JOIN USThey whirled across the stage without a wobble and came to a graceful end, only to hear the roaring applause of the audience. Those present at Chowdiah Memorial Hall were in awe of the dancers of the Scottish Dance Theatre, who were in the City recently.
The dance company, which is known to be Scotland’s national contemporary dance company, combined classic Western music, visual art work, theatre and dance to tell a tale like none other. Titled ‘Forces of Nature’, the event consisted of three distinct pieces.
In the first 35 minutes, Norwegian choreographer Jo Stromgren told the tale of a community struggling to hide their dark side with the approach of winter in a piece called ‘Winter, Again’. With Schubert playing in the background, the dancers, who were dressed in grey and dirty-white, wove in and out of each other with clear precision.
Choreographer Ruth Jannsen showcased her work in a piece called ‘Revelator’. The nine-minute duet described the frailties and absurdities of humans as they pursue enduring relationships through their lives. On her inspirations, she said that when she sees people, she sees monkeys — ridiculous, loving, warring, spinning and colliding through life. And that humanity frustrates her in its tragic naivety and childishness and moves her in its overwhelming capacity for love and kindness.
The last piece, ‘In The Storm’, was by Welsh choreographer Henri Oguike. The 30-minute performance explored the meeting point between cultures. The dancers moved with grace and speed as they danced to the beating of drums and bells. Dressed identically in blue frills, the dancers went beyond any culture and broke the gender norms that we are normally used to.
The audience was left asking for more after the performance. Masoom, a spectator and a dancer himself, said, “It was an enthralling experience and left me wanting more.”
Although some considered it a bit tedious, they were happy. Radhika said, “The
end was a bit tiresome but I liked how they were so synchronised.”