jun 2nd: Workshop - Adrian Freedman
Jul
Aug
Sep 22nd: Workshop - Adrian Freedman
Oct
Nov 24th: Diamond Night 10
Dec 13th: Playground

**************************************
CHRISTMAS BREAK

No class on either Friday 28th December or Friday 4th January. Classes resume Friday 11th January.

**************************************

2012 (in chronological order)

Saturday 28th January 2012 - 8pm

Diamond Night 8

The eighth in our series of arts evenings, bringing 'uncut performance gems' (ours and others') into the spotlight.

See 'new work' for more general information about Diamond Nights.

Oxford Brookes University Drama Studio map
Headington Hill Campus
Headington Hill, Oxford
Cost: FREE (You will be given an opportunity to contribute towards the costs incurred by all those struggling artists, but donantions are entirely optional.)
Time: 8:00pm

Directions... map
...from central Oxford, follow High Street over the river to the roundabout at The Plain, take first exit (St Clements) and continue past traffic lights and straight on up Headington Hill, past the park, and then take the first driveway to the left near the top of the hill. Go past the gatehouse and take the 2nd turning on the right. The Drama Studio is a smallish, squarish building with railings outside the door, set back from the main driveway. Last time I checked, parking was still unrestricted on Saturday evenings.

...from London, buses go every ten minutes and run all night. Catch either the Oxford Tube, or the Oxford Express, then ask the driver to drop you at the stop called 'Gyspy Lane' or 'Brookes University'. Get off the bus and CROSS THE ROAD. There are two campuses, and the one you want is the less obvious one, a few metres further down the hill and on the other side of the road.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE ENTRANCE DOOR OPENS DIRECTLY ONTO THE STAGE. IF YOU ARE SO LATE THAT THE PROGRAMME HAS ALREADY BEGUN, THERE IS NO WAY TO LET YOU IN WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE PERFORMANCE. IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN PIECES THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED TO CHECK FOR LATECOMERS, BUT PLEASE DO NOT KNOCK UNLESS AN INTERVAL IS CLEARLY IN PROGRESS!

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th February 2012

Workshop with Yael Karavan

Cost: £60 for the weekend.
Venue: The Old Firestation (Dance Studio)
40 George Street, Oxford. OX1 2AQ (Tel. 01865 297180)
Times: 10.30 - 4.30 on both days.

Yael has been invited primarily for the benefit of Cafe Reason members but there is also a limited number of places available to anyone else who would like to take part. Suitable for those with a background in dance, choreography, theatre and so on. Please contact Ana Barbour for more details.

Saturday 17th March 2012

Workshop with Adrian Freedman

(Flyer pdf)

In this workshop we will explore the relationship betwen sound and movement within the context of Butoh dance.

We will look at some of the issues musicians are faced with when creating music for Butoh, and also at how the dancers themselves might create their own musical accompaniment. We will look at how natural sounds and the voice might be incorporated into a soundscape together with musical instruments, and we will explore ways of moving within those soundscapes.

The workshop is open to both dancers and musicians. No particular level of music or dance experience is necessary. If you already play a musical instrument that is fine, but it is also open to those with little or no practical experience of music-making. Dancers of all levels of experience are very welcome, including those new to Butoh.

Adrian will bring his own collection of beautiful musical instruments from around the world. Participants can also bring their own instruments if they wish, plus any 'sound objects' they like, which may be as simple as pieces wood, metal or plastic that make interesting sounds.

Please also bring a cushion to sit on, a warm blanket and some lunch to share.

Date: Saturday 17 March 2012
time: 10 - 4
venue: Fusion (behind EOCC, Princes St, off Cowley Road)
cost: £35 in advance £40 on the day
contact Jeannie Donald-McKim 01993 812840

Witney Music Festival - Friday 4th May 2012

Cafe Reason are performing at 7pm on Friday 4th May at St Mary's Church, Witney, as part of the 2012 Witney Music Festival

‘Creation’: an evening of stimulating and meditative sound and vision St Mary’s Church, Church Green, Witney
19:00-23:00
Free entry - bar open
Witney Film Festival: shorts
Presented by Daniel Newton and Jenny Learney
Susan Marie: Tibetan Bowl and Gong, Sound Bathing Performance
Breakout Choir
and supporting artists (That's us!)

Saturday 26th May 2012 - 8pm

Diamond Night 9

The ninth in our series of arts evenings, bringing 'uncut performance gems' (ours and others') into the spotlight.

See 'new work' for more general information about Diamond Nights.

Oxford Brookes University Drama Studio map
Headington Hill Campus
Headington Hill, Oxford
Cost: FREE
Time: 8:00pm

Directions... map
...from central Oxford, follow High Street over the river to the roundabout at The Plain, take first exit (St Clements) and continue past traffic lights and straight on up Headington Hill, past the park, and then take the first driveway to the left near the top of the hill. Go past the gatehouse and take the 2nd turning on the right. The Drama Studio is a smallish, squarish building with railings outside the door, set back from the main driveway. Last time I checked, parking was still unrestricted on Saturday evenings.

