Refurbished Behaviour (1985, revised 2005)
Choreographer Ashley Page
Music - Wir (Formerly Wire)
This Herald Angel Award-winning work is a trio for two dancers…and a chair, in which the line between playful and darker obsession blurs. In this intense portrayal of a relationship, the dancers echo each other’s movement by turn, at some moments tender and at others more sinister. This captivating piece begins in silence, drawing the audience deeply into the throes of its intriguing liaison, and builds to a vivid climax accompanied by the music of Wir (formerly Wire), the quintessential art punks.
Walking In The Heat (1990)
Choreographer Ashley Page
Music - Orlando Hough
This sultry duet was created for Dutch National Ballet in 1992. It marked the continuation of Page's artistic relationship with composer Orlando Gough and the beginning of his long established creative partnership with Antony McDonald.
Acrid Avid Jam (2001)
Choreographer Ashley Page
Music - Aphex Twin
In Acrid Avid Jam, two dancers melt into a single entity to a haunting score by Aphex Twin. Drawing from the sensuality of the music, this highly charged duet is fuelled by the chemistry between the dancers and their unique response to the shifting undercurrents of this atmospheric soundtrack. The piece was choreographed in 2001 on The National Youth Dance Company.
The piece recently appeared alongside Page’s Refurbished Behaviour, at Dance Base as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Scottish Ballet dancers, Diana Loomore and Jarkko Lehmus who danced the two pieces were awarded a 2005 Herald Angel for their performances.
Two Pieces for HET (1997)
Choreographer Hans van Manen
Music - Arvo Pärt and Erkki-Sven Tüür
Knighted by the Queen of Netherlands in 1992, his 35th year as a choreographer, Hans van Manen has choreographed more than 120 ballets, each carrying his unmistakable signature. Clarity in structure and a refined simplicity has earned him the name ‘the Mondriaan of dance'.
Van Manen, whose inspiration ranges from as wide a scope as the works of George Balanchine to Fred Astaire, created Two Pieces for Het, when he returned to work with Dutch National Ballet in the late 1990s. Originally part of a larger work, it was performed in this version by Scottish Ballet as part of the Autumn 2004 season. Reviews commented on the emotion and passion of the piece including The Sunday Herald who wrote it showed “a couple who seem to drink in each other’s very being with every touch”. Danced as two continuous sections, it shows the couple at first playfully competitive, becoming gradually more tender as the piece winds down to a delicate conclusion.
The Pump Room (2005)
Choreographer Ashley Page
Music - Nine Inch Nails / Apex Twin
When Ashley Page unleashed this highly charged work for two couples, critics and audiences were unanimous in their praise. Set to a dynamic Nine Inch Nails remix by the celebrated master of electronica, Aphex Twin and building to a stunning climax, this edgy and stylish work pulsates from the moment the curtain is raised and doesn’t pause for breath.
Room of Cooks 1997
Choreographer Ashley Page
Music - Orlando Gough
Having received critical acclaim south of the border with The Royal Ballet where the piece was nominated for a prestigious Olivier Award, Ashley Page premieres this highly charged work in Scotland. A physical manifestation of the Steven Chambers painting of the same name, Room Of Cooks is a dark, brooding piece exploring the relationships between a woman, her husband and her lover. The intensely sexual tone of the piece is underscored by a sense of foreboding, and the tension of the piece is augmented by Orlando Gough’s atmospheric score.
The Nutcracker - Diverts 2003
Choreographer Ashley Page
Music - Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker was a must-see for all ages and delighted both audiences and critics alight. Presenting the gloriously colourful diverts (Spanish, Arabian, Russian, French and the Pas De Deux) featuring stunning costumes from international designer Antony McDonald and set to the famous Tchaikovsky score, this is a truly magical delight.
Sirocco 2006
Choreographer Diana Loosmore
Music - Theme to the Last Puma by Ian Simmonds
Sinuous lines and stolen glances correspond to a soundtrack of Saint Germain nu jazz, as Scottish Ballet’s award-winning dancer (2005 Herald Angel Award), Diana Loosmore crafts her choreographic debut in this spirited pas de deux.
This fascinating piece reflects on the undercurrent of emotions that arise when two people meet. Using attacking, yet playful sweeping movements, the dancers explore one-another’s space in a bid to assert their dominance.