DIG this - Marc Brew's Exalt and Hans van Manen's 5 Tangos

DIG stands for Dance International Glasgow which takes place at various venues in Glasgow between 24 April and 5 June 2015. One event that is tempting me North is Scottish Ballet's collaboration with Indepen-dance4 in Marc Brew's Exalt which the two companies will dance as the first part of a double bill at The Tramway on 24 and 25 April 2015. The second part will be Hans van Manen's 5 Tangos which Scottish Ballet last performed in 2012 (see the interview with Mea Venema who teaches van Manen's ballets).

Last September I was lucky enough to meet Brew after Ballet Cymru and Gloucestershire Dance performed his Stuck in the Mud in the streets and on the beaches of Llandudno (see An Explosion of Joy 21 Sept 2014). This was my first experience of inclusive dance and it was one of My Personal Ballet Highlights of 2014 28 Dec 2014. According to its website:

"Indepen-dance is an inclusive dance development company offering creative movement classes to people with diverse abilities, their carers, family members and volunteers. Throughout the year, the company performs work of high artistic quality created in collaboration with professional choreographers and dancers. Indepen-dance enables individuals with diverse abilities to participate in and benefit fully from a high quality arts provision."

Indepen-dance 4 appears to be a group of performers within Indepen-dance consisting of Hayley Earlam, Adam Sloan, Neil Price, and Kelly McCartney.

I have not yet met van Manen but I have twice applauded him the last time being after Visions Fugitives had been performed by the Dutch National Ballet Junior Company on 6 Feb 2015 (see The Dutch National Ballet Junior Company's best Performance yet 8 Feb 2015. He is one of the resident choreographers of the Dutch National Ballet and one of the reasons why I am a Friend of that company. I have admired his work all my life. He is one of the all time greats of ballet.

Scottish Ballet is a very special company of which the whole UK and not just Scotland should be very proud. Its performance of Streetcar Named Desire at Sadler's Wells on 1 April 2015 was magnificent. One of the most remarkable experiences in the theatre ever. Because of its collaboration with Marc Brew and Indepen-dance I am even more impressed with that company,