JANET RANDELL

Janet Randell, B.A.Hons., A.I.S.T.D., international choreographer, independent dancer, dance animator, teacher, lecturer, researcher, writer, musician, contributes a unique range of qualities to the dance world. Equally at ease in both the academic and dance worlds, she enjoys a high reputation as a freelance choreographer and is also the founder and artistic director of The Cedar Dance Theatre Company.

In her many years as an international dance teacher and guest choreographer, Janet Randell has worked with major dance companies, including one of the Alvin Ailey Dance Companies in New York, the Irish National Ballet, the Academy of the Central Ballet of China, Beijing, the Guangzhou Dance Company, China, the Hong Kong Academy of the Performing Arts and others. She has created works of breathtaking beauty, quality and musicality conveying a rare depth of expression, to great critical acclaim. Some of her major modern ballets and independent experimental dance works include Stonerites, The Line That Goes For A Walk based on the paintings and writings of Paul Klee and Ancient Voices, inspired by the Sumerian and biblical story of Job. Randell has choreographed also a number of ballets specially for TV, including the ‘Jesus Then and Now’ series and various modern ballets with dancers from the Royal Ballet, London Contemporary Dance Theatre and Ballet Rambert. She has collaborated with many companies and musicians and has choreographed numerous works for the Cedar Dance Theatre Company which have been performed throughout the UK and on TV, including Foxes in the Vineyard, Misa Criolla, Chorale and Labyrinth, a dramatic dance depicting death and resurrection based on an early mediaeval Easter dance.

Highly trained in both classical and modern techniques (Graham, Horton and Cunningham, etc.) in London and New York as well as other dance styles including historical and national, Randell has developed her own inspired style of dancing, teaching method and choreography. She has lectured at the Universities of London, Oxford, Israel, Academy of Beijing and the Royal Academy of Dancing. She uses an eclectic range of artistic imagery drawn from her training and expertise in both ballet and modern dance, from her post-graduate research on spiritual and dance history, as well as from literature, art and music.

Her most recent book In Him We Move: Vol 1 Creative Dancing in Worship (ISBN 1-900507-83-8) explores the historical and theological inspiration behind dance and includes practical exercises for individuals and groups, including those in wheelchairs. (See Publications).

She has explored facets of dance and movement with various physically and mentally disabled groups. She is Chairman of a charity, (see Woods, Hills & Tracks), that is opening up new challenges to people with all types of disabilities. One of her latest ventures involves the creation of multi-media dance projects for the disabled incorporating the interaction between movement, therapy and nature with environmental dance, video, film and dance animation.

Janet Randell has over the years developed a strong interest in choreographing for TV and has worked for a number of television directors. She has most recently been exploring her choreography through Digital and Animated Dance and is experimenting with independent dance material from this new and exciting medium. (See Cedar Dance Animations).

Some of Janet Randell’s major modern ballets and independent works (performed by The Cedar Dance Theatre unless otherwise specified):-

Ancient Voices
Full length work created for the Guangzhou Dance Company, Peoples Republic of China.

A Ceremony of Carols
Full length work to music by Benjamin Britten.

Chorale
Full length work to the music of Vivaldi performed at the Young Vic, London, with live musicians, and throughout the UK. The role of the main dancer was adapted for either female or male soloists.

Daniel
Musical performed by The Riding Lights Theatre Company

Destination Eden II
Created for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Foxes in the Vineyard
Created for the Edinburgh Festival, based on a European award winning radio play of the same name by Rob Cochrane . Composition and musical arrangement by Peter Monk.

Freedom is Coming
Created for workshop performance Oxford Playhouse

Harvest Praise
Created for Cedar Dance in Worship Group

Idola
Choreographed for the Cyprus & Hellenic Foundation and performed by dancers from the Royal Ballet, Ballet Rambert and The Cedar Dance Theatre at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Music: Christos Pittas

Jack’s Visit
Performed by the Cedar Dance Theatre and One Extra Dance Company, Sydney
Music by David Martin; Singer: Dorothy Eschweiller

Jane
(originally Pride & Prejudice based on the novel by Jane Austen)
Music by Mozart and Dvorak

Jesus Then and Now
Video series

Labyrinth
Arranged mediaeval music and percussion by Jon Kehlior, London Contemporary Dance Theatre; composition by Michael Finnissey

Lacrimosa
Created for workshop performance Oxford Playhouse

Lamentation
Performed for stage/TV

Lies
Performed by ex dancers of The Royal Ballet and Ballet Rambert for ITV

Messenger of Fire
Created specially for ITV
Music by Janet Danielson

Missa Criolla
Created for one of the Alvin Ailey Dance Companies, New York and performed throughout UK by The Cedar Dance Theatre
Music by Ramirez (Latin American rhythms)

Motherless Child
Created for workshop performance Oxford Playhouse

Perelandra
Workshop performance at the Oxford Playhouse

Psalm 23
Created for Cedar Dance Theatre performed by Rebecca Ham, ex Ballet Rambert