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BIOGRAPHIES
"I
would like everyone to experience dancing in such
way where they hit that zone or Dynamic Equanimity.
It’s a feeling of Oneness where you, your partner
and the music become one, and rhythm is the glue to
unify all three. You can’t even feel where your
body ends and your partners body begins, you don’t
even know if you are leading or following because
everything is one. In that state, no forceful leading
is necessary, you are both just flowing, and the energy
is just flowing. I’m not even sure if the brain
gets involved because the brain can get in the way
of feeling. That is what I wish for everyone to experience."
Marchant Birch 2005
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ALCHEMY DANCE COMPANY, founded and directed
by Marchant Birch, brought together dancers from a diverse
range of cultural, musical and dance backgrounds. The fusion
of this range of experience with Marchant’s renowned
smooth style brought about an exciting and fresh concept
in salsa training and choreography. Influenced predominantly
by New York Mambo, ballroom, and Jazz dance, the focus of
Alchemy is strong technical training, the PROCESS of creating
dance, and ultimately transforming individually and collectively
as dancers.
Alchemy Dance Company is currently represented by the partnership
between Marchant & Davina, who perform and teach in
the UK and internationally. |
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MARCHANT
BIRCH, Director of Alchemy Dance Company &
Academy
Marchant was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. He was trained in Ballroom from the age of 7 up to competitive professional level. He won numerous competitions in Ballroom and Street Dance, and was winner of the National Cape Jazz Championship 1999 in South Africa, competing against over 500 couples (Cape Jazz is a partner dance similar to salsa).
On taking up salsa he understood the need to learn the dance form from its authentic Latino roots and has trained with the worlds best Puerto Ricans, New Yoricans, Dominicans and Cubans. He was invited to start teaching and performing salsa in the UK in 2001 and has since become one of the most sought after teachers & performers in the UK and internationally. Marchant is also the 1st and only representative of South Africa in the international salsa community.
In 2005 Marchant's choreography of Tito Puente's ‘Take Five’ received high acclaim from the Mambo King himself, Eddie Torres. It was considered a ground-breaking choreography at the time for its flowing use of line and arms, and intricate musical interpretation. The influence of this can be seen today in UK salsa performances
Growing up in Africa undoubtedly contributed to Marchants intricate sense of rhythm, from the raw sound of the carnival drum, to the sophistication of the Cape Town jazz musicians. In his years in salsa he has taken his teachings from the latinos, and blended it with ballroom technique, jazz and afro movement, developing a smooth, elegant style of salsa and mambo known as the Alchemy Way. He is reknowned for bringing 'smooth' and 'flow' to UK salsa.
Marchant and Davina together formed Alchemy Dance Company in 2005. They took both their past dance experience and combined the techniques and methods for the performance company. Originally a team of four, they performed nationwide at many events and salsa congresses.
In 2006 they launched Alchemy Dance Academy, giving the salsa public the opportunity to improve their dancing by way of the Alchemy
method of dance training. For 2 years they ran the Academy by way of intensive courses and workshops at different venues around the south. In March 2008 Alchemy
Dance Academy launched its permanent residence in Hampshire, where students travel from far and wide to learn the Alchemy Way. It is pioneering the Alchemy Way that is now
Marchant's main focus with Davina. In 2007 they released their
first instructional DVD 'Alchemy Way
Partnerwork', which, produced in two versions, was the UK's first On2 instructional DVD.
Now representing Alchemy Dance Company as a solo couple, Marchant & Davina are known for their captivating performances, world-class choreographies, and excellent teaching methods, they are in high demand to perform and teach around the UK and internationally. (click for calendar).
click
for more history
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DAVINA BIRCH,
founder member of Alchemy Dance Company
& Co-Director of Alchemy Dance Academy
Davina is Marchant's performance & teaching partner and
project coordinator for Alchemy. She is the female exponent
of the Alchemy Way of dancing mambo & salsa, and is the featured lady on Marchant's instructional
DVD.
DAVINA holds ISTD teaching qualifications in Modern Theatre Dance and Tap. She trained in Modern, Jazz, Tap and Ballet from the age of 3, taking Modern and Tap to advanced status. Further qualifications include a BA Honours degree in Drama & Theatre Studies, and various fitness teaching certificates including an S/NVQ in Exercise to music.
Since 1996 she has taught in a variety of capacities, mainly freelance teaching at dance schools and colleges around London. Davina was Head of Dance at a community youth theatre in London and taught the dance aspect of GCSE performing arts in secondary education. She taught and entered many students for dance examinations, and choreographed for numerous showcases, productions, and competitions.
In 2003 she took up salsa, attending classes
with Marchant who soon spotted her potential and undertook
her training. It was from this that Alchemy Dance Company
was formed, Davina's jazz dance experience being part of
the core technique training for the company. She also co-choreographed,
with Marchant, Alchemy's debut show 'Timbalito'.
Davina is described as having a smooth, sophisticated and sexy style. She is known for teaching following techniques for ladies, and how to style within the natural flow of partnerwork without affecting the man's lead... the female Alchemy Way!. The combination of her training and experience has given her a passion for teaching, with an infectious enthusiasm which is passed on to her students.
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STEVEN
ABBIW, founder member of Alchemy Dance Company
Steven was first introduced to salsa in
1998 while at university. After graduating, he took it up
'seriously' trying several different classes in central
London and eventually settling for a while with Cheryl and
Julian 'The Duke' of Salsoteca, and Leon Rose. Over the
course of the next two years, he participated in two salsa
competitions (Tropicana Salsa [amateur category] - 3rd Place,
Bar Cuba salsa competition [professional category] - 2nd
Place). Steven enjoyed a brief yet productive time with
Laith Sami's first salsa dance troupe in 2003 and performed
at the UK Salsa Congress the same year. Steven is also the
percussionist in a London based rock band.
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SIMONE
MOWEN, founder member of Alchemy Dance Company
Simone has a background in singing, ballet
and street dance. Raised in a home heavily influenced by
music, she began singing to congregations in church at the
age of four. Singing broadened her appreciation for a vast
range of music, and is her inspiration to dance. Performing
continued in varying degrees with modelling at the age of
thirteen and as an extra in music videos. She was trained
in salsa by Leon Rose, and regularly assisted him in central
London, teaching ladies technique and styling. Her first
performance in Salsa was in Paris at the ‘Inaugural
Festival of salsa Dance and DJ’ in 2000. Since then
she has continued to perform and feature in workshops throughout
the UK and Europe as part of the Leon Rose Project and London
Allstar Latin Dancers. Simone's creative talents are also
put to great use as costume designer for Alchemy.
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