River Stage 2023: James Cousins Company
Featuring bold contemporary choreography, salsa & line dancing workshops and live music.
James Cousins Company presented an explosive celebration of dance with performances and workshops by the UK’s top dancers and singers, featuring bold choreography from contemporary to salsa and tap, to line dancing with a flavour of your most loved pop routines. All set to a joyous soundtrack which made audiences ‘Wanna Dance with Somebody’.
River Stage: Friday 16 – Sunday 18 June 2023
Hosted by:
Event times:
Friday 16 June 2023: 6:30pm – 11pm
Saturday 17 June 2023: midday – 11pm
Sunday 18 June 2023: midday – 6pm
Find us:
River Stage, National Theatre, Upper Ground, SE1 9PX
Get directions
Friday 16 June
Welcome & Music
6.00pm-6.30pm
The sensational Tori Scott has most recently performed as Georgia Holt in The Cher Show and has been named ‘the Bette Midler of the new millennium’. International cabaret performer Tori gives a big River Stage welcome to get you ready for the evening.
Sometimes Even Now – London Contemporary Dance School
6.30pm-6.55pm
Sometimes Even Now (2015) takes inspiration from Sir Robert Cohan’s Cell (1969) looking at isolation and confinement. This re-staging is blended with James’ work She Painted Flowers (2016) where impact of a loss ripples through a community. A powerful dance piece that looks at the challenges of existing in our modern day.
We’re Going to Have to Get Better At This – Company of Elders
7.00pm-7.10pm
James Cousins Company collaborates for the first time with Company of Elders, Sadler’s Wells’ resident over-60s performance company, who demonstrate the power of lifelong creativity and prove it is never too late to start dancing.
Salsa Workshop
7.15pm-8.00pm
Experience the passion and vibrancy of Salsa with this beginner’s workshop. Learn the basics of Salsa technique and style, then you bring your own flair.
Tori with an ‘I’ starring Tori Scott
8.00pm-9.00pm
A celebration of survival, martinis, and new beginnings. With songs by an eclectic range of artists including Lady Gaga, Liza Minnelli, Regina Spektor, and Queen, Tori shakes up pop classics and musical theatre, mixing them with outrageously true stories.
We Are As Gods – James Cousins Company
9.00pm-10.30pm
The hit immersive production from James Cousins Company is reimagined for a special River Stage performance. Transforming the South Bank into a club, pop-up performances and parading dancers move to a throbbing soundtrack in an experience that will make you ‘wanna dance with somebody‘.
After Party: Take to the Dance Floor
10.30pm-11.00pm
To end the night, James Cousins Company turns up the volume and gives you the floor to dance the night away to well-loved classics and the hottest songs remixed by PÄTO.
Saturday 17 June
Rhythm and Beats Workshop
12.15pm-1.00pm
Tap, clap, stomp and jam. Combining dance, body percussion and music, this energetic workshop will explore coordination and rhythm. Aimed at young children aged 6+ but open to their siblings, friends, and adults.
ROSALIND
1.15pm-1.30pm
Young dancers from the DanceEast Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) join James Cousins Company to re-create the company’s internationally acclaimed work ROSALIND. Inspired by one of Shakespeare’s most headstrong heroines, Cousins takes her passion and eloquence beyond words in this electric piece, featuring poetry from Sabrina Mahfouz.
ROSALIND - Choreography Workshop
1.30pm-2.15pm
After watching ROSALIND, learn the choreography which takes influence from K-pop and fuses it with fast-paced contemporary dance. No previous experience is required.
Sometimes Even Now – London Contemporary Dance School
2.30pm-2.50pm
Sometimes Even Now (2015) takes inspiration from Sir Robert Cohan’s Cell (1969) looking at isolation and confinement. This re-staging is blended with James’ work She Painted Flowers (2016) where impact of a loss ripples through a community. A powerful dance piece that looks at the challenges of existing in our modern day.
The Place presents The Album: live by SAY
3.00pm-3.25pm
SAY bring the infectious energy of music gigs to the dance world. Featuring the impressive talents of UK champion MC Zani, The Album brings together live beatboxing, break-through music artists and the contemporary dance duo, SAY.
Hot Gossip with Arlene Phillips
3.30pm-3.55pm
Dame Arlene Philips sits down with the audience to share stories from the highlights of her career.
