The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (Film)

This image displays dancer Harry against a black background with one leg in the air, one arm in front of him and one arm behind him. He is balancing on on leg.

Maeva Berthelot dancing in a mink ball gown dress against a black background.

The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

At the start of 2020 Clod Ensemble and celebrated jazz ensemble Nu Civilisation Orchestra were set to present a live dance celebration of The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, the seminal 1963 album by trailblazing musician Charles Mingus.

Plans changed! We put live performances of The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady on hold until 2023, keeping ourselves sane by moving to Mingus’ music throughout lockdown. The result of this process was a unique, life-affirming film set to Mingus and his band’s original recording.

In this kaleidoscopic video, world-class dancers move to the wildly sensual and rhythmically explosive 1963 LP. The dancers’ movement in The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady celebrates the beautiful melodies, complex structure and huge emotional range of Mingus’ original vision.

Credits

Suzy Willson - Direction; Peter Edwards & Paul Clark - Musical Direction; Roxanne Peak-Payne - Producer; Nick Hillel - Director of Filming; Marianthi Hatzikidi - Styling

Andy Downie - Production Manager; Beth Bilcliffe - Wardrobe Supervisor; Pembe Tokluhan - Production and Technical Associate; Tanya Stephenson - Stage Manager

Production by Yeast Culture: Adam Smith – After Effects; Benjamin Leggett – Camera Assistant; Duncan Birch – Post Production Assistant; Eric Trometer – Camera Operator and Lighting

Movement created and performed by

Harry Alexander; Makiko Aoyama; Jonathon Baker; Maëva Berthelot; Gaby Conn; Julie Cunningham; Ihsaan de Banya; Courtney Deyn; Monique Etienne; Valerie Ebuwa; Yen-Ching Lin; Eleanor Perry; Rachele Rapisardi; Ellen Yilma

With online contributions from: Chihiro Kawasaki; Ino Riga; Ramona Nagabczyńska-de Barbaro; Sarah Cameron; Scott Jennings; Tiffany Desplanques; Zoë Bywater

Featuring designs from the collections of: Art School; Eudon Choi; Simone Rocha; Slim Barrett

Hackney residents

Stephanie Antoine (Tropical Isles); Armani Antoine-Daye; Janette Collins; Nahla Hamilton; Porah Henry; Tariq Lee; Lisa Ogun; Milan Morgan; Shanelle Nwanaebi; Ariah Pursey-Reid; Porridge the dog

Filmed at Shoreditch Town Hall and the Rose Lipman Building, Hackney

Screenings

Online (part of the 2022 EFG London Jazz Festival)
1-21 November 2022

Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, Southbank Centre, London
17 November 2022

Supported by

The Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation; Hackney Council Shoreditch; Hoxton Arts Fund

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