Scottish Dance Theatre Spring Tour 2006
showcasing new work
Scottish Dance Theatre (SDT) returned with a repertoire of vibrant and original works featuring the world premiere of new work by former Peter Darrell Award winner Jan De Schynkel, work by Artistic Director Janet Smith and a showcase of work created by SDT dancers.
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No Stronger Than A Flower is the third work Jan De Schynkel has created on SDT - his previous works include She Is As He Eats and Daddy I’m Not Well, described as ‘visually compelling’ by The Guardian. Jan creates arresting and intense theatrical experiences with an often bizarre sense of humour. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Sonnet 65 – ‘how with this rage shall beauty hold a plea, whose action is no stronger than a flower’ – No Stronger Than A Flower uses the weird and wonderful music of Tom Waits and John Lurie. |
'Forty Minutes' by Janet Smith is a reflective and witty work that examines the search for lost identity and asks ‘Who am I?’ With a melodic original score by composer Christopher Benstead and imagery by Dundee-based video artist Pernille Spence, Forty Minutes is a thoughtful look at our personal journeys. ‘wistful, merry, intellectual’ The Herald
For the first time ever, and as part of Artistic Director Janet Smith’s commitment to developing newly-emerging talent and creating opportunities for company members, new work created by six of the company’s dancers will be performed as part of SDT's repertoire in Dundee and Leeds.
Out of the House is a showcase of short works by SDT dancers Baptiste Bourgougnon, Ruth Janssen, James MacGillivray, Riccardo Meneghini, Anthony Missen and Victoria Roberts. Five pieces will be performed, including a dance film by James MacGillivray, a triptych of work by Victoria Roberts, a duet of one-upmanship by Baptiste Bourgougnon and Ruth Janssen, a short piece about belonging by Riccardo Meneghini and a 14 minute solo by Anthony Missen.
Nicholas Kok, Principal Conductor at VIVA - the orchestra of the East Midlands, has composed music especially for most of the works featured in 'Out of the House' and will play live in performance in Dundee. Nicholas has had a long association with Janet - working as musical director for Janet Smith & Dancers. He also played a large part in setting up Almeida Opera (for which he has conducted many productions) and has worked with BBC Singers, English National Opera, as well as many other world-class dance and opera companies.
At home in Dundee and on tour in Leeds, the company will perform the world premiere of Jan De Schynkel’s 'No Stronger Than A Flower' and 'Out of the House'. SDT will then tour 'No Stronger Than A Flower' with Janet Smith’s 'Forty Minutes' to Edinburgh Festival Theatre and The Place in London.
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SDT has also been invited to perform in Groningen in The Netherlands as part of the Spring 2006 Tour in a cultural exchange with the Northern Netherlands dance company, Galili Dance.
The exchange – set up by sdt Artistic Director Janet Smith and funded by Scottish Arts Council and Royal Netherlands Embassy London - will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands led by Scottish troops. |
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SDT will present a triple bill featuring the award-winning LUXURIA by Liv Lorent, Track by Didy Veldman, who is originally from Groningen and Janet Smith’s Forty Minutes. Galili Dance will perform Membrane, a programme of two contrasting works by Artistic Director Itzik Galili at SDT's home venue, Dundee Rep Theatre.
SDT's shorter-than-usual Spring Tour will allow the company to work with Dundee Rep Ensemble for the first time on a collaborative production of 'Monkey' - a large-scale family show based on the cult 70s tv show of the same name. Monkey, co-directed by SDT Artistic Director Janet Smith and Dundee Rep Ensemble Artistic Director Dominic Hill, will open at Dundee Rep Theatre before touring to the Children’s International Theatre Festival at the Lyceum in Edinburgh, Tramway in Glasgow and His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen in May/June this year.
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SDT will be performing 'No Stronger Than A Flower' by Jan De Schynkel during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, at Southside Venue from 15 - 20 August.
For more information, contact Kerryn Hurley on 01382 342600 or visit Scottish Dance Theatre website | |