...from London, buses go every ten minutes and run all night. Catch either the Oxford Tube, or the Oxford Express, then ask the driver to drop you at the stop called 'Gyspy Lane' or 'Brookes University'. Get off the bus and CROSS THE ROAD. There are two campuses, and the one you want is the less obvious one, a few metres further down the hill and on the other side of the road.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE ENTRANCE DOOR OPENS DIRECTLY ONTO THE STAGE. IF YOU ARE SO LATE THAT THE PROGRAMME HAS ALREADY BEGUN, THERE IS NO WAY TO LET YOU IN WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE PERFORMANCE. IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN PIECES THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED TO CHECK FOR LATECOMERS, BUT PLEASE DO NOT KNOCK UNLESS AN INTERVAL IS CLEARLY IN PROGRESS!

Saturday 2nd June 2012

Workshop with Adrian Freedman and Jeannie Donald-McKim

In this workshop we will explore the relationship between sound and movement within the context of Butoh dance.

We will look at some of the issues musicians are faced with when creating music for Butoh, and also at how the dancers themselves might create their own musical accompaniment. We will look at how natural sounds and the voice might be incorporated into a soundscape together with musical instruments, and we will explore ways of moving within those soundscapes.

The workshop is open to both dancers and musicians. No particular level of music or dance experience is necessary. If you already play a musical instrument that is fine, but it is also open to those with little or no practical experience of music-making. Dancers of all levels of experience are very welcome, including those new to Butoh.

Adrian will bring his own collection of beautiful musical instruments from around the world. Participants can also bring their own instruments if they wish, plus any 'sound objects' they like, which may be as simple as pieces wood, metal or plastic that make interesting sounds.

Please also bring a cushion to sit on, a warm blanket and some lunch to share.

Date: Saturday 2nd June 2012
Time: 10:30am - 4:30pm
Venue: The Strawbale Dance Studio, Michael's Folly. Epping Green, Herts, SG13 8NE
Cost: £35 in advance (by 20th May) or £45 on the day
Contact: Jeannie Donald-McKim on 01993 812840 or Fabrizia Verrecchia on 01707 879597

Saturday 22nd September 2012

Workshop with Adrian Freedman and Jeannie Donald-McKim

Saturday 22 September 2012, 10.30 am – 4.30 pm

One-day workshop: Music on the edge of silence... movement on the edge of stillness. Exploring sound for butoh.

Staverton Village Hall, Staverton, South Devon

£35 in advance, £45 on the door.

This is the fourth in the continuing series of inspiring workshops co-led by musician Adrian Freedman, and Jeannie Donald-McKim. As previously, this workshop is open to all dancers and musicians, of whatever level of experience, who are interested in investigating the territory where sound and movement interweave. Participants of the past three workshops have discovered a heightened sensivity to both sound-making and movement, a raised awareness of the rising impetus to move or make sound, and a corresponding expansion of their moving/sound-making world.

There is free space for four people to sleep, bringing their own sleeping bags, on the Friday and Saturday nights. There are also excellent bed-and-breakfast facilities available locally.

Contact: jeanniedonaldmckim@gmail.com 01993 812840 / 07787 437486 or Adrian pureland33@gmail.com

Saturday 24th November 2012 - 8pm

Diamond Night 10

The tenth in our series of arts evenings, bringing 'uncut performance gems' (ours and others') into the spotlight.

See 'new work' for more general information about Diamond Nights.

Oxford Brookes University Drama Studio map
Headington Hill Campus
Headington Hill, Oxford
Cost: FREE (You may contribute towards costs if you choose.)
Time: 8:00pm

Directions... map
...from central Oxford, follow High Street over the river to the roundabout at The Plain, take first exit (St Clements) and continue past traffic lights and straight on up Headington Hill, past the park, and then take the first driveway to the left near the top of the hill. Go past the gatehouse and take the 2nd turning on the right. The Drama Studio is a smallish, squarish building with railings outside the door, set back from the main driveway. Last time I checked, parking was still unrestricted on Saturday evenings.

...from London, buses go every ten minutes and run all night. Catch either the Oxford Tube, or the Oxford Express, then ask the driver to drop you at the stop called 'Gyspy Lane' or 'Brookes University'. Get off the bus and CROSS THE ROAD. There are two campuses, and the one you want is the less obvious one, a few metres further down the hill and on the other side of the road.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE ENTRANCE DOOR OPENS DIRECTLY ONTO THE STAGE. IF YOU ARE SO LATE THAT THE PROGRAMME HAS ALREADY BEGUN, THERE IS NO WAY TO LET YOU IN WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE PERFORMANCE. IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN PIECES THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED TO CHECK FOR LATECOMERS, BUT PLEASE DO NOT KNOCK UNLESS AN INTERVAL IS CLEARLY IN PROGRESS!

Thursday 13th December 2012 - 7pm

Playground

Cafe Reason will be performing a short piece as part of Oxford's monthly 'Playground' event at the Old Fire Station, Gloucester Green, Oxford. Free admission.

See the Playground web site for further details.

If you would like to be included in our mail-outs about upcoming performances and other events, please click on the link below...

mailing list