As the year draws to an end and festive cheer starts to build, Dance Base celebrates all things dance by hosting a new showcase, SNOW MOTION: three evenings of live performance back in the glorious Studio 1 space.
This December, Dance Base is delighted to welcome a fantastic array of dance artists from across Scotland to bring their work back to the stage and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Dance Base making its home in the Grassmarket building.
Each artist joining the company has a deep connection to the Company having developed work with Dance Base over the years through residencies, Festival performances and sharings. This new showcase also marks the first major Dance Base project for the company’s new Artistic Director, Tony Mills, which is set to showcase his bold new vision for the organisation.
With a different programme each evening, there is truly something for everyone, from playful takes on office life, to lyrical explorations of an enchanted Hebridean world, to a delightful tale about food (and being eaten!) for younger audiences.
Featuring new and reimagined performances by Bridie Gane, Jen Wren, Kirsten Newell, Mamoru Iriguchi, Taylor Han and Tess Letham, SNOW MOTION celebrates storytelling and connection, showcasing an array of live music, physical theatre, spoken word and contemporary and traditional dance.
Click here for more information on each performance.
SNOW MOTION is a celebration of Dance Base in its 20th year in the Grassmarket. As well as featuring artists connected to the organisation, it will also showcase the organisation’s history, and hugely popular programme of dance classes.
Audiences are encouraged to arrive early and take part in a fun and uplifting dance class suitable for all levels. A bar will be set up so if a class doesn’t appeal, there’s also the chance to chat with friends over some festive drinks and follow Dance Base’s history with a brand-new exhibition display in the building.
SNOW MOTION is an evening for us to come together again, raise a glass to all that has been, get in the Christmas mood, and – most importantly – dance!
This event has been made possible thanks to support from Creative Scotland and funding from Scottish Government through the Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund.
Dance Base and Jupiter Artland’s dance residency programme
Dance Base, Scotland’s national centre for dance, and Jupiter Artland, a contemporary sculpture park and art gallery just outside Edinburgh, are thrilled to announce the five artists selected for the Space, Nature, Nurture | Winter Residency Series – a new collaborative residency programme which offers dance and movement artists a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in and work with the natural and sculpted outdoor surroundings of Jupiter Artland.
Scotland is a hugely diverse and varied landscape that is not only an incredible source of inspiration, but which can also act as a creative collaborator and be a central element of performance work for artists.
Jupiter Artland encapsulates the richness of the Scottish landscape, incorporating wild woodland alongside sculpted spaces, and is a hugely inspiring and creative environment for artists to engage with. Space, Nature, Nurture is the first collaboration between Dance Base and Jupiter Artland and both partners are thrilled to be able to provide an opportunity for artists working in dance and movement to bring their practice in to this unique environment.
The five artists selected were chosen based on their genuine interest in developing material in, with and in response to the unique natural environment and in collaborating with ecologies as a central part of their work.
They are Thomas Goetz, Hamshya Rajkumar, Kate E Deeming, Jennifer Paterson (All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre) and Simone Kenyon.
Each of the Space, Nature, Nurture artists will receive a fully funded 1-2 weeklong residency at Jupiter Artland over November and December when the Park is closed, providing them with full and unlimited access to the Artland.
As part of their residency, they will each present an element of audience engagement, reconnecting or establishing a link with their audience. These will be delivered in person and online.
This Residency programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund and is part of a wide programme of artist support that Dance Base are delivering to support Scotland-based dance artists to return to their practice after this very difficult 18 months.
MEET THE ARTISTS
Thomas Goetz is an Edinburgh-based choreographer, performer; movement facilitator who draws inspiration from themes related to nature, philosophy and science. His recent work is concerned with emergence, behaviour, and (eco-)systems in nature and the role we play as part of these systems.
Talking about his residency, he said: “All living organisms occupy specific ecological niches which describe the role they play in an ecosystem. Animals & plants evolve unique adaptations to survive, live and thrive in a specific habitat under certain environmental conditions.
