InvAsian Festival

Source: The List (Issue 608)
Date: 31 July 2008 (updated 20 Aug 2008)
Written by: Kelly Apter

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This article is from 2008.

Choreography from across the Continent

There’s no shortage of diverse dance at the Fringe, but seldom do you find it all under one roof. The InvAsian Festival, however, is priding itself on bringing together a wide range of performers from throughout the eponymous continent, and basing them all in the new Quincentenary Hall.
Originally set up to help the British Asian community come to an increasingly expensive Fringe, InvAsian quickly grew to incorporate companies from Korea, China, Japan and Russia to name but some. Featuring Chinese dance, martial arts, contemporary, hip hop, classical Indian and much more, the Festival also has an extensive programme of workshops for all ages and abilities.

Making a particularly welcome return after last year’s five star show, Ballerina Who Loves a B-Boy are Korea’s MBCrew with Skywalk. ‘Their new show has a very similar energy,’ says Kevin Williams of InvAsian. ‘With a wonderful combination of modern dance and streetdance, performed by one of the top hip hop crews in the world.’

Scotland’s own classical Indian dance group, Dance Ihayami are performing several evocative works, while Bollywood spectacular Spice of Life showcases the other side of Indian dance. And if it’s jaw-dropping athletic feats you’re after, Korea’s Lunatic Company know how to entertain a crowd. But with over 300 performers from 40 companies taking part in InvAsian, it’s impossible to name check them all – to see the full programme in all its colourful diversity go to www.invasianfestival.com

clubWEST @ Quincentenary Hall, 527 1562, dates, times & prices vary.

This article is from 2008.

More: Dance, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh Festivals, Fringe, InvAsian Festival