Men & Girls Dance
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.
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.
It was back again at The Forum in Barrow-in-Furness in April 2024 in partnership with BarrowFull.
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 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
2024
Sat 13, Sun 14 April
The Forum, Barrow-In-Furness
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.