“In this residency I will be exploring how we can evolve into creatures which occupy the natural and artistic habitats of Jupiter Artland. These evolving imaginary creatures will differ in the way the move, are able to perceive the environment, communicate (with sound/voice or movement) & interact with one another.”
Hamshya Rajkumar is an inter-disciplinary artist who navigates through embodied movement, intention and ritual.
She said: “Through movement I will be exploring various human interventions within the Jupiter Artland estate in the form of Gardens, Woodlands and Land artworks that reflect the human need for beauty versus the understanding of the ecological community. An element of my practice involves embedding within Land +| Sea:scapes who are devoid of my ancestors.
“I am curious about forming an intra-species alliance with the much debated invasive Beech Tree and introduced ornamental exotic Plants. An extended focus will include the relationship between manicured foot and manicured grass. As Heavy Rain is likely during November, I will be experimenting with using second hand clothing as an extension of the bodily self as well as skin that absorbs and moves with Weather.
Kate Deeming. With decades of outdoor dance experience, Kate E. Deeming describes herself as an ‘artist who uses dance to make good stuff happen’. Kate E. creates public facing work largely in urban environments and outside of traditional arts hierarchies.
Kate said: “I am interested in creating moments and reminders that build empathy and connect us to our individual and collective power, to reinforce and manifest a joyous and loving world.”
For the Space Nature Nurture Residency Kate E. is to create a week-long durational dance piece inspired by the Jupiter Artland Landscape. Utilising costume and wearable speakers, she will create giphys of wee dance moments which will feed into her wider community practice.
Jennifer Paterson is an aerial and dance director and Artistic Director of All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre, Scotland’s leading aerial dance company. She trained at London School of Contemporary Dance before discovering aerial and that she could overcome her fear of heights, going on to perform worldwide with several companies and directors.
For her residency, Jennifer will be working with other dance and aerial artists: Chrissie Ardill, Beverley Grant, Marie Williamson and Freya Jeffs.
She said: “Starting within the woodland at Jupiter Artland, taking movement from the ground, and moving it up into the air and around the trees, the woodland and back into the landscape, utilising our aerial dance harness skills and how we can play and create together in this environment.
“Our audience engagement will be through 2 workshops within the environment, allowing participants to play and explore both in and out of harness, just as we are doing. One for adults and one for children.
“Being so close to the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Jupiter Artland we will look to connect with climbers there, as well as recreational aerialists from the Scottish aerial dance community.”
Simone Kenyon is a Scotland-based artist, performer, Feldenkrais practitioner and academic. For the past 20 years she has worked across performance and dance that embraces the complex interrelationships of movement, people and place.
Talking about her residency, she said: “The residency will focus on new research exploring the practices of drystone dyke building; including the choreographic, material agency, conservational, ecological, cultural and social aspects of wall building.
“Working for the first time, in-person with Master Waller, George Gunn, we will work with an existing wall in need of repair within the grounds to explore building techniques, place relational performance, creative conversations and take time to develop this new collaboration.
“Filmmaker Emma Dove also joins to make our collaborative trio to further explore and develop ways of working with film in the process. On the last day of our residency, we will share our findings and explorations though conversation in-situ with a small group.
“Post residency we will share a film for a wider audience online. Beyond the physical residency, Simone will begin new critical-peer conversations with artist Robbie Synge, to stimulate questions and ideas as a way of continuing the development of the work.”
Tony Mills, Artistic Director at Dance Base:“Jupiter Artland is an incredibly innovative arts space with a team that is forward thinking. We feel it is the perfect place where artists can be supported to explore new connections between dance and the environment within an artistic context.
“As we come back to working together creatively, the desire for collaboration and making things happen is so much stronger. This has resulted in this exciting cross-city partnership that will challenge the notions of what dance is and where it happens, and open up new avenues for dance artists and their work. We look forward to creating more opportunities with Jupiter Artland in the future.”
