Scotland’s largest outdoor shopping centre, Fort Kinnaird, is on the lookout for local performers to step into the spotlight as part of its inaugural Summer Live event.
Taking place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2nd August – 18th August between 12-5pm, the centre is giving all type of performers from musicians, dancers and actors, to uplifting choirs, spoken word poets and solo singers the chance to showcase their talents to hundreds of local people.
The Summer Live stage will be set up near Hotel Chocolat, with a seating area for visitors to enjoy acts, and performers will be allocated a 30-minute time slot.
Fort Kinnaird is also partnering with East Lothian Arts Service – a council run programme supporting the arts – to host a series of workshops and performances from local community groups across the three weekends.
This will include sessions from The Brunton’s Performing Arts Network, East Lothian Youth Music Forum (ELJam), Sistema and Tinderbox Collective. Separately there will also be a variety of performances from The Theatre School of Scotland.
And as part of the centre’s commitment to supporting the arts, Fort Kinnaird will also be donating £1,000 to Tinderbox Collective to support an ongoing initiative to get musical instruments into public libraries, so people can borrow them for free – just like taking out a book – which is currently operated locally within Craigmillar and Moredun libraries.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said:“With a series of city-centre events hosting Edinburgh’s talent across the summer, we wanted to get involved to support even more local performers and groups to share their talent with the local community.
“We also hope our donation to Tinderbox Collective will help more people discover or continue to pursue their musical talents.
“We’re incredibly excited for our first ever Summer Live event. If you would like to take part, or even just find out more information, we’d encourage you to get in touch as soon as possible as we expect the line-up to fill up pretty quickly.”
Fancy taking part? All you need to do is contact info@fortkinnaird.com with the following:
Your stage name and type of performance
How many people are in your group (maximum is 30)
What times/days you are available and how long your set is
Dance Base Scotland and Edinburgh International Festival have announced the 24 dance artists taking part in an Artistic Development Week this month.
Hailing from across Scotland and eight African countries, the dancers will come together at Dance Base in Edinburgh to connect, collaborate, and network with their international peers. Expertise in dance disciplines range from contemporary to hip-hop, Bhuto, to Indian classical dance.
Supported by the British Council, the development programme will take place in the run-up to the significant performance of Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring / common ground[s] in August.
A highlight of the Edinburgh International Festival, the performance marks the first collaboration between the Pina Bausch Foundation (Germany), École des Sables (Senegal) and Sadler’s Wells (UK).
The artistic development week will be led by Artistic Director of Dance Base, Tony Mills and will focus on daily classes and work in small groups where the participants can take part in reflections and conversations with a focus on creation and artistic devising.
The aim of the project is for the Scottish and international artists to connect and share practice, opening themselves to new techniques and creative approaches. They will have the opportunity to network with national and international peers and to create work together.
Amy Robertson, a dance artist from Edinburgh and one of the twelve Scottish participants is delighted to be involved in the international festival. She said: “Learning and sharing practice on international platforms is such a valuable part of our development and I’m really looking forward to all that comes out of this week.
“With a lot of work being made in smaller constellations of artists, working with 12 colleagues from across Scotland and artists from wider international communities is sure to be a rich and valuable experience for all involved.”
Also from Scotland, dance artist Suzi Cunningham adds:“This is an incredible opportunity to connect people from across continents and to learn from the artistry and passion of others.
“I am extremely excited about making new connections and having this opportunity to truly dance without limitations, and in ways I don’t allow myself or don’t usually seek out in my practice”.
Speaking ahead of the development week, Tony Mills, Artistic Director for Dance Base said about the collaboration:“We are beyond excited to be able to host 24 artists from Scotland and across Africa as part of a collaboration with Edinburgh International Festival and their professional artist development programme.
“Dancers who will be performing as part of the Ecole des Sables & Sadler’s Wells production of the Rite of Spring, will meet and connect with a range of Scottish dance artists to share practice and build relationships for one week.
