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July 10th, 2026
In July 2026, Upstage premiered Melting Ice, a new original mixed-ability contemporary dance production exploring humanity's response to the climate crisis through movement.
Supported by the British Council through the UK/Kenya Season Legacy Programme, Melting Ice was developed through a creative exchange between Upstage The Work Room in Glasgow.
Melting Ice was choreographed by Upstage's Executive Director, Adam Chienjo, who worked with a dynamic cast of disabled and non-disabled dancers. Adam received dramaturgical support from Luke Pell (UK), combining varied artistic perspectives and demonstrating the power of international partnership to shape new work.
From its earliest stages, the production was conceived as a genuinely collaborative mixed-ability production, with every performer contributing to its creative development. Rather than adapting an existing work for disabled performers, accessibility and inclusion informed the production from the outset, resulting in a performance where diverse artistic voices shaped both the process and the final work.
Melting Ice premiered at the Kenya National Theatre on 2 July, before returning for a re-run on 5 July as part of the 2026 Dance Life Festival.
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