Scottish Dance Theatre to celebrate 40th anniversary with major world premiere double bill in Dundee
- Andrew Batchelor
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Scottish Dance Theatre is set to mark its 40th anniversary with a major world premiere double bill at Dundee Rep Theatre this June.
The internationally acclaimed contemporary dance company will debut two brand-new productions - Rotten Work by Emilie Leriche and The Game of Life by Edouard Hue - as part of a special anniversary programme celebrating four decades of innovative dance and global collaboration.
The performances will premiere at Dundee Rep Theatre on Friday 19 June before heading to Germany for the ZANT Dance Festival in Ulm. A wider autumn tour across Scotland and the UK has also been confirmed, with performances planned in London, Angus, Inverness, Manchester and Leeds.
Rotten Work, created by US and Sweden-based choreographer Emilie Leriche, explores themes of care, intimacy and human connection through poetic choreography.
The production carries a strong message of togetherness, with Leriche describing the idea that “no one is allowed to be left behind.”
Leriche has previously worked with major international companies including Göteborgs Operans Danskompani, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Nederlands Dans Theater II. Her latest production, Your Ghosts, My Shadows, premiered in Prague last year.
Meanwhile, Swiss choreographer Edouard Hue’s The Game of Life delivers a highly physical and emotionally charged performance inspired by puzzles and patterns.
The production explores how individuals can form part of a constantly evolving collective while still maintaining their individuality.
Hue, founder of Geneva-based Beaver Dam Company, has worked alongside globally recognised choreographers including Hofesh Shechter and Damien Jalet. His work has been praised internationally for its physical intensity and expressive style.
Joan Clevillé, Artistic Director of Scottish Dance Theatre, said the anniversary programme reflects the company’s commitment to connecting Scotland with the wider world through dance.
He said: “For 40 years, Scottish Dance Theatre has created and shared new dance for the curious. And it has acted as a bridge between Scotland and the world, connecting people, ideas and cultures across borders through dance.
“We are excited to welcome Emilie and Edouard to Dundee to work with the company and to be able to share with audiences in Scotland where dance is going next in the international scene.”
Extracts from both productions will also feature in a special 40th anniversary gala taking place at Dundee Rep Theatre on 31 October.
Alongside the double bill, the company is also celebrating its history through RECollect, a new community-focused performance inspired by Scottish Dance Theatre’s archive.
Created in collaboration with Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre ENGAGE tutors, choreographer Bridie Gane and local participants, the production brings together performers aged between 8 and 55+ from across Dundee and Tayside.
The piece draws inspiration from historic photographs, costumes and videos from the company’s archive and aims to celebrate Dundee’s long-standing connection with dance.
Bridie Gane, Dance Artist at Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre, said: “RECollect celebrates our local dance community within Scottish Dance Theatre’s living history.
“It has been a pleasure to explore SDT’s archive for the 40th anniversary and to create a joyful new work with our dance tutors and participants across generations that tells the continuing vibrant story of dance in Dundee.”
RECollect will take place at Dundee Rep Theatre on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 June.