“This is a unique moment that will be taking place under our roof at Dance Base. In Scotland, it is a rare occasion when this many professional independent dance artists can get together and get busy. I want to say a huge thanks to EIF for trusting us as collaborators. I personally cannot wait to get stuck in!”
Roy Luxford, Creative Director, Edinburgh International Festival added: “The International Festival at its core promotes the exchange of ideas to deepen understanding between cultures through performance.
“Creating this platform of exchange between Scottish professionals and dancers from The Rite of Spring company is a special Festival moment, and together with our partners the British Council and Dance Base we can continue our commitment to artistic exchange and development.
“I look forward to this exciting week at Dance Base ahead of the performances of The Rite of Spring/ common ground[s] at The Playhouse Theatre this August”.
Speaking about the artistic development week, Norah Campbell from British Council Scotland concluded:“Building platforms for international connection is at the heart of what we do at the British Council, and we’re delighted to help bring these amazing dance artists together – putting a spotlight on local and global talent, helping them all to reach new, international audiences.
“I’ve no doubt the experience will spark new ideas and will allow all the artists to build strong networks for the future.”
The International Festival searches for 26 talented dancersto join Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on stage and five pre-professional musicians to join the Mendelssohn Octet in an audition judged by Festival Director Nicola Benedetti.
12 Scotland-based dance artists are invited to take part in a week of artistic development with performers of Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring / common ground[s].
Other opportunities to get involved with the International Festival include the London Symphony Orchestra playing for patients and staff in hospitals, flagship Culture Club events in community centres and young people will get the chance to meet The Late Show’s bassist, Endea Owens, in a Youth Takeover Day.
As part of the 2023 Edinburgh International Festival programme, the International Festival is providing three exciting paid opportunities for dancers and musicians based in Scotland to collaborate with major artists, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Base and in a performance of theMendelssohn Octet.
Each artist will be paid, with travel and accommodation provided, to open the opportunity for equal participation. These projects were made possible by the support of the International Festival’s Learning & Engagement Partner Baillie Gifford Investment Managers.
In partnership with the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the International Festival has created a major professional development opportunity for a diverse and dynamic cohort of 26 emerging dancers aged 18-25 who live in, were born in or trained in Scotland, to rehearse at Edinburgh College with the company and perform in the Alvin Ailey classic Memoria, on stage at the Festival Theatre on 24 and 25 August.
In mid-May, the Festival will also be inviting applications from pre-professional string players (three violins, one viola and one cello) through an open international audition process for the Mendelssohn Octet.
Musicians will be selected by Edinburgh International Festival Director, Nicola Benedetti, to work with Stefan Jackiw, Jessica Bodner and Sterling Elliott, culminating in an onstage performance in the Festival’s home on the Royal Mile, The Hub, on 10 August.
Outside of the August festival period from 24 – 28 July, the Festival is partnering with Dance Base, Scotland’s National Centre for Dance, to find 12 Scotland-based dance artists to take part in a week of artistic development and workshops with performers from The Rite of Spring / common ground[s].
The dance work premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 2022 and marks the first-time Pina Bausch Foundation (Germany), École des Sables (Senegal) and Sadler’s Wells (UK) have collaborated. At least 25% of the places will be allocated to artists who identify as d/Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent. This opportunity is supported by the British Council.
In a collaboration with two Belgium-based award-winning puppetry and mime companies, Focus Company and Chaliwaté Company, the International Festival will continue to match artists in a sharing of artistic skills by hosting a professional development workshop with Imaginate and Puppet Animation Scotland, ahead of the UK premiere of their work Dimanche.
Caroline Donald, Head of Learning & Engagement at Edinburgh International Festival said: “We are delighted to share these projects that we work on year-round to connect with people of all ages across Edinburgh, with our values of discovery, connection and internationalism at the heart of each opportunity.
“By welcoming schools and community groups to International Festival performances, we hope to help people get involved in the arts, be inspired by artists and art forms they might never have come across before and feel part of what we at Edinburgh International Festival do. We may be international, but we are firmly rooted in Edinburgh.”
