Rosie Kay Dance Company is thrilled to announce its brand new production for 2012. The Scottish premiere of There is Hope – a hard-hitting, contemporary dance work exploring ancient ritual and contemporary religion, including the Seven Deadly Sins – will take place on 27 October as part of Aberdeen’s DanceLive Festival.

Kay, one of the UK’s fastest rising choreographic talents, was aware – from both living and working in Birmingham – of the high number of religions and cultures living side by side. Curious to develop a greater understanding of their rituals and beliefs – in preparation for creating this new work – she spent time working closely with several local faith groups and leaders.

She said : “I was really interested in the idea of modern morality – good and bad, the saintly and the evil, and what do group dynamics mean as a collection of humans. Researching religions made me start to crave the universal qualities across the world – the universal qualities of the body, of human needs and human systems.”

Many religions have used dance to access the spiritual – to reach a higher state. Kay’s work explores this ancient tradition of creating ecstatic trance-like states to illuminate how faith and the physical are inextricably linked.

As Kay explains: “I was very inspired by medieval art-paintings of the last judgement: Albi Cathedral for example, or Michelangelo’s Last Judgement in The Sistine Chapel – were very inspiring. I find these works very spiritual but also very choreographic”

There is Hope begins in the real world, but rapidly descends into hell, followed by purgatory before finally reaching a state of heaven by the end – interwoven with elements of Kay’s renowned black comedy, occasional nudity and athletic performances. Both challenging and thought-provoking, this new piece – featuring five dancers and three musicians – ultimately offers up a message of hope and redemption.

The live music element of the show is provided by a trio of musicians steeped in free improvisation; providing an ever-changing, unpredictable sound world. Soundscapes and melodies are drawn from many musical styles and genres with nothing off limits, ranging from ethereal heavenly tones to growling death rattles. As reactive as it is proactive, the music is an interwoven in to the performance.

Rosie Kay Dance Company has earned a reputation for making fierce, original and challenging dance theatre works. Combing strong themes, beautiful dancing and powerful music, the company has toured the UK and Europe with their unique style and strong physicality. Always intelligent and well researched; the company manages to attract new audiences to their unique and engaging shows.

Tickets, priced £7.50 + booking fee, are available from Aberdeen Box Office on 01224 641122 or online at www.boxofficeaberdeen.com

Source: DanceLive