MESSUMS Wiltshire is set to see the return of its popular dance and dance film festival.

Taking place from July 14 to July 23, the Festival of Dance will be held in the largest thatched building in the country.

Showcasing the best of dance in a countryside setting, the 10-day festival programme will be headlined by Alleyne Dance and Spoken Movement, and will feature an exclusive day dedicated to dance films – Messums Dance Film Festival.

Opening the first weekend (July 14 – July 15), Alleyne Dance will present Far From Home, an atmospheric, abstract narrative dance which explores the topic of immigration, and the consequences of the search for “a better life” for those forced to seek it due to social or political devastations.

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Spoken Movement will headline July 21 to July 22 with its performance Family Honour. This hip-hop theatre production examines the eponymous concept through the eyes of a young girl trapped in moral codes mandated by her immediate environment, confronting her past “sin” against tradition.

Meanwhile, the cornerstone of the festival, MESSUMS 4X20 Choreography Platform will take place on July 18. The platform commissions two emerging choreographers selected from an open call to present one pre-existing and one newly developed dance work of up to 20 minutes each, with a maximum of 4 performers.

In addition to a financial commission and networking opportunities, the artists receive professional production, marketing support and free rehearsal space for preparation leading up to the Wiltshire premiere.

Messums Wiltshire team leader, Johnny Messum, said: “4X20 is about extending the central commitment of Messums Wiltshire to empower opportunity in dance by supporting choreographers at a crucial moment in their career.

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“It is about a moment that is shared between audience and performers, a moment of creativity never seen before.”

Launched in 2022 and now supported by the Jerwood Foundation, the Festival of Dance is one of the UK’s top opportunities for emerging choreographers to share their work, inspire audiences and expand their industry networks. Alongside performances, the programme also offers a range of activities, talks, workshops and dinners.

More information about the event can be found by visiting the Messums Wiltshire website: messumswiltshire.com/.