Alongside the performance and development opportunities, there are also several opportunities for children and young people to engage with the International Festival.
On the 23 August, young people will be joined by bassist Endea Owens in a Youth Takeover Day, in partnership with 6VT Edinburgh City Youth Café, to explore her commission, and will be invited to The Hub to watch her performance.
Opera Project will return in June to secondary schools across the city, this year exploring the International Festival’s performance of Mozart classic The Magic Flute. A version of the opera will tour schools, with participating pupils offered free tickets to attend the Scottish Chamber Opera’s performance during the Festival.
After the summer holidays, the classes will then be invited to see Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle, with the International Festival working with Sight Scotland and the Royal Blind School to create a bespoke, sensory version for their pupils.
Punchdrunk Enrichment’s The Lost Lending Library will welcome groups of children from ten community groups across the city during the summer holidays, with follow-up immersive storytelling workshops. Stories from the children written during the workshops will be collected and shared, creating a legacy for The Lost Lending Library beyond the Festival.
For people of all ages, the LSO in the NHS Project will bring London Symphony Orchestra players into The Royal Edinburgh Hospital, The Royal Infirmary, The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and The Western General over the 14-16 of August.
LSO players will perform in closed wards, staff wellbeing spaces, and larger, open spaces for patients, staff and visitors. In addition, 100 tickets will be given to NHS staff to attend the LSO’s performance of The Road to Turangalila, presented by Nicola Benedetti and Sir Simon Rattle on 18 August. The project is supported by Tonic Arts, the Arts and Wellbeing leg of the NHS Lothian Charity.
Culture Clubs will bring together different communities in Edinburgh together to share a meal and enjoy a range of artistic performances from the International Festival programme. This year, there will be four Culture Clubs as part of 2023 Festival programme with the first ever BSL Culture club being hosted by Deaf Action. Endea Owens has already been confirmed as a performer for one date.
For full information on these projects and further information on how to apply, please visit: https://www.eif.co.uk/jobs
A band of 18 enthusiastic dancing volunteers joined environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful at Portobello Beach on Sunday (12 September) to rid the beach of litter and kick off the charity’s ‘Source to Sea’ week. The litter-picking crew donned their headphones, tuned-in and removed rubbish from the seaside.
They removed lots of small plastics, including cigarette butts, as well as broken glass and bits of clothing left in the sand – a common issue on popular beaches. As well as removing litter from the beach, the purpose of the litter picking party was to raise awareness of how litter left on land can make its way into the sea to pollute our oceans.
The event was organised as part of the charity’s My Beach Your Beach and Treasure your River campaigns, in partnership with Keep Porty Tidy, who go out daily to blitz litter from the beach and prom.
Treasure Your River, created by environmental charity HUBBUB and delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful, has been targeting litter from source to sea along the River Forth this summer.
The event was also supported by Oscar’s Gelato on the Porty prom, with complimentary gelato and other refreshments offered to volunteers.
Now in its fourth year, the My Beach Your Beach campaign aims to support bathing water quality at a selection of beaches, including Portobello, Fisherrow Sands and Kinghorn Harbour beach on the east coast.
The campaign does this by promoting beach stewardship among locals and visitors and encouraging good habits that can affect bathing water quality, both at the beach and indoors.
This summer’s pre-season litter survey, carried out by Keep Porty Tidy for the My Beach Your Beach campaign, found over 110 items of litter along a sample 100m stretch of beach and prom.
The majority of this litter was drinks and food related rubbish, highlighting the need for people to bin their ‘on the go’ food packaging or take it home.
Greta Elliott, from Keep Porty Tidy, said: “The silent disco litter pick was a lot of fun and a great way to get people involved in keeping our beautiful beach clean and litter free.
“Hopefully it will help encourage others to do the right thing and make sure their rubbish ends up in the bin rather than polluting the beach.”
