As part of a project led by BRB’s LEAP (Learning, Engagement, Access & Participation) team dance students from Performers College perform Fortis (Latin for strong, brave and powerful) at Birmingham Weekender Festival on Sat 24 Aug.
Choreographed by Patsy Browne-Hope and with artistic support from BRB Soloist Sofia Linares, Fortis makes its world premiere at the festival and is inspired by Louise Palfreyman’s book Once Upon A Time: Birmingham Women Who Dared To Dream and BRB’s new and upcoming ballet Luna.
Fusing neo-classical and contemporary dance with jiu-jitsu, Fortis honours the suffragette movement and the women who learnt jiu-jitsu to defend themselves against police brutality.
BRB are proud to partner with domestic abuse charity We:Are whose tagline of ‘rise, reclaim and recover’ is embodied in the piece and includes ideas of community, recovery and reclamation of identity in women.