Dancing on the Edge (TV series)

Dancing on the Edge ( as in German: " Dancing On the Edge " ) is a British five-part mini-series by Stephen Poliakoff. Based in the 1930 drama revolves around the rise and decline of a jazz band with musicians darker skin color in London.

Action

The series is the work of Stephen Poliakoff, who was responsible for idea, script, casting and directing. As a matter he chose a black band musician who lived by appearances before rich guests on ocean liners, had British citizenship, but were rejected by large sections of the population.

An ambitious music journalist, Stanley Mitchell, who writes for the only known in expert circles " Music Express " discovered " Louis Lester Band", befriends their leader, Louis Lester, and helps him to gigs in the expensive London " Imperial Hotel ". The performances lead to a change of hotel clientele, because the money aristocracy feels the performances of " Negroes " as dirty and unreasonable, and makes a group of enlightened, wealthy young people place the flock until the end of the series to the band. This in turn attracts the English millionaire Lady Lavinia Cremone and the American mogul Walter Masterson. Also known for his eccentricity Prince of Wales is a fan of the group.

At the height of popularity that makes the music magazine Mitchells widely known, the singer of the band Louis Lester is murdered in the hotel. Her killer is the young nobleman, mentally ill commuters Julian Luscombe. However, the staff throws suspicion soon to Louis Lester, who may flee abroad with a threaded from friends coups from the police.

Dancing on the Edge contains the built on interpersonal relationships action level, several political levels. In the middle of the series in Germany just the come to power Hitler government is discussed several times. The National Socialist diplomacy corps in London despised the music and the skin color of the Louis Lester band. It comes to a head. The mother Luscombes changes in their holiday on the south coast of England on several occasions the hotel suites because they do not want next door to live with Jews. Poliakoff records the racism against blacks as deeply rooted in British society.

The series falls into several historical dramas of the time, especially Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife.

Production and broadcasting

The series was produced in 2012 and ran from 4 to 25 February every Monday in the second TV for the BBC.

Main cast

• Louis Lester ( Chiwetel Ejiofor ) as a leader of the Louis Lester band
• Stanley Mitchell ( Matthew Goode ) as a music journalist at Music Express
• Lady Lavinia Cremone ( Jacqueline Bisset ) as a rich, reclusive music lover
• Arthur Donaldson ( Anthony Head ) as a wealthy English businessman
• Walter Masterson ( John Goodman) as an American mogul and benefactor Julian Luscombes
• Julian Luscombe (Tom Hughes ) as Borderlineer of noble home
• Carla ( Wunmi Mosaku ) as a black singer in the band Louis Lester
• Jessie (Angel Coulby ) as the front woman of the band Louis Lester
• Pamela Luscombe ( Joanna Vanderham ) as Julian's sister
• Rosie ( Jenna -Louise Coleman ) as an assistant at Music Express
• Sarah ( Janet Montgomery ), the daughter of Russian immigrants and photographer

Awards

2014 Jacqueline Bisset was awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries.