Dundee-based Scottish Dance Theatre are set to wow audiences across India later this month. With support from Creative Scotland and British Council Scotland, the company will tour four cities performing LUXURIA by Liv Lorent, DOG by Hofesh Shechter and Drift by James Wilton and take part in an outreach programme. The tour will run from 18 October – 4 November 2012, visiting Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore and includes a performance at the prestigious Delhi International Arts Festival.

Scottish Dance Theatre - LUXURIA. Dancers Nicole Guarino & Natalie Treewinnard (Photo: Andy Ross)

The tour was announced by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, during a visit to see the dancers rehearse. Ms Hyslop will herself travel to India later this month to promote the world-class culture, education, tourism and business opportunities on offer in Scotland.

She said: “There can be no doubt that cultural collaborations such as this can help to forge new alliances between Scotland and India. I am sure these dancers will be fantastic ambassadors for Scotland on their forthcoming tour.

“Scotland is one of the world’s most creative nations and this tour is a fantastic way to showcase our talent on a world stage in this, our Year of Creative Scotland. I am very much looking forward to seeing the Scottish Dance Theatre’s performance at the Delhi International Arts Festival.”

James MacGillivray, acting Artistic Director of Scottish Dance Theatre (SDT), said: “We are delighted that Scottish Dance Theatre will be touring India this autumn, with support from the Scottish Government and other key partners in the UK and India, and that the Cabinet Secretary, Fiona Hyslop will attend our performance in New Delhi.

“We look forward to cultivating fruitful relationships with the artists we will work with in India, to sharing a cultural exploration of dance through both our performances and our extensive outreach programme.

“This experience will enrich the creative development of the artists within SDT, and provide a more vibrant palette for the creation of art here in Scotland.”

Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, said: “International tours continue to reinforce Scotland’s reputation of producing high quality work, as well as presenting opportunities for our artists to develop their own practice. This trip will combine a showcase for one of our leading dance companies with the opportunity to exchange ideas and skills with their Indian peers and we hope will lead to greater cultural exchange between our two nations.”

British Council Scotland Director Lloyd Anderson added: “With Scottish Dance Theatre’s upcoming tour of India, British Council Scotland is delighted to see the two years of planning and building of relationships with Indian festivals and venues come to fruition.  Scottish Dance Theatre is a company we’re proud to be associated with, and who we see as first class ambassadors for Scotland and its innovative, contemporary arts scene.”

For further information visit the Scottish Dance Theatre website.

Article Image: SDT - LUXURIA (Photo: Andy Ross)

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