Fringe preview: Special Edition 2015

• Kelly Apter
• 29 July 2015

This article is from 2015.

Scottish Ballet dancers flex their choreographic muscles

Eve Mutso, Jamiel Laurence and Constant Vigier are no strangers to choreography. Each day in the Scottish Ballet studios, they learn works by dance makers from all over the world.

But now, thanks to a choreographic initiative set up by the company’s artistic director, Christopher Hampson, the dancers have found themselves on the other side of the fence, creating their own work.

1 to 10, a fusion of dance and recorded spoken word, is Laurence’s contribution to Special Edition 2015.

‘Chris was very important in encouraging me,’ says Laurence. ‘I also received support from the wardrobe and music departments, and the ballet staff were keen to assist with scheduling rehearsal time – they also made a great test audience!’

According to Laurence, giving dancers space and time to choreograph has brought everyone closer, and given them something different to focus on during long rehearsal periods.

Known among his peers for rarely feeling nervous before a performance, Laurence discovered another side to pre-show jitters when 1 to 10 was performed in Glasgow recently. ‘It surprised me how nerve-wracking watching a piece you have created can be,’ he says. ‘But with the dancers I’ve chosen to work with, the piece could not be in safer hands.’

Dance Base, 225 5525, 11–16 Aug, 5pm, £10 (£8). Previews 7–9 Aug, £8 (£6).