Guys & Dolls Workshop
4.00pm-4.45pm
James Cousins, the choreographer for The Bridge’s knock-out revival of Guys and Dolls, leads a workshop where you will learn choreography from Adelaide’s Hot Box nightclub. Get ready to dazzle and shine in a kick line like no other.
The Secret of Having It All – James Cousins Company
5.00pm-5.25pm
In the aftermath of losing someone, two women support each other and rebuild their relationship. Don’t miss this ‘high-octane synchronised romp’ (The Observer) performed by Jemima Brown and George Frampton from James Cousins Company.
Line Dance Workshop with Gareth Mole
5.30pm-6.15pm
This easy-to-follow-along workshop walks you through the key moves of line dance in a super fun and friendly atmosphere. Suitable for everyone to get involved … Boots and lasso optional.
The Place presents The Album: live by SAY
6.30pm-6.55pm
SAY bring the infectious energy of music gigs to the dance world. Featuring the impressive talents of UK champion MC Zani, The Album brings together live beatboxing, breakthrough music artists and the contemporary dance duo, SAY.
Salsa Workshop
7.00pm-7.45pm
Experience the passion and vibrancy of Salsa with this beginner’s workshop. Learn the basics of Salsa technique and style, then you bring your own flair.
Songs of the Stage
8.00pm-8.45pm
Join stars of the West End who relive moments of their careers through a musical evening with outstanding performances from their favourite shows.
We Are As Gods – James Cousins Company
9.00pm-10.30pm
The hit immersive production from James Cousins Company is reimagined for a special River Stage performance. Transforming the South Bank into a club, pop-up performances and parading dancers move to a throbbing soundtrack in an experience that will make you ‘wanna dance with somebody‘.
After Party: Take to the Dance Floor
10.30pm-11.00pm
To end the night, James Cousins Company turns up the volume and gives you the floor to dance the night away to well-loved classics and the hottest songs remixed by PÄTO.
Sunday 18 June
Welcome & Music
12.50pm-1.00pm
James Cousins Company will kick off their last day at River Stage with some lovely tunes. A perfect way to start your Sunday.
Within Her Eyes Workshop
1.00pm-1.45pm
Taking inspiration from James Cousin’s work Within Her Eyes, this workshop is designed to build confidence, trust and communication through movement. Explore weight sharing, balance and simple partner work at a pace suitable for all.
Alethia Antonia presents Inscribed in “Me”
2.00pm-2.20pm
From choreographer Alethia Antonia, this visceral journey explores the inscriptions of personal and historical experiences and investigates the parameters of feminine blackness and self-authorship. Inscribed in “Me” bears witness to the deeply personal yet universal endeavour to find self-actualisation and healing.
Sometimes Even Now – London Contemporary Dance School
2.25pm-2.50pm
Sometimes Even Now (2015) takes inspiration from Sir Robert Cohan’s Cell (1969) looking at isolation and confinement. This re-staging is blended with James’ work She Painted Flowers (2016) where impact of a loss ripples through a community. A powerful dance piece that looks at the challenges of existing in our modern day.
We’re Going to Have to Get Better At This – Company of Elders
2.50pm-3.00pm
James Cousins Company collaborates for the first time with Company of Elders, Sadler’s Wells’ resident over-60s performance company, who demonstrate the power of lifelong creativity and prove it is never too late to start dancing.
We Are As Gods – James Cousins Company
3.00pm-4.30pm
The hit immersive production from James Cousins Company is reimagined for a special River Stage performance. Transforming the South Bank into a club, pop-up performances and parading dancers move to a throbbing soundtrack in an experience that will make you ‘wanna dance with somebody’.
After Party: Take to the Dance Floor
4.30pm-5.00pm
To end the weekend, James Cousins Company turns up the volume and gives you the floor to dance to well-loved classics and the hottest songs remixed by PÄTO.
More to explore
A taste of KERB on the South Bank
KERB’s open-air food and drink market returns for summer, with a host of seasonal street food specials.
Forza Taps on the terrace
This summer, Forza Taps is taking over the Weston Terrace (just below Forza Wine’s outdoor terrace), serving ‘on tap’ drinks, alongside their signature ‘Italian-ish’ snack menu.