Welsh dance company, Jones the Dance / Y Ddawns are to present a completely new way to experience live performance, dance and film to communities across Wales this spring. Audiences are invited to join a beautiful cinematic journey in a unique live experience, from their familiar surrounds to the epic clifftops of Anglesey, where they help to shape the story.
Y Dewis (meaning The Choice) follows the story of four pretty cool but questioning young people, each with a tale to tell. They meet in the desolate ruins of Porth Wen brickworks (located on Anglesey, North Wales) and with the help of an MC and host, and the onscreen narrator (who narrates in BSL), the audience decides how their stories unfold. The collective choices that the audience makes will reveal surprises for each of them and maybe for the audience too.
Made with Sekai Media and Theatr Clwyd, supported by Amdani! Conwy, Dawns i Bawb, Pontio and Deaf Hub Wales, the film element is intimate, interactive and cinematic, weaving together English, Welsh and BSL. Its mix of dance and story, all set against an exquisite natural backdrop that is engulfed in an industrial past, is a celebration of Wales, Welsh dance, and the hopes of young people. Permission to film at Porth Wen was kindly given by the landowners as the site has no public access.
Choreographer and Artistic Director of Jones the Dance, Gwyn Emberton says, “Y Dewis has been five years in the making. I was inspired to create something that responded to how young people feel, now in Wales. We work with many young people in different parts of the country, and all of them have helped shape Y Dewis.
Y Dewis (meaning The Choice) follows the story of four pretty cool but questioning young people, each with a tale to tell. Photo: Full Mongrel 
Y Dewis (meaning The Choice) follows the story of four pretty cool but questioning young people, each with a tale to tell. Photo: Full Mongrel 
Y Dewis (meaning The Choice) follows the story of four pretty cool but questioning young people, each with a tale to tell. Photo: Full Mongrel 
Y Dewis (meaning The Choice) follows the story of four pretty cool but questioning young people, each with a tale to tell. Photo: Full Mongrel 
Y Dewis (meaning The Choice) follows the story of four pretty cool but questioning young people, each with a tale to tell. Photo: Full Mongrel
“It is inspired by their stories and feelings about life choices, wellbeing, politics, gender, sexuality and the fight for equality; the things they say about what it means to be young in Wales and working out who they are in the world. I also wanted to try creating a new way for audiences to experience dance and film that is exciting and original and I think we did it.”
As part of the interactive cinematic experience, there will be a short film made by Jones the Dance’s Young Company dancers, who include young people from the Quiet Beats project (workshops and dance experiences for young d/Deaf people) and Jones Bach (workshops for young people in north Powys). Their films take inspiration from Y Dewis which they made with professional dancers and filmmakers.
Jones Bach member said, “By making a film, I can perform without my stage fright stopping me”.
The creative team behind Y Dewis is led by Jones the Dance’s Artistic Director Gwyn Emberton as the creator, choreographer and director. He was joined by five dancers from Wales, England and Sweden, and up-and-coming Swedish filmmakers Aaron Lindblom, Kenneth Ly and Victor Söderlund Lundvall. Renowned Welsh film, TV, and theatre composer Siôn Trefor has created an epic and beautiful score, with sound design by Nick Davies; costume and set design by Lois Prys, and texts written by Iola Ynyr, Sarah Adedeji and Gwyn Emberton. The live host and MC will be announced soon.
Y Dewis will be touring across Wales from 19 April to 18 May, to rural villages, towns and cities, with many places that do not usually get dance or cinema. A number of the performances have been supported by the Arts Council Wales’ Nos Allan | Night Out scheme.
The film includes three languages of English, Welsh and Sign Language, with the live element in Welsh and English. A number of performances will be in BSL with English Interpretation and/or a Deaf/BSL performer.
Tour Dates
- 18/04/2024 Llyfrgell Treffynnon / Holywell Library
- 20/04/2024 Caffi Isa, Yr Wyddgrug / Mold
- 26/04/2024 Neuadd Y Dref Trefaldwyn / Montgomery Town Hall
- 27/04/2024 YMa, Pontypridd
- 28/04/2024 Dance Blast, Y Fenni / Abergavenny
- 30/04/2024 Neuadd Gregynog Hall, Tregynon
- 01/05/2024 Y Dolydd Llanfyllin Workhouse
- 03/05/2024 Canolfan Ucheldre Centre, Caergybi / Holyhead
- 04/05/2024 Pontio, Bangor
- 06/05/2024 Theatr Fach, Llangefni, Ynys Môn
- 09/05/2024 Neuadd Llangoed Hall, Ynys Môn
- 10/05/2024 Eglwys Sant Grwst / St Grwst Church, Llanrwst
- 12/05/2024 Tŷ Dawns / Dance House, Caerdydd / Cardiff
- 17/05/2024 Canolfan Celfyddydau Aberystwyth Arts Centre
- 18/05/2024 Neaudd Y Tumble Hall, Llanelli
The full tour details are available on the Jones the Dance website – jonesthedance.com/ydewis and is suitable for all ages but ideally from ages 9 and up. Y Dewis is supported by funding from Arts Council of Wales, Kulturrådet, Tŷ Cerdd, Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Trust, Magic Little Grant via Local Giving.