This October, DanceLive, Aberdeen’s annual festival of contemporary dance, showcases a wealth and diversity of physical performance in a series of events in the city centre and at Woodend Barn.
Now in its 11th year, DanceLive is Scotland’s biggest festival of contemporary dance and is enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
Scottish Ballet kicks off the festival on October 14 at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen as part of its autumn season with two fresh new works.
Indeed, in 2016, the focus is firmly on Scottish makers and movers including Aberdeen-based KaSt Dance Company, examining family dynamics at The Lemon Tree, and Orphaned Limbs Collective, exploring what home means at historic venue The Kirk of St Nicholas.
DanceLive’s stunning cover image is borrowed from Company Chordelia’s Lady MacBeth: Unsex Me Here, a piece of dance theatre inspired by the complex character of Lady MacBeth, which challenges ideas of gender and is one of the stand-out pieces at The Lemon Tree.
Also at The Lemon Tree, catch performances by dynamic Scottish-based choreographer Jack Webb, with the darkly immersive trio The End, Skye Reynolds exploring one woman’s perspective and Rob Heaslip and Joan Cleville Dance both using duets to explore the intricacies of relationships.
See Citymoves’ acclaimed Youth Dance Company Fusion take to the stage raising the curtain in a new piece created by Joan Cleville.
Families can catch free performances during the holidays – with non-ticketed drop-in events at the Bon Accord Centre (Bill & Bobby and The Human Clock) and at The St Nicholas Roof Top Garden (Experts in Short Trousers) or you can take part in the intriguing Light Field combining sound, light and movement on the evenings of Friday and Saturday October 21 and 22.
Liminal Dance also presents Up High in Citymoves Studio, a playful piece for under fives and their families, accompanied by live music.
It’s never too late to participate in dance and if you need evidence of energy and creativity in older dancers, then do check out Carry On Dancing for a fantastic triple bill that redefines ageing and celebrates the older body.
Strictly for adults only, Liz Aggiss brings her unique live style to Slap And Tickle on Saturday, October 22, in a late-evening show at Citymoves Studio.
Closing the festival in style is the celebrated Phoenix Dance Theatre, presenting a Scottish premiere of three diverse works at His Majesty’s Theatre.
This year, we are delighted to be collaborating with sound and Luminate festivals to bring DanceLive to new audiences.
At DanceLive, we like our audiences to interact, so please join us for post-show chats after each performance at The Lemon Tree or enjoy a drink at our Festival Hub, the Belmont Filmhouse bar, where you can take in Elisabeth Schilling’s dance photography exhibition.
We look forward to welcoming you to what we believe to be a truly inspiring and thought-provoking festival, whether you’re a seasoned arts attendee or completely new to dance and performance.
DanceLive runs from October 14 to 25. For more details on the shows mentioned, and a full festival guide, please visit www.dance livefestival. co.uk
