VIDEO: Dance captain returns to Chesterfield to direct film

An award-winning choreographer is jumping for joy after she scooped funding to produce a dance film.

Sophie Duncan, 27, of Saltergate, Chesterfield, has worked internationally with world renowned Cirque du Soleil and FrancoDragone,

She has been awarded a total of £1505 from seven Derbyshire councillors including Ron Mihaly and Dave Allen to make the film which will showcase artistic talent in north Derbyshire.

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Sophie is directing and choreographing the film. Collaborators include pole dance artists Lorna Walker, who won Miss Pole UK 2013, and Lisa Hammond, current Pole Theatre UK, semi pro division; Ryan Fletcher, bass player with pop band Lawson, singer-songwriter Adam McCulloch and film and music producer Nick Allott.

Sophie said: “I am excited to be working alongside such a talented group who will lend their individual expertise. “We have known each other since our school days and are good friends who all have creative minds.

“We plan to found a artist collective from this film, encouraging other artists to collaborate developing original and exciting new work.”

More than 60 volunteers are appearing in the filmincluding members of Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir and 16 young dancers mainly drawn from Directions Theatre Arts.

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Sophie said: “I am thankful to everyone for offering their support for this project.

“If all goes to plan, this will be the first of many similar projects within Chesterfield that will feature and promote local talent.

“I am confident that the project will be a success and a fresh, independent film for the young adults of Chesterfield.”

The short dance film has been shot in various locations including Chesterfield Canal and Barrow Hill Roundhouse and highlights the area’s industrial past through a combination of circus, dance and original music.

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Final filming was scheduled to take place on the canal and at the Roundhouse during the school half term break.

The first public official screening of the film will take place at the Tapton Lock Festival in September but will be released online in advance.

Sophie said: “The long term aims are to create an artists’ hub in the area and to use this as a kick-start to build a very large scale promenade event through the town so hopefully this first film will act as proof that we can produce high level, skilled artwork.”

A pupil at Brookfield Community School, Sophie went on to train professionally at the prestigious London Contemporary Dance School.

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She now performs and works worldwide as a dancer, circus artist and choreographer.

When she’s not based in Chesterfield, Sophie lives and works in Macau, China as dance captain for MGM.

To learn more about the project, Sophie or her collaborators, visit soduncan.com , Facebook:

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