After early experiences in theatre he came to dance at the age of nineteen. Born in England and now based near Girona, Spain, Hamilton was trained in London in the mid-70s (a period of radical experimentation) and has since been a constant exponent of innovative performances throughout Europe. One of Europe's foremost improvisers, he has performed in many group configurations creating solo and collaborative work all over the world as well as directing the Julyen Hamilton Company throughout Europe.
The Company work develops dance for the theatre where dancers and light designer are directed to compose pieces instantly; a process of practicing improvisation in rehearsal and in the moment of performance.
In 1984 he was awarded the 'Zilveren DansPrijs' by the VSCD in Holland. Since 1980 his experience and interest in performing with live musicians has constituted of main area of work; among others he has played with Barre Phillips, Fred Frith, Le Quan Ninh, Alfred Spirli, Micha Mengelberg.
His solo '40 MONOLOGUES', premiered in England in 1995 and subsequently successfully playing throughout the world is followed by his solo series 'SUITE:…". so far performed in Europe, the US and Russia. And this is now followed by his latest solo “CELL”, already performed in Spain/Holland and Israel.
His skills in improvisation are highly developed, his performances expressing his belief that improvisation is a valid performance mode in its own right. He is well respected for his refined teaching which reflects his research and development into efficient ways in which both technique and improvisational skills might be imparted. He is regularly invited to teach in major training centres throughout the world, his pedagogy centering around the elements of ‘space’, ‘time’ and ‘dramaturgy”.
He is at present presenting his new solo “CELL” / performing duos with bass players Barre Phillips and Jean-Claude Jones (France+Israel) / “S.K.I.N.”, the co-choreographed work with Iztok Kovac / making a solo for French dancer Francoise Leick / a new piece “Talk to Me” with dancer/poetess Lily Kiara (NL)
I am interested in our ability to move, to create, communicate and in the use of TIME on stage. Now, past, future / other dimensions of time / linear and nonlinear time / time perceived through different senses of the dancing body / the public's awareness of time. How the performer listens to the element of time and how she/he uses it to direct work in front of a public is both a compositional and a performing question. How we perceive ourselves in time and how we might harness its qualities to expose and share our material in performance.
The workshop is in English.