Pick of the Week: 9 - 15 March

Nottdance: Songs with Ibelisse Guardia

Nottdance 
The festival that gets in the groove is back in our fair city, celebrating the work of some of the world’s most creative and provocative artists. With more than forty different performances taking place across various venues, our city will be transformed into a moving, breathing piece of artwork, courtesy of the chaps at Dance4. Take the little ones along to events such as Fleur Darkin: Innocence, performed by the Scottish Dance Company, where the kiddies are encouraged to watch and participate in a contemporary dance performance. Alternatively, you can delve into the philosophical, with events such as What The Body Does Not Remember, which “balances on the razor edge of attraction and repulsion”, in a high-energy, raw and physical dance piece. It’s a right old community affair, and one to set a spring in your step for spring. 
Thursday 5 – Sunday 15 March, various times, prices and locations

It's a phlexx ting

Phlexx 
‘It’s a phlexx ting’ is fast becoming one of the most frequently heard phrases of a Friday night, and we aren’t talking gymnastics classes. The faces behind Origin One and The Afterdark Movement, Bru-C and Trekkah, are on standby to host another evening of carnage, especially for you lot. Specialising in reggae and dancehall bands, they’ve not disappointed with the lineup this time, with Josh from UK reggae heavyweight band The Skints coming down to our fair city to get your hips a-whining and your heads a-nodding. Of course, there’ll be a set by the home favourites, Origin One, and closing the night with almighty dancehall riddims is RubberDub co-founder, Fel Dem. It’s not one for the faint hearted – you can expect a lorra sweaty bodies grindin’ up in the club.
Friday 13 March, 10pm, £5, The Maze

Beeston Tales 
Nottingham’s brand new spoken word sessions are taking a devilish twist early this month. Award-winning Tim Ralphs is bringing along some traditional Satanic stories with his own modern, creative kinks to share with the wonderful people of Beestonia. After it went down a storm at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, his one man show Rebranding Beelzebub knocks on the cellar door to take a close look at the antichrist’s antics and make listeners flit between laughing hysterically and cringing in disgust. Expect to find yourself in an urban sprawl making friends with mad drunken preachers (in your imagination, of course – The White Lion’s a lovely place). Open your tabs, grab a carton of milk and a pillow, and gather on the carpet for fairytales and myths that take a few unexpected turns.
Wednesday 11 March, 7pm, £5, The White Lion, Beeston

Residual: Traces of the Black Body

Residual: Traces of the Black Body 
You can always count on New Art Exchange to deliver educational, insightful, and stunning, their latest exhibition looks at the black body’s representation in contemporary Western culture, alongside the concept of what remains after a tangible part of something has been removed – hence the name. Part of Format International Photography Festival 2015, the work comes from a myriad of photographers including featured artists Cristiano Berti, George Hallet, Ingrid Pollard and Zanele Muholi. On Thursday 19 March, independent curator and specialist in African and Diaspora arts, Christine Eyene, is leading a talk about the concept behind the exhibition, and addressing issues raised by the artwork. From the effects of colonial explorations, to misconceptions about Africa, there’s much information to get stuffing into your noggin – some of it’s pretty heavy going, so take heed if you’re thinking of bringing any little ‘uns.
Friday 13 March – Friday 17 April, free, New Art Exchange

An Evening of Public Shaming with Jon Ronson 
If you’ve ever made a bit of a bum joke by the coffee machine and been ripped to shreds for the rest of the day for it, or caught your mate doing something particularly embarrassing and consequently ripped them a new one for it, then you’ve been both a victim and perpetrator of public shaming. It’s an activity we humans have been participating in for eternity. Jon Ronson has been researching the catalysts for and destruction caused by public shaming, and has put his findings together in a ‘simultaneously hilarious and powerful’ discussion for all you lovely lot to attend. The show coincides with the release of Jon’s book, so after you’ve been inspired by his glorious presentation, you can take a copy of his work home with you. Quick, quick, it's nearly sold out.
Friday 13 March, 7.30pm, Broadway Cinema, £10

They ain't no hollaback girrrls

Hollaback! Chalk Walk 
Wolf whistlers and street hecklers, listen up. The women of this city are unimpressed by exclamations of "Give us a smile, duck", or the eternally gross and lechy "Nice tits". Although you may assume your gestations are complementary, they only serve to embarrass, intimidate, infuriate and ultimately objectify the women and girls of our city. And they’ve had enough. Armed with chunky chalk and a passion for safer streets, the women of Notts are taking a stand once again with their street art, plastering our pathways with colourful retorts to the plethora of comments they receive regularly in our city. Take a stand and do something with your Monday. Help make our streets safer, friendlier and devoid of sexually predatory comments.
Monday 9 March, 12pm, free, Trent SU

Indie Fashion Week
We’ve got no end of creative talent in Hood Town, and we bloody well shout about it. Why wouldn’t we? Taking heed from Paris and Milan, we’ve come up with the Notts answer to fashion week. Showcasing the diverse fashion talent from across our city borders in fashion shows, markets and graffiti artists. The week kicks off at St Mary’s Church in the Lace Market, and leads on to Rough Trade on the Thursday, billed as a fashion show with a difference. Attendees are urged to wear white, but are politely informed that they won’t be leaving as pristine as they entered. Exciting stuff.
Tuesday 10 - Sunday 15 March, various times, Creative Quarter

Behind the Beautiful Forevers

Behind the Beautiful Forevers 
One of our own is doing a darn good job in the big smoke. Anjli Mohindra of the Television Workshop has been working her socks off on the National Theatre, no less, in a play written by David Hare. Starring Meera Syal of Eastender’s fame, good owd Broado are screening the production for all you home birds who can’t bare to leave the city walls. Depicting life in one of Mumbai’s slums, the play highlights the extreme wealth gap in India, and the dreams and ambitions of the various inhabitants. For those who find the theatre inaccessible, this is a great way to get involved with the production being brought to the big screen. And it's live. Get out there, experience some culture and support one of your own.
Thursday 12 March, 7pm, £12/14, Broadway

ABC Dance School Open Day 
Free. We love that word over at ‘Lion HQ. Whatever it is, if it’s free, we’ll take it. So when we heard about ABC Dance School offering free taster sessions on all their dance lessons, we jumped up from our desks, polished off our dance shoes and began the necessary stretching needed for a Saturday full of hip quaking and booty shaking. With dance styles ranging from belly dancing to flamenco which are available for all ages and abilities, you’re bound to learn some new moves to bust out of a Friday eve at your local. Who knows, you may develop a passion for the rhumba and find yourself on the next series of Strictly...
Saturday 14 March, 11am, ABC Dance School, St Anns Road

Get yer glad rags on, ducks

Indie Fashion Week
Walking through Hockley, you’d be forgiven for stopping dead in your tracks to gawp at some of the outfit selections on offer.  While some ‘fashionistas’ clearly created their concoctions in the dark, blindfolded, with fellow blindfolded toddlers choosing their attire, others manage to pull off the most daring of ensembles with shit loads of swagger. To celebrate the stylish side of Notts, we’re taking on Milan and Paris with a fashion week of our own. Independent stalls, designers and artists will be showcasing their work in shows and on market stalls. Get out and support your local artists, and bag yourself some bargains in the process.
Tuesday 10 - Sunday 15 March, various times, prices and locations

Em-Con
Sci-fi and fantasy nerds alike, this one’s for you. The best in sci-fi television, comic and book talent are descending on Hood Town. Pop on your best ghost-busting boiler suit and get practising your best dalek voice to impress your favourite characters from Dr Who, Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. Leave behind the drudgery of reality for a day, and immerse yourself in a wonderland of fantastical creatures. Following the event, there’ll be a chance to have a boogie with your favourite performers at the after party. Set in the gothic church that holds Pitcher and Piano, ‘Lion favourites OneGirlOneBoy are on the list to perform for your ears only.
Sunday 15 March, 11am, £8, Capital FM Arena & Pitcher and Piano

For the motherload of everything else going on this week check out our comprehensive Nottingham events listings.

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