Scottish Dance Theatre’s sizzling 2005 Spring Season

Scottish Dance Theatre (SDT) is an award-winning, dynamic and vibrant Dundee-based dance company lead by Artistic Director Janet Smith.  Smith is one of the most respected and established Artistic Directors in Britain and is known for constantly taking risks, investing in creativity and commissioning original work by varied dance makers.

The work of international artists and Artistic Director Janet Smith sits alongside creations by newly emerging talent, ensuring the company's ten powerful dancers always push boundaries and expectations.

SDT’s 2005 Spring Tour was no different, and sizzled with daring new works by international choreographers Willi Dorner and Michael Popper.  These are works that not only explore aspects of contemporary life, but also examine the interface between dance and theatre, performer and audience.

Willi Dorner, choreographer, curator and video artist

Willi Dorner is a unique artist whose work manifests itself in many forms. He is a choreographer, curator and video artist who frequently combines disciplines to subvert and questions our perceptions of movement and dance. He has been active as a choreographer in Vienna since the late 1980’s and produces work that’s gutsy, dynamic and full of contrast.

His acclaimed piece ‘Mazy’ won the Australian Dance Production Award 2000 and his works have won several awards in Europe, his work has also been performed at many international festivals, including ‘How Do You Want Me?’ at the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe and ‘No Credits’ as part of ‘Award Winning European Dance’ at Dance Base, Scotland’s National Centre for Dance.

The dark and intriguing 404 examines how we deal with the internal and external, the real and virtual realities that exist for each of us.

Micheal Popper, SDT Assistant Director

Currently Assistant Director with SDT, Michael has choreographed and directed dance, theatre and opera for several companies including Icelandic Ballet, Visible Fiction, Tanz Forum (Ankara), Welsh National Opera, De Vlaamse Opera, Vocem and Gateway to Freedom and The Royal National Theatre.

Popper has developed his own style of fast, physical, bawdy comedy mixed with complex, intriguing dances that have a sculptural beauty and an understated – but striking – virtuosity.

In fact you can  keep a good dog down, but the dog – not knowing this – will keep trying to get up.
… is an entertaining look at fragility and desire. It’s a little like a circus, very much like a cabaret, and often like a cartoon.

Liv Lorent, award-winning choreographer

The tour will also featured Liv Lorent’s much-loved starkly poetic piece LUXURIA, for a second season.

LUXURIA is a work of dance theatre that celebrates an instinct towards passion, sensation and connection. It is an earthly experience that looks at the journey of desire being as essential to the human spirit as the gaining of desire.

Tyneside-based Liv Lorent is Artistic Director of BalletLORENT, previous winner of the Jerwood Choreographic Award and winner of the prestigious Arts Foundation Choreography Award 2005.

Working with SDT's Artistic Director If you're interested in working with SDT’s Artistic Director Janet Smith, she will be leading this years ‘Dancers Project' at the Place, London from 25 – 29 July 05. For further information on and to apply for the ‘Dancers Project at the Place’, please contact Artist Development on 0207 383 3524 or email artistdevelopment@theplace.org.uk.