Nice as Pie
Added on 09 May 2010
An exciting new professional dance company is about to launch upon the tour circuit in the South-West and beyond - thanks to support provided by Bath Spa University.
The nice as pie dance theatre was founded by three performers, Katy West, Laura Polson and Romayne Etwaroo, whilst studying for degrees in Dance Studies at Bath Spa University. In May last year, nice as pie competed against six other emerging companies for the opportunity to be professionally incubated by the University for its debut year.
The 'Launchpad' scheme was founded by Emma Gersch, Artswork Senior Teaching Fellow for PerformanceLab at Bath Spa, and the support included intensive business skills training and mentoring from industry professionals, rehearsal and office space, help with marketing and an introduction to a network of business contact - a package amounting to more than 10,000 pounds of in-kind support. Emma says: "The Launchpad was conceived to enable our talented emerging artists to receive support at the critical first stages of their career. The nice as pie team impressed immediately with their unique vision, and sense of determination for their work."
The incubation year is now coming to an end, with a number of successful performances including Bath Fringe Festival, Salisbury Arts Centre and The Tobacco Factory, Bristol. In keeping with the company's ethos of making their work accessible to all, they have also performed for the residents of a local care home, began teaching dance in a neighbouring city, held a two day creative residency at a local primary school and have a confirmed commission for Bath's Girl Guiding later this year.
Now the time has come for their professional launch, with a celebratory event on Wednesday 12 May at 2.30pm in Chapel Arts Centre, Bath, when nice as pie will present their debut piece 'The Hotel'. Described as a piece packed with a punchy sound score, real life secrets and unexpected humorous and visual delights, 'The Hotel' takes the audience on a quick paced and fleetingly vibrant journey glimpsing the different circumstances and perspectives of female hotel guests.
Nice as pie has already made an impact on the professional scene. Katie Keeler, producer at Theatre Bristol and programmer at the Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol, commented: "I'll be watching nice as pie's career carefully. I think this unlikely trio might have something special. They have interesting things to say, they care about their audience and they are extremely watchable."
