PREVIEW THEATRE

Ellie Carr previews forthcoming dance h1ghl1ghts.

Three months ago Fiona Wright. the London-based dance artist. took Glasgow's New Moves by storm. She liked the place so much she is coming back to work in a residency developing the third part of her Jonah cycle. this time at the CCA. First there was Jonah. then Touching Jonah. and now it’s Jonah Touching Jonah. The piece. she says. tnay continue to develop. but the title I am reassured will not.

lfyou don't know already. Fiona Wright is a solo performer who does that movementbased/performance art thing that New Moves audiences liked so much. She describes herself as being ‘right on the edge‘ of dance and live art. but is usually categorised and billed as dance. Her work is quiet. measured and deliberate. and charged with a focus more often found in the likes of Japanese Butoh than in British dance performance.

Early influences include teacher Liz Agiss and the Expressionist movement. particularly Pina Bausch. She identities with the an of Butoh. and agrees that though the look is different. the whole process is similar. Despite this very personal. internal way of working her outlook remains broad. ‘My work is about love and desire. sexuality and identity. and what is "acceptable" in an. I want to challenge accepted forms and deal with wider issues and at the moment sexuality and censorship is probably my biggest concern.‘ She has been noted for this. and described as challenging. subversive. even anarchic. ‘I want to be challenging.‘ she says. ‘but not “in yer face". If I‘m subversive. it‘s quietly so.‘

So where does our man Jonah come into all this? ‘The Bible story of Jonah and the whale. and the myth ofa seahorse born into the body of a man

Jonah Touchlntt Jonah

carry the various subtexts of the piece. The stories appealed. because of the

3 way both Jonah and the seahorse live inside another animal. and because

Jonah is the disobedient prophet.

There‘s no big statement about religion

here. but like most people with an

E ordinary Protestant education. Jesus

was a pretty big figure in my life.‘ Jonah. Jesus and the seahorse are all there. but the audience. she says. should go in with an open mind. and

i come out with their own interpretation.

lnterpretations aside. audiences generally come out with the opinion that Wright is a stunning performer. And if you don‘t catch her this time she

; assures me she'll be back although next

time without Jonah.

And elsewhere on the dance horizon. Scottish Ballet will be the first dance act to grace the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. The company will also be celebrating their 25th anniversary with

a programme that sees Balanchine's 2 Scotch Symphony (1952) (said to be his

most romantic ballet). alongside the more modern Tippet ’- Bruch Is Violin Concerto ([987) and the acclaimed Kylian work (of Nederland Dans Theater lame) Forgotten land. Looks like being a bit of an occasion.

And last but not least. if you fancy extending your knowledge of Chinese culture. get on down to St Bride‘s Centre to see Chinese folk dancer Tina Chen in action. and/or down to the open workshops at Edinburgh's own Dance Base to try out this ‘exquisite form‘ for yourself.

Jonah 'Ioiafhing Jonah. CCA. Glasgow 23—25 Jun (24 and 25 Jun includes shoii'ings front local performers. created during this residency).

Triple Bill Scottish Ballet Gala performance. lz'dinlmrgh Festival Theatre. 29 Jun.

Classical and Traditional Chinese Dance. ii'orkshops. Dance Base. 22—23 Jun. performance. St Bride Is Centre. 24 Jun.

By Irvine Welsh

Award Winner

ORIFICE

of motherhood.

rnAersr

THEATRE

"TRAVERSE"

25 May - 19 June TRAINSPOTTING

An uncompromising, harrowing, hilarious look at Scotland's drug culture Spirit of Mayfest

22 - 26 June 8pm CLAIRE DOWIE

LEAKING FROM EVERY

- about men, sex & babies, hormones and the horror 7?! I!

29 June - 3 July 8pm WISEGUISE

THE WISHING TREE Myra began withering the moment she made her first wish.

Phone Box Office for details

031 228 1404

Music

RON

Wed IS-Sun I9 June Royal Scottish Academy of

& Drama

William ShakesPeare's MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

and KING JOHN

Mon 20-Sun 26 June

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL FOlJ( FESTIVAL Live folk in Main Theatre and

Festiwal Club Late Bar

Tue 28 June-Fri 8 july 7.30pm

Arches Theatre Company GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS

by David Mamet

" a contemporary masterpiece"

BOOK 041 552 4267 NOW 041 227 5511

Campus Travel

I I George Square Glasgow G2 IDY Mon-Fri 0900-l 730 Wed I000-I730 Sat I000—I 730

Campus Travel Dundee University Airlie Place Mon-Fri Wed

0930- I 700 I 000- I 700

Campus Travel 53 Forrest Road Edinburgh Mon-Fri Wed

Sat

0900—I 730 I 000- I 730 I OOO-I 700

Campus Travel Glasgow University The Hub

Hillhead Street Mon-Fri 0930-1700 Wed IOOO-I 700

And Branches Nationwide

STUDENTS 1

GO FOR LESS

At Campus Travel

cost travel for students and young people. Call into a branch near you and discover a world of possibilities.

N. AMERICA SPECIALS

CHICAGO LA/SAN FRANCISCO NEW YORK *

SEATTLE

WORLDW

AMSTERDAM £36 £65 ATHENS * £79 £149 BANGKOK * £252 £405 MEXICO (I75 (273 SYDNEY/MELBOURNE £587 (WITH 3 ASIA STOPS) * FROM SCOTLAND

INSURANCE

Worldwide 5 DAYS

I MONTH

6 MONTHS p/US otner rates availab/e

we specialise in low

" (I50 £I02

IDE/EUROPE

£|S £I7 £80

(Qaaxuar

TRAVEL

Telephone bookings: 03l 668 3303

Retail agents

04l HI 8808

The List I7—30 June I994 49