Georgina Massouraki, Campaigns Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Beach litter is a huge environmental issue, not only blighting our communities but also washing out to sea, where it breaks down into microplastics, harming wildlife and marine ecosystems. This silent disco litter pick was a fun way to draw attention to this issue and hopefully reach a wider range of people.
“Our My Beach Your Beach campaign is designed to help improve the quality of bathing waters by asking people to bin their litter, bag and bin their dog poo and not to feed the gulls.
“We have been delighted to work with Keep Porty Tidy on the campaign in Portobello and hope that beach users will take notice and be more thoughtful about the impact they can have on the sand and sea.”
Cllr Lesley Macinnes, Environment Convener at The City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We’re proud of Edinburgh’s beautiful beaches and so we’re very grateful to the litter pickers who worked so hard at the weekend to help us to keep Porty beach clean. I love that they had fun in the process of keeping fit and entertaining visitors as they danced along the beach.
“Our cleansing teams provided them with the equipment they needed to safely remove discarded litter and we’ve made sure the waste collected has been taken away. Our teams have been extremely busy throughout the pandemic working to keep Porty and the rest of Edinburgh clean and tidy and it’s great to see the Porty community taking pride in their area and helping them out.
“I’d ask everyone visiting any of our beaches to respect our local communities and environment by using the bins provided or by taking your litter home with you.”
How much can the Strictly Come Dancing professionals earn from social media – and who is making the most?
Dianne Buswell is the most influential professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, potentially earning £3,355 per sponsored post on Instagram
Gorka Marquez is the second most influential professional dancer
Last year’s winner and The Masked Dancer UK judge, Oti Mabuse, is the third most influential professional
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing is right around the corner and new analysis has revealed that Dianne Buswell is the most influential dancer on the show.
Analysis conducted by beauty comparison site, Cosmetify.com, analysed Instagram profiles of the professional dancers and marketing calculators to determine how influential this year’s cast of dancers are on social media.
Dianne Buswell is quickstepping her way to a fortune thanks to her Instagram following of 842,715. The professional dancer can expect to earn an average of £3,355 per sponsored Instagram post.
This would mean that Dianne would need to post only 15 sponsored posts to make the equivalent of her Strictly Come Dancing salary of £50,000. Her relationship with previous Strictly partner, YouTube star Joe Sugg, is certain to be a contributing factor to her influential social media presence.
Gorka Marquez is revealed as the second most influential Strictly dancer, raking in an average £2,598 per sponsored Instagram post. On top of the £50,000 salary and revenue from solo-projects, Marquez’s influence is incredibly lucrative.
Last years winner and The Masked Dancer UK judge, Oti Mabuse can expect to earn an average of £2,340 per post, making her the third most influential dancer on the show. This comes as a result of of her Instagram following of over half a million followers.
Giovanni Pernice has the fourth largest following out of the Strictly professionals with a total of 476,128 followers. This means that Pernice could charge an average of £1,897 per sponsored post, a number that could increase drastically as a result of his new relationship with influencer Maura Higgins who has over three million followers.
Janette Manrara, who left her role as a professional dancer to take over from Zoe Ball as presenter of It Takes Two, can earn £1,756 per sponsored post based on her following of 441,751. Her husband and fellow professional dancer, Aljaž Škorjanec is the fifth most influential professional dancer, earning £1,852 per sponsored post, giving the couple a combined earning of £3,608 every time they both post sponsored content.
Similarly, the longest running professional, now turned judge, Anton Du Beke, has 245,923 followers on Instagram meaning he can expect to earn £978 per post.
Commenting on the study, a spokesperson from Cosmetify said: “Each episode of Strictly Come Dancing is viewed by millions suggesting that the professionals can expect to gain even more followers on social media, which increases opportunities for the dancers outside of the Strictly season.”
The analysis was conducted by Cosmetify, which brings together thousands of brands and hundreds of retailers on one platform to ensure a simple shopping experience and allow the consumer to compare the prices of their favourite products at a glance.
How much Strictly Come Dancing professionals can earn on Instagram
