Pontio, Bangor University’s Arts and Innovation Centre has announced a full day of events for the whole family on Saturday 22 July, 2023 RhythmAYE! With live performances, workshops, film and a chance for you to perform – most of the events are free of charge. The theme of the day is rhythm, so come and enjoy a fun filled day through the rhythm of dance, song and circus!
The day will start with a special Caffi Babis event for children aged upto 24 months with Angharad Harrop and Siwan Llynor in the Studio and a series of workshops will follow throughout the day. Circo Pyro will be teaching circus skills for children aged 7 – 11 years old, have a go on the Ukulele with Richard Williams from Menter Iaith Môn and Codi’r To will be bringing a lively Samba workshop! Lastly, Angharad Harrop will give you the opportunity to try clog dancing in a drop-in session in front of Pontio.
A series of free performances will be performed in the outdoor spaces including Qwerin, Q-fforia, Holes, Proper Job, Cimera and Bloco Sŵn. Charged with joy, QWERIN is inspired by the weaving and flowing patterns of traditional Welsh folk-dancing, combined with the pulsating energy of Queer nightlife. Q-fforia delves into personal LGBTQ+ histories that resonates within the wider queer experience. Amongst a pulsing and original soundscape, the dancers bring to life the tentative, the raw and the euphoric moments that inform queer identity through dance and spoken word.
Holes is a beautiful, fun, playful, participatory, and provocative piece by two women (aerial hoop artists), one blind, that come across a hole in space. They tumble into it and guide us through their wondrous imaginative journey, with audio description creatively embedded in the show. Proper Job is a show for younger children that mixes circus, theatre and silliness to explore life’s big questions through joy, mischief and light-heartedness. Following this, an opportunity for you to join the lively crew of Cimera and Bloco Sŵn in a procession and live performance!
There will be plenty of opportunities for you to take part too! Our Local Stage will give performers of all ages the opportunity to perform as part of our day – be that singing, performing a monologue, presenting some stand-up comedy, or some magic tricks. To take part and for more information, contact Mared Huws on m.huws@bangor.ac.uk. There will also be glitter tattoos available by Sparkle and Shimmer, film showings of the long-awaited film, Barbie, in the cinema all day, and Cegin Cafe will also be open. So come over for a jam-packed day of fun!
Osian Gwynn, Pontio Arts Director said, “I’m delighted to be able to present RhythmAYE this month. We are committed to present a wide range of dynamic and varied cultural offerings to our communities. It will be a day filled with unique, current and relevant work. There will be performances outside and all around the building, work that pushes boundaries and thinks outside the box of traditional theatre presentation. I’m sure there’ll be something for everyone!”
Most of the events will be free and there will be no need to book ahead. Tickets must be purchased for Caffi Babis and Barbie.
