Listen
Dance away at Hogmanay
02/09/2009
A fabulous new dance and music extravaganza will be staged in Edinburgh this Hogmanay and across Scotland in the New Year thanks to £343,000 funding from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, Culture Minister Michael Russell said today.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay organisers Unique Events have joined forces with Dance Base and the Festival Theatre Edinburgh to create major new production - Off Kilter - an accessible, fresh celebration of Scotland's eclectic, unique music and dance styles.
The production will premiere new works from world renowned choreographers Mark Morris and Scottish Ballet's artistic director Ashley Page. There will also be commissioned works from traditional dance expert Frank McConnell and Scottish Dance Theatre artistic director Janet Smith, with music from Martyn Bennett to Calvin Harris. Off Kilter will debut at the Festival Theatre this Hogmanay before embarking on a Scottish tour from January 2010 which will see it performed in Glasgow, Perth, Inverness and Aberdeen.
Culture Minister Michael Russell said:
"Dance is an intrinsic part of Scotland's cultural identity. Off Kilter combines traditional Highland, ballet, hip-hop, Indian classical and contemporary dance - creating a spectacular showcase of styles that are alive and kicking in Scotland today.
"The Expo Fund is designed to encourage new creations by Scottish-based artists - and this new show delivers on every level involving artists from across the spectrum of dance, music, design and the visual arts. It is without doubt a celebration of modern Scotland which promotes our nation's unique culture and sensational talent on the international stage.
"Dance in Scotland has seen phenomenal growth and we are keen to see that continue. 'Let's Get Scotland Dancing' - part of the cultural strand from our ambitious Commonwealth Games legacy plan will, I hope, encourage and inspire just about everyone in Scotland to get active through dance. Supporting Off Kilter, which is an excellent example of all that dance can offer, also links in nicely with those aspirations.
"Dance is truly inclusive and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and ability. Off Kilter is a welcome addition to Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations and the wider Winter Festival line-up. It will indeed bring dance and culture to the people - Edinburgh's Hogmanay revellers and audiences across Scotland will be able to join the live musicians and dancers onstage in a spectacular ceilidh - a great way to celebrate Scotland's rich culture and to get Scotland dancing!"
Councillor Steve Cardownie, City of Edinburgh Council Deputy Leader and Festivals and Events Champion said:
"Edinburgh's Hogmanay is a special and unique member of the Edinburgh Festivals family, providing a wintertime festival offering in the city. I'm really pleased that the Expo Fund will enable us to enhance an already hugely successful festival with such an exciting and innovative element as Off Kilter."
Peter Irvine from Unique Events, organisers of Edinburgh's Hogmanay said:
"Edinburgh's Hogmanay and Unique Events are delighted that the Expo fund has enabled us to stage this ambitious and exciting new production which fits so well with the celebratory aspect of our festival. For local people and visitors to Scotland alike, Off Kilter will be a brilliant night out."
Morag Deyes, Artistic Director of Dance Base, said: "Off Kilter is a riotous assembly of the great talent inspired by, and living in Scotland. This great show reflects the energy and originality in music and dance which is experiencing a genuine renaissance right now."
John Stalker, Chief Executive of Festival City Theatres Trust, said: "For the thousands of visitors who flock to Edinburgh each year this will provide a spectacular taste of Scotland. Off Kilter is an explosion of fun for all the family and the hot ticket this Hogmanay."
The £343,863 will enable Edinburgh's Hogmanay to create and premiere for the first time its own show - Off Kilter - which will promote Scottish dance and music, both contemporary and traditional to an international audience at home and abroad.
The Expo Fund is available to all 12 Festivals in Edinburgh to support the development of Scottish-based work. The planned expenditure for the Edinburgh Festival Expo Fund is £6 million over three years (2008-09 to 2011-12). This year we have announced just over £2 million across ten festivals with more to follow through the year.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay organisers Unique Events, Dance Base - Scotland's national centre for dance - and the Festival Theatre Edinburgh have come together to create this major new production, which will be appear at the Festival Theatre from Tuesday 29 December to Saturday 2 January.
The Scottish Government's Commonwealth Games Legacy Plan (published September 1) outlines ambitions for developing a sustainable cultural legacy for Scotland. 'Let's Get Scotland Dancing' presents a clear opportunity to realise strong legacy benefits across both health and culture.