Men & Girls Dance

Fevered Sleep_Men and Girls Dance_Malmö_2018_ David Thibel3.jpg

2015 - Present

Men & Girls Dance is a project which celebrates the rights of adults and children to be together, to play together and to dance together.

 
 
 

Men & Girls Dance, Malmö 2018.
Photo by David Thibel

Men & Girls Dance brings together two very different groups of performers: adult men who dance professionally, and girls who don’t.

At times playful, at times thought-provoking, Men & Girls Dance celebrates the rights of adults and children to be together, to play together and to dance together. It’s a joyful celebration of tenderness, empathy, and love.

We are delighted to announce that Men & Girls Dance is back and will be performed at The Forum in Barrow-in-Furness on the 13th and 14th April 2024 in partnership with BarrowFull. Book your tickets now.

After a successful tour in 2016, and two weeks of performances at The Place in London in spring 2017, Men & Girls Dance took place at Tate Britain in summer 2017, presented by Tate London’s Early Years and Families Learning Programme. In this brand new version, the dancers met in a series of playful encounters reimagined for the unique setting of the Walk Through British Art Galleries.

The project’s first international residency took place at Skånes Dansteater in Malmö, Sweden in November 2018 as part of their Dance & People festival.

Due to its popularity, in April 2019 the show was presented again, back at The Place in London.

 

Men & Girls Dance, Malmö 2018.
Photo by David Thibel

 
 
 
 
 
 

Why don’t we trust men to be with children?

 
 

The Newspaper 

 
 

As part of Men & Girls Dance, Fevered Sleep publish a newspaper, including pieces written by people who live and work in each city the project is recreated in. It's a collection of creative writing on the themes of the project, such as love, empathy and trust. 

The Men & Girls Dance project is a celebration of normal, positive relationships between men and girls – relationships that are based on play, trust, care, protection and love.

This newspaper is a response to most other newspapers, in which the reporting of the relationship between men and girls tends to be negative.

 
 
 
Men & Girls Dance Newspaper, 2016.  Photo by Valle Walkley

Men & Girls Dance Newspaper, 2016.
Photo by Valle Walkley

 
Men & Girls Dance Newspaper, 2016. Photo by Valle Walkley

Men & Girls Dance Newspaper, 2016. Photo by Valle Walkley

 
 

Men and Girls Dance is brave and exquisitely beautiful

THE GUARDIAN

 
 

The Talking Place

 
 

The Talking Place appears wherever Men & Girls Dance happens.

It’s a place where you can wonder, where you can be listened to, where thoughts and words and images - that come from people who live in this place, at this time - gather and collect.

You can pop in for tea and cake and conversation with Fevered Sleep, pick up the Men & Girls Dance newspaper, or ask a question about the project.

 
 

Past Residencies

2019

Thu 25, *Fri 26, Sat 27, Mon 29, Tue 30 April
*Fri 26 April Q&A With Fevered Sleep’s Artistic Directors, Sam Butler And David Harradine, Chaired By Dr Sylvan Baker
The Place, London

2018

Thu 1, Sat 3, Sun 4 November
Skånes Dansteater, Malmö, Sweden

2017

Thu 27 - Sun 30 July & Thu 03 - Sun 6 August
Tate Britain, London

Thu 13 - Sat 22 April
The Place, London

2016

Fri 8, Sat 9 April
Quarterhouse, Folkestone

Fri 3, Sat 4 June
Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield

Thu 11, Fri 12 August
The Lowry, Salford

Thu 25, Fri 26, Sat 27 August
Dance4, Nottingham

Thu 27, Fri 28, Sat 29 October
South East Dance, Brighton

 
 

Men and Girls Dance, Folkestone 2016. Photo by LouJohnson.

 
 

Fevered Sleep’s quietly radical, hour-long effort wears its importance with a creditable lightness and grace.

The times

 
 
 
 

Men & Girls Dance, Malmö 2018.
Photo by David Thibel

 
 
 
 
 
 

Men & Girls Dance, Malmö 2018.
Photo by David Thibel

 

Men & Girls Dance, Greenwich 2015.
Photo by BenedictJohnson.

 
 

Men & Girls Dance, Brighton 2016. Photo by Matthew Andrews.

 
 

Men & Girls Dance, Greenwich 2015.
Photo by BenedictJohnson.

 

Men & Girls Dance at Tate Britain, London 2017.
Photo by Ana Escobar.

 

Meet The Team

 

To see the full list click here

 

Producing Credits

 

Men & Girls Dance was commissioned by The Place
The devising residency was supported by Greenwich Dance
Produced in association with Fuel

 

The Development of Men & Girls Dance Was Supported By

The Point
Dance4
Quarterhouse
The Jerwood Choreographic Research Project
Greenhouse

 

Funders

Arts Council England
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Wellcome
Jerwood Charitable Foundation
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Greenhouse
The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama

 

Men and Girls Dance, Greenwich 2015. Photo by BenedictJohnson.