A GDance production in partnership with

from on .

"We saw you guys perform on Sunday (twice), My wife cried and my oldest boy (4) loved it so much he's asked us to find him Ballet classes, which he went to and signed up to today :) Look forward to seeing next years show" CJ Barr (Llandudno, LLAWN02) via Facebook

This year GDance toured Stuck in the Mud to three towns in Wales, working with many partners including local schools and dancers. See the menu on the right for more information about the performance.

“We visited Swansea at the weekend and came across your Stuck in the Mud performance quite by chance. My wife and I just wanted to let you know we were simply enthralled and exhilarated by the event. We’re not usually dance event attendees, but the wonderful journey through the National Waterfront Museum was so enchanting. Hats off to the performers who gave us such a magical entertaining afternoon…Wonderful, simply wonderful.” Deb and Mike Bright, from Cardiff

Internationally renowned provided direction and was the lead choreographer. Original music was by Newport-based composer, and the performance featured a live French horn.

"Absolutely amazing. One of the most beautiful things I've seen. The kids loved it. It was like an adventure." Audience member, Hidcot Manor Garden 2013

The performance was free to watch, lasted around an hour, was suitable for all ages and was accessible to wheelchairs and assistance dogs.

The production was generously supported by The Arts Council of Wales and small grants from Ernest Cook Trust and the Crest Foundation.

WHERE IT TOURED 2014

Swansea
Venue: , Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA1 3RD
Dates:
 Sat 12 & Sun 13 July 2014
Times: 11.45am and 2.20pm
Part of .

Llandudno
Venue: began at Llandudno train station
Dates:
 Sat 20 & Sun 21 September 2014
Times: 11:45am and 2:45pm
Part of

Cardiff
Venue:
Dates:
 Sat 27 & Sun 28 September 2014
Times: 12pm and 3pm

About the show

Stuck in the Mud is a magical, family friendly, free-to-see promenade dance show, recreated to work in each Wales venue in 2014. It features top professional dancers from Ballet Cymru and GDance, both disabled and non-disabled, plus many dancers from local Welsh schools and dance groups.

Director and lead choreographer is the internationally renowned Marc Brew. Original music is by Newport-based composer, Jack White and the performance features a live French horn.

The playful piece will weave through each venue, with pieces ranging from brief vignettes to full scale, whole cast spectacles.

The performance is presented as a promenade – a guided tour of the site by the performers with some interactive sessions with the audience. It is a family-friendly piece - parents are welcome to bring small children as they do not have to ‘sit still’ and be forced to observe traditional (shh!) theatre conventions. 

The accompanying original music, enhanced by a live French horn, was scored by Newport-based Welsh Livery Guild award-winning composer, Jack White.

Helen Crocker, GDance producer, says: “Stuck in the Mud is completely different to other dance performances. It combines ballet and contemporary dance, and it’s specially adapted to work with the museum space. It features disabled and non-disabled dancers and some brilliant community dancers. Audiences won’t have seen anything like this before!”

The name, Stuck in the Mud, is inspired both by the beauty that can grow from mud and the children’s game of the same name. Helen explains: “To make this a brilliant show, Stuck in the Mud has amazing credentials, and we’re committed to supporting new, talented disabled dancers and choreographers,” says Helen. 

The original dance and artistic direction is by internationally-renowned choreographer Marc Brew, supported by Ballet Cymru’s assistant artistic director, Amy Doughty. Millions of viewers saw Marc’s work at the 2004 Beijing Olympics handover ceremony and he also devised pieces for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Assisting Marc is emerging talent Viv Gordon, a GDance choreographic fellow. 

Stuck in the Mud was newly devised in summer 2013 by choreographer Marc Brew. It was produced by GDance in association with Ballet Cymru and National Trust property .

GDance was invited by Arts Council Wales to recreate Stuck in the Mud for Wales in 2014. Their support, alongside Wales Dance Consortium and Disability Arts Cymru has made this happen. A substantial investment from the National Trust in 2013 made possible the creation of Stuck in the Mud.

In 2013 Stuck in the Mud toured to Hidcote Manor Garden in Gloucestershire, Blackfriars Priory in Gloucester, and Newport City Market.