Edinburgh Festival Dance 2024: A World of Slick Moves

The Edinburgh Fringe is bustling with showcases, highlighting the creative works from various corners of the globe. Among these, the Granhøj Dans company from Denmark and choreographer Palle Granhøj present This Is Not Romeo and Juliet at Zoo Southside, a show rated at four stars. The piece subtly underlines the theme that love triumphs over war through the performances of two younger and two older dancers, accompanied by a cellist and a violinist. The dancers’ movements range from formal to wild, alternating between passionate grappling and sorrowful chases, while the musicians interweave snatches of Prokofiev and Berlioz into the production.

Adding to the international flavor, the “Performing Arts Made in Germany” segment introduces Pack by choreographers Maria Chiara de’ Nobili and Alexander Miller, displayed at Dance Base and also receiving a four-star rating. This piece explores group dynamics among five men who express their prowess through dance. The choreography includes head spins, one-armed handstands, and silky, clever movements that convey emotions and thoughts. The dancers engage in tentative hand touches, B-boy poses, and exchanges of comfort and provocation, making the performance utterly engrossing.

From Australia, under the “House of Oz” banner, comes director and choreographer Lewis Major, a former collaborator of Russell Maliphant. Major’s influence is evident in the program called Triptych, showing at Dance Base with a three-star rating. The show opens with Maliphant’s Two x Three, notable for its sharp clarity. Major’s own choreographic pieces showcase a fascination with the interaction of moving bodies and light. Highlights include a dancer standing amidst a bow of solid whiteness and a duet where a woman never touches the floor, wrapping herself around her partner in intricate shapes.

In the midst of these international acts, the Dundee-based Scottish Dance Theatre represents local talent with a touring double bill titled The Flock, part of the “Made in Scotland” showcase at Zoo Southside, rated four stars. The show begins with the dynamic energy of Roser López Espinosa’s choreography, featuring dancers in a V-formation executing synchronized jumps and beats. The imagery of birds is subtly suggested through flat backs and outstretched arms, but the true compelling aspect is the ripple of movement through the group. The performance culminates in a spectacular display of control and coordination with light effects by Jou Serra resembling a white sky.

As a contrast, Moving Cloud, also presented at Zoo Southside and rated three stars, offers an introspective atmosphere with dusky smoke effects. The piece features musicians from Trip, a traditional Celtic band from Glasgow, performing alongside dancers in smocks, kilts, and baggy trousers. The choreography by Sofia Nappi, who has trained with Hofesh Shechter and studied the gaga whole-body movement method, exudes a mood of suppressed emotion. The dancers’ movements are an intriguing mix of twisted arms and smooth footwork, alternating between restrained and uninhibited expressions.