Are you Dancing? MÓTUS are asking for 2018…

For 2018, the festival will kick off with the acclaimed Mark Bruce Company’s production of Macbeth on May 18 & 19 at Stantonbury Theatre.

The festival fun continues with a particular family focus during half term to inspire and keep little ones entertained and active.

The final performance of the festival will be a double bill on June 10 at the Chrysalis Theatre featuring the breathtaking Alleyne Dance, and Rambert’s Mercury Movers – with performers aged 60 plus (below).

Across the festival they’ll be presenting a wide range of performances, workshops and a few other special events that will engage, inspire and encourage everyone -regardless of age or expertise - to get involved and dance.

During half term there are performances for all the family with 2Faced Dance Company’s What The Moon Saw on May 30 & 31 - a magical journey for little ones and their families that teaches us how to be brave through dance, circus and music… alongside workshops in pyjamas!

There’ll also be a creative session with Pilates and dance practitioner Kate Taylor offering you an afternoon to explore the joy of moving together as a family. Our family focus events are centred on play, being active, having fun - and not forgetting the funky music!

From May 29 - June 1 open professional morning classes with Mark Bruce Company and invited guests will happen. Mark Bruce Company will also be leading the graduate company through a professional performance and choreographic residency.

Motus have also teamed up with Open University Dance Group to takeover their weekly Tuesday contemporary dance sessions which run 6-7.30pm throughout the year.

These sessions will be led by 2Faced Dance Company on May 29 and Stuart Waters on June 5.

Back to the performance programme, the following week, there’s more on offer for adult audiences - especially Dan Nicholas’s D.A.N.C.E. (Developing A New Comedy Experience) on June 5.

Get ready to encounter an evening of live stand up comedy, embellished with interpretive dance!

In fact, you’re spoiled for choice this week with performance events…

Emerging company Body Politic (below) use hip-hop and spoken word to explore the fragile bond between father and son for school audiences in Father Figurine on June 4.

Adjustments, MÓTUS’ familiar work in progress platform where audiences get a chance to have their say and contribute a voice in the development of new works will be back on June 6; alongside Stuart Waters’ RockBottom.

RockBottom is a moving self-portrait of personal struggle with depression and addiction with bold story-telling through highly physical choreography, spoken word and humour.

On June 7, mapdance, an established exciting company from the University of Chichester with young, dynamic dancers recruited nationally and internationally, will present an eclectic mixed bill at The Chrysalis Theatre.

There will also be a Gala event on June 8 with performances, speakers and much more.

There will be a silent auction where you can outbid everyone else to win unique artwork, t-shirts, tickets and many other prizes. Plus every ticket purchased to the Gala will be entered into a draw to win a pair of tickets for the finale double bill on Sunday June 10.

To top it all off, the closing weekend on June 9 and 10 will see a takeover of a number of spaces around Central Milton Keynes.

Middleton Hall, Queens Court and Margaret Powell Square will be bursting with live performances from professionals, community groups and specially commissioned schools pieces.

The line up will include Company Chameleon (above), a physical dance theatre company featuring company member Theo Fapohunda, a home grown performer from Milton Keynes.

For more information or to purchase tickets click here