The Curve Foundation 10th Anniversary Gala

Source: The List (Issue 602)
Date: 8 May 2008
Written by: Kelly Apter

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King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 20 May

CONTEMPORARY DANCE

‘I thought if I were to have a party to celebrate ten years of the Curve Foundation, who would I invite?’ says Ross Cooper, artistic director of Curve Foundation. ‘Who has been relative to our evolution? Which people have helped and encouraged me?’ Performed almost a decade to the day since the company’s debut, the show will feature two works by Curve, plus two duets by dancers from Scottish Ballet and Phoenix Dance.

‘For many years Scottish Ballet has been the establishment for me to learn from and build off of,’ explains Cooper, who has asked dancers Jarkko Lehmus and Kara McLaughlin to perform Ashley Page’s sensual duet, Acrid Avid Jam. Cooper also asked legendary choreographer, Merce Cunningham to donate his lead dancer, Daniel Squire to the gala.

‘I told Merce we wanted to perform his solo, Signals at the gala,’ says Cooper. ‘And he said I either needed Daniel or Mikhail Baryshnikov to dance that role. And since I went to school with Daniel – and I think he dances it better than Baryshnikov – I’ve asked him to come over from New York.’ With Curve’s dynamic rendition of The Four Seasons and a work by former Rambert dancer, Ana Lujan Sanchez, completing the bill, this is one birthday party worth inviting yourself to.

More: Acrid Avid Jam, Ana Lujan Sanchez, Contemporary, Curve Foundation, Daniel Squire, Jarkko Lehmus, Kara McLaughlin, Phoenix Dance, Ross Cooper, Scottish Ballet, The Four Season, Contemporary Dance (Dance), Previews (Theatre)