Last year NSCD alumnus Jamaal Burkmar, was awarded The New Adventures Choreographer Award (NACA) which culminated in a triple bill of Jamaal’s choreography, also featuring some of our graduates and current students. The NACA has established itself as one of the sector’s most hotly sought after platforms for new choreographic talent and we are very proud to have an NSCD graduate as winner of the award against stiff opposition. The award was originally established by colleagues and friends in celebration of Matthew Bourne’s 50th birthday in 2010.

At the time of the initial announcement Matthew Bourne said “After an insightful weekend of deliberation and debate Jamaal was a clear favorite of our judges from this year’s short-listed applicants. We were all impressed by Jamaal’s potential to be a leading choreographer. His exploration of movement through eclectic music choices coupled with his desire to share his personal journey through his choreography make him an exciting and deserving winner.

Jamaal Burkmar said “I’m thrilled and delighted to have won this year’s award and to be following in the footsteps of such brilliant previous winners.

Jamaal presented three World Premieres over four nights last week, at the Platform Theatre, including Jamaal Burkmar Dance’s 16 Bars, featuring a stellar cast of six professional female dancers, Storm by Shoreditch Youth Dance and The Calm by the newly formed Batch Company.

This year’s NACA involved a new, exciting collaboration and partnership between Central Saint Martins and New Adventures and Re:Bourne. During an intensive research and development period at CSM, Jamaal worked alongside current CSM students and graduates who then had the opportunity to pitch their designs based around Jamaal’s movement ideas. Curated by New Adventures & Re:Bourne Resident Artist, Lee Smikle and Platform Theatre Producer, Ged Matthews, 16 designers took part in the Design Incubator Lab. CSM graduate Robin Soutar was the successful designer chosen by Jamaal as the NACA Showcase 2016 designer. 16 Bars featured a further four ex NSCD students; Natasha Smith and Emily Karlsen who graduated from the Degree last year, Ashley Musk, Robyn Byrne and Clementine Telesfort who were part of our Postgraduate Company VERVE.

Kate Columbus, columnist, critic and editor wrote a review for Londondance.com and said “Burkmar shows real flair for creating a rounded piece of work that is packaged with intent and clarity but at the same time allows the choreography room to breathe and is respectful of the differences between his dancers, allowing them their own style of moving – whether quick and snappy, or fluid and low. As his style is refined and his structure honed, he will further develop his creative process, already so full of pace, poise and promise.” Read the whole review here.