Dance

A preview of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival 2013

The festival brings together film, music, visual art, and comedy in the shape of Patrick Monahan

When you mention Iran in the current climate, most people think of the politics of the country. But there is of course more to the place than what we see in the news – and the 2013 Edinburgh Iranian Festival is our opportunity to learn more about…

Programme for the Edinburgh International Festival 2013 puts artists and technology centre-stage

Tod Machover, the Wooster Group and Oper Frankfurt among the EIF programme highlights

A crowd sourced orchestral work by boundary breaker Tod Machover is just one of the many highlights of this year’s Edinburgh International Festival programme. Set over three weeks this August, the EIF’s line-up includes an homage to Allen Ginsberg with…

Hot 100 2012: 10-2

John Tiffany, Andy Murray and Luke Fowler among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

Highland Fling

One the oldest romatic ballets given modern tartan twist by Matthew Bourne and the Scottish National

It's a coup for Scottish Ballet to be the first company to perform a full-length Matthew Bourne piece outside his New Adventures troupe. But no doubt there's pride for the choreographer too, in having his urban-fantasy Glasgow vision embraced by…

Scottish Ballet's Christopher Hampson on Matthew Bourne's Highland Fling

The production is Bourne's adaptation of La Sylphide

It’s always a good idea to turn up at a job interview well prepared. But when Christopher Hampson arrived at Scottish Ballet, to convince the company he should be its new artistic director, he took preparation to a whole new level. ‘I looked at Scottish…

The Great Gatsby enjoys a resurgence on stage and screen

F Scott Fitzgerald's novel is being adapted by both Baz Luhrmann and Northern Ballet

Not for nothing is F Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel deemed one of the greatest books of all time. With descriptive text that often borders on the poetic, The Great Gatsby is a story to savour, not devour. At just over 160 pages, however, it’s as much…

Hot 100 2012: 19-11

David Greig, Karen Gillan and Chris Hoy among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

Prodijig, stars of Sky One's Got To Dance, return with Footstorm

Group founder Alan Kenefick promises 'a new form of magic for Irish dance'

Once upon a time, Irish dance was all big wigs, glued arms and tough judges. Then, in 1994, Riverdance came along and turned this competitive dance form into a bona fide performance style. But time stands still for no dance, and the latest incarnation…

Janis Claxton Dance stage new show Chaos and Contingency

Dance piece performed in museums in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh

If anybody knows how to work a location, it’s Janis Claxton. All those who saw her company take up residence in an Edinburgh Zoo enclosure in 2008 and 2011 will testify to that. Now Claxton is back, and taking over some of Scotland’s finest cultural…

Spring culture preview 2013

Nick Evans: Solar Eyes Evans' forthcoming solo show features a new set of his striking amorphic white plaster sculptures. The most ambitious is a large architectural complex which mimics the geometry of an Aztec temple. Evans' fascination with motifs…

Hot 100 2012: 29-20

Chvrches, Cora Bissett and Grant Morrison among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

Hot 100 2012: 79-70

Dominic Hill, Ewan Morrison and LuckyMe among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

12 Dancers / Deliberance is dance piece based on Twelve Angry Men

Choreographer Andy Howitt, composer Stephen Deazley and young dance talent

Twelve men, one room, two possible outcomes. In 1957, Henry Fonda delivered a stunning performance as a man determined to make his fellow jury members think twice about their guilty verdict. Over 50 years later, choreographer Andy Howitt and composer…

The Albert Drive Project aims to strengthen bond between artists and the local community

The Tramway is a co-production between Gla(s) Performance and Glasgow Life

In the past decade, the discussion between community-based arts programmes and professional artists has expanded. Whereas there was once a strict divide between the two, shows like Michael Clark’s Barrowlands Project have merged community participants…

Siobhan Davies Dance: Every Day

Solo dance act by Siobhan Davies focuses on the daily movements we take for granted

A table, a chair, an umbrella and a stool – ordinary objects we come across on a daily basis. But a new exhibition is asking us to look at those objects, and others, with fresh eyes. Not only that, but a live element will encourage visitors to…

Dance piece Sutra inspired by skills of Shaolin monks

Breathtaking show performed by 17 Shaolin monks and Ali Thabet

As a young boy, Ali Thabet was fascinated by Kung Fu. So it’s no surprise to hear him say that spending three months in the Shaolin Temple, with some of the finest martial artists in the world, was an ‘incredible and unique’ experience. Belgian dancer…

Ballet star Carlos Acosta moves in more contemporary direction for On Before

'I wanted to convey something that actually speaks to the audience’

He has danced with some of the most important classical ballet companies in the world, but when it came to building his own show, Carlos Acosta knew it was time for a change. Rather than showing off the high leaps he was famous for at the Royal…

Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo UK tour 2013

All-make company bridging gap between farce and classical ballet

While there’s no disputing how captivating Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo can be, sometimes it’s equally fascinating to watch how the audience reacts to them. A regular fixture on the dance touring circuit since their formation in 1974, the…

Rambert Dance Company take mixed work show on UK tour

Work by Marguerite Donlon, Javier De Frutos and Tim Rushton

Live music has always been a key part of any Rambert performance, but on this latest tour it’s more integral than ever. Not only is the score for Marguerite Donlon’s new work sung live, but a soprano weaves her way through the dancers as the piece…

Alan Greig Dance Theatre: Do You Nomi?

Piece themed on vibrant member of 70s New York scene Klaus Nomi

It’s a play on words, but for most people the answer to this show’s title is probably ‘no, I don’t.’ To fill you in, Klaus Nomi was a vibrant member of the New York music and club scene in the late 70s and early 80s. Known for his striking falsetto…

Balletboyz: The Talent 2013

Double-bill featuring video and dancers Russell Maliphant and Liam Scarlett

What happens on stage is but a brief moment in a dancer’s life. In the rehearsal studio there’s a whole host of fascinating activity we rarely get to see. Which is why, early on, Michael Nunn and William Trevitt decided to make video an integral part of…

Scottish Dance Theatre make first outing with new artistic director Fleur Darkin

Victor Quijada and Jo Strømgren on bill featuring streetdance and music of Schubert

The bright lights of a big city may not shine particularly brightly on Scottish Dance Theatre, but that’s never stopped it illuminating its own path. And now that new artistic director, Fleur Darkin has moved up from London to run the show, the…

Hot 100 2012: 39-30

Konx-Om-Pax, Ingleby Gallery and NVA among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

Open Art Surgery: Experiments in Hip Hop

Breakin’ Convention hip hop theatre event featuring Bigg Taj, Jackin’ the Box and Ready Ready Sauce

A big round of applause and a few cheers says it all when you’ve enjoyed a performance. But what if it wasn’t quite what it could have been? If you’ve ever felt like giving feedback after a dance show, now’s your chance. Hosted by Breakin’ Convention’s…

New Adventures: Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty

Accalimed choreographer rounds off Tchaikovsky triumvirate with ‘gothic romance’

Tchaikovsky’s big three are the stalwarts of the classical ballet canon. Dance companies around the world have versions of The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake in their repertoire, but none quite like the unique versions that have come out of…