Nicky Wilson, Director of Jupiter Artland: “It is an honour to host Dance Base and their Space, Nature, Nurture residency at Jupiter Artland. Working alongside other cultural institutions creates great networks across the city, and the country, which are incredibly powerful vehicles for change.
“I am a huge advocate for bringing creativity outside, enjoying the outdoors, watching nature, and being inspired by art. It is more important than ever to embrace this freedom and I am so excited to see the residents flourish in the landscape.”
Renowned talent management and theatre training programme, Stagebox, will be hosting its Edinburgh auditions at Dance Base, Scotland’s National Centre for Dance, on Sunday (16th May 2021).
If you know a young performer aged 8-18 years old who is looking to take their talent to the next level, Stagebox is inviting auditionees to take to the stage at this weekend’s in-person audition workshops.
Successful talent will enjoy the exclusive award-winning performance training programme during the school holidays, as well as benefitting from the talent management at Stagebox.
For the first time, auditions are free of charge, with Stagebox founders keen to encourage everyone with a love of theatre to come along and audition.
Stagebox recently released a video featuring its Edinburgh cast performing an original medley from Disney’s The Little Mermaid on YouTube, so hopeful auditionees can envision just what it’s like to be part of the Stagebox world. The video has already amassed an impressive 5,000 views in less than a week.
With Stagebox alumni starring on stage and screen, many securing lead roles for Disney, Netflix, in the West End and beyond, Stagebox offers rising stars the chance to train smart, build industry connections and gain unrivalled opportunities in theatre, television and film.
Stagebox’s General Manager, Jasmine Quinlan Gardner, said: “It’s been a turbulent period for the performing arts industry to say the least, and we’re so delighted to be holding the free auditions in Edinburgh.
“Stagebox is about opportunity, and we’re thrilled to be celebrating the country’s budding talent.”
Kirsti Bagger, Head Agent at Stagebox said: “We’re looking to meet new performers with passion, ambition and star quality.
“We’re very passionate about accessibility and inclusivity which is why we’re removing audition fees this May – we welcome children from all backgrounds, from newcomers all the way up to advanced level and we can’t wait to see what the young people of Edinburgh have to offer!”
These auditions are guaranteed to fill up fast and limited spaces apply. To register your spot for the Edinburgh audition date, please visit Eventbrite.
Dancebase and the Amanda Kane School of Dance are among the beneficiaries of new awards made through the Youth Talent Development Fund from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Creative Scotland.Continue reading Ya dancer! Funding for traditional arts projects
An Edinburgh boy who battled through his first two hours of life, only to be expected never to walk, talk or eat, is leaving everyone speechless with his on-stage dance performances. Evan Glass has been fascinating and defying medical experts with his physical resilience after numerous bleak diagnoses from birth.Continue reading Miracle boy Evan’s dance delight
Dance Base are putting together a Youth Dance Company for young people aged 14-19 from across the Lothians (writes Heather Marshall). All welcome and the audition workshops look like they’ll be great fun!
Scots rugby legend Chris Paterson was the special guest at Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (PYCP) annual general meeting on Friday 28 September. Chris was representing rugby’s Wooden Spoon charity, whose donation of £10,000 helped PYCP turn a little-used storeroom into an all-singing, all-dancing dance studio!
Unveiling a plaque to opening the new facility at PYCP’s Greenhouse, the record 109-times capped star said: “I’m an awful dancer with two left feet, but if I’d had something like this … well, I think I’d probably still be a pretty rubbish dancer!”
Thanking Chris and representatives of the Wooden Spoon charity, PYCP chairperson Clare Halliday said: “This really is a tremendous space for our young people to enjoy. The room has been transformed – it’s incredible to think that this was just a storeroom, more or less a dumping ground for lots of equipment. Many thanks to Wooden Spoon for supporting PYCP – we really do appreciate it.”
Young dancers from Edinburgh’s Dance Base were first to put the new Wooden Spoon studio to the test, entertaining guests with an energetic routine – Chris Paterson was not tempted to join in!
