Magpie Music Dance Co.

MELT projects by Magpie are an opportunity to use their way of working as a means to integrate with artists and to allow for this to be shared with public. Magpie has done several MELT projects abroad as part of their international touring: Spain, New Zealand, Korea and the USA.

In each of these cases Magpie placed a workshop as part of their residency allowing for the professional artists to attend the workshops and learn deeply how the company works. They have integrated both dance and music artists in each of their Melt projects with the intention to leave behind a potential for future collaborations in the place they have visited. Improvisation is a discipline which they believe gives opportunity for artists to collaborate and can be the means by which they can practice together in studios prior to performance events weather the event is improvisation or not.

The Magpie project leader needs to be able to have a close relationship with an artistic director of either a theater, festival or artists company in order for the MELT project to be planned. There needs to be a intensive rehearsal process while they are in residency and an ample amount of time for the artists to use the performance space with their light designer.

The aim of a MELT project for Magpie is to promote collaboration as an important aspect in contemporary arts practice, to leave tools for artists to use after they return to Amsterdam, to give an unusual and vital experience for the artists and an unquestionable professional performance for the public.

Recently Magpie has begun to create MELT projects in their Amsterdam base by bringing the TRUST DANCE COMPANY from Seoul Korea. Magpie had done a MELT project with the Trust Company while they were in Seoul Korea as part of the international improvisation festival. This project allowed for the Trust Dance Company to be involved in their Amsterdam based projects, introduce Holland to the extraordinary approach of the Korean based Company and created an extension of the work they had done in Korea. They intend to continue these projects when ever they feel that the MELT activity on tours is interesting to continue in their Amsterdam base.

MELT projects can only be booked alongside at least one Magpie Performance and at least a three to five day workshop.

The financial arrangements for MELT are 250 euros for each Magpie artist for each Melt performance alongside the financial arrangements placed with a Magpie Performance.

The amount of artists is negotiable with the artistic director of the theater, festival or company.