Scottish Dance Theatre presents two compelling works from international choreographers performed by the company’s exceptional dancers. Expect passion, energy and boundary-pushing dance.
Yama by Damien Jalet
Damien Jalet has been responsible for some of the most revered productions of the last 10 years, including Babel (Laurence Olivier Award 2011) and work with Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and a radical re-staging of Bolero with Marina Abramovic at the Paris Opera. In a UK first, Jalet collaborates on set design with American Visual Artist Jim Hodges (Association Internationale des Critiques d’art). Created with the dancers of Scottish Dance Theatre, Yama explores the mythology associated with mountains to produce a visceral and compelling work of collective ascension.
Kingdom by Jorge Crecis
Spanish choreographer Jorge Crecis presents his risk-taking, playful Kingdom. Starting with 80 bamboo sticks and 120 ropes, the company of 10 dancers are challenged to transform the raw materials into a 6 metre human shelter. With an original score by The Artist, Kingdom is a political work inspired by Crecis's participation in the Madrid Occupy movement.
Making something hard look effortless is, of course, a dancer’s job. But choreographers Damien Jalet and Jorge Crecis both added a whole layer of complexity, the like of which I’ve not seen this company tackle before.
The short pieces (neither of which exceeds half-an-hour) both reflect the adventurous spirit and courage of SDT, which continues under Fleur Darkin (who took over as artistic director in the autumn of 2012).
Yama and Kingdom are strikingly different but both evoke a sense of something intrinsically human, a way of moving or working together that tugs at the core of human nature.
Scottish Dance Theatre’s latest performance is an ambitious but frustrating double bill.
Spain and Japan play part in Scottish dance agenda
Interview: choreographer Damien Jalet on Japan-inspired piece Yama
Dundee Rep Theatre, Dundee from Thursday February 20, 2014, until Saturday February 22, 2014. More info: www.dundeereptheatre.co.uk
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh from Friday February 28, 2014, until Saturday March 1, 2014. More info: www.traverse.co.uk