Marshallin Motion 

ANDREA MUIR checks out the work of Dance Artist LOUISE MARSHALL

LOUISE MARSHALL is the Dance Artist for Inverness based at Eden Court Theatre.  Her eyes rise heavenward when asked if she has such as thing as an ‘average’ day.

‘No, of course I don’t have an ‘average’ day – which is why I love this job!’

She sits on the bright red sofa in the Eden Court Theatrerestaurant and takes a sip of her cream-drenched hot chocolate.

There are similarities though between each day, in that nearly every day she visits at least one school, usually primary, she has to do the ‘boring, office stuff’, then she works on future dance programmes for the theatre and outreach work, organises workshops and finally, takes a dance class, ‘probably’ for adults.

‘I start sometime mid-morning and collapse at home at about nine.’

After expending all that energy, it’s no surprise that she collapses, but she remains emphatic that it’s all about hard work.

‘Talent will out,’ she says inventing a new catchphrase for a fridge magnet, ‘IF you work hard. If you don’t – it won’t!’

Her enthusiasm spreads across everything she does but it seems she is especially delighted with the fact that EdenCourtTheatrenow gives students the opportunity to take the Scottish Qualification Authority’s Higher in Dance.

‘We are the only theatre in Scotlandto do this and next year I’m expecting twelve students to take the exam.  It’s hard work.  There’s a class every Saturday from twelve to four and then in the holidays we have more intensive sessions.’

She goes on to describe the forthcoming Youth Dance Week which this year runs from 9 – 13^thof August.

‘Intense is not the word.  It’s mad.  We spend the whole week working towards a performance at the end.  But it’s brilliant.  Everyone’s so enthusiastic.  Last year, the show was on an African theme and there was one move where 70 kids were all jumping at the same time – they nearly bounced the drummers right off the stage!’

Louise is as vocal about ‘size’ issues as she is about having to work hard.

‘It’s a complete myth that you’ve got to be some sort of waif to be a good dancer.  And the media perpetrate the myth.  Believe me – size doesn’t matter!’ She bounces a bit on the sofa and reaches for her half-full cup of hot chocolate.  Sitting still for Louise appears to be very testing. 

‘I can’t stand it when I think about all these young people starving themselves and doing themselves harm to try and achieve the impossible.’  She takes another swig from the cup.

‘Very often the tiny dancers can’t cut it anyway – they have no stage presence and they’re not strong enough.  Thank goodness that Top of the Popsnow uses dancers who are more ‘real’.’

‘I want young people to be inspired by dance – I was. I didn’t study dance at college.  I came back to it when I was 25, but by then I knew what it was all about.  Okay, I think I probably did miss the boat in some ways – I’m never going to be a performer – but I don’t care, I get too nervous anyway.  But I’m confident as a teacher and that’s what I love’.

You can get involved with dance at Eden Court Theatre, whatever your age, size or sex.  Phone Louise at Eden Court Theatre on 01463 239841.

© Andrea Muir, 2004