February 9 2002, Saturday, 10am-5.30pm

TEA-DANCES AT LONDON'S POLISH CENTRE AND ARMENIAN DANCE: TOPICS WITHIN ABIGAIL ZOE MARTIN'S PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS AND REPORTAGE EXHIBITION

Abigail, a resourceful girl with boundless energy, has been taking photographs for over 10 years. You could say she has probably covered all types of subject matter in that time, but it was only in the last year that she has concentrated her lenses on dance groups. From her friends and colleagues up to her equally-energetic, 80-year old grandmother, Joan (her inspiration, she says) - a lot of dancing was photographed, and today is your last chance to see many, of what Abigail terms, "rituals" all under one roof. In fact, there are 75 photographs to see with titles such as "Michael, In Flight" and "Johannes, Flying" - both at £650 each, to the more sedated-sounding "Prayer..." series of four pictures (priced from £225 to £550). In fact, Michael and Johannes get a good look-in, with not only photographs of their flying but also of their "Stretches" - all pre-requisites, no doubt, for good dancing performances.
 

Years ago, we took part in some Ceroc, so we were quite familiar with the scenes shown in photographs numbered 17 to 20, but the Armenian dancing was a new one on us. It all illustrated the fact that - as the press release states, '[the] groups cover a broad spectrum of dance available in Great Britain today.' Other titled masterpieces-within-frames include a series of "Ballet Class", "Papillion", "Partners" "Poetry in Motion" and "Spring." Her last exhibition was in autumn, back in 1999, and that was a sell out success. And this exhibition titled, "I Must Dance" hints that it, too, "Must" be a sell-out, as well! E-mail... (see website) for more information, if required. Location: The Coningsby Gallery, 30 Tottenham Street, London, W1. Telephone: 020 7636 7478. Nearest tube station: Goodge Street (Northern line).
http://www.coningsbygallery.com/