REELING IN HISTORY
IRISH DANCE COMPANY TELLS STORY OF SCOTLAND AT FRINGE 2009
(Edinburgh, Scotland) An unlikely group of history teachers will appear at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2009, and they’re leaving the books at home. Armed with their Irish hard shoes, a full cast of characters, and cutting edge fusion choreography, the Siamsoir Celtic Dance Company will take audiences back to once upon a time—to the days before a united Scotland. CELTIC CALEDONIA: The Curse is set to premiere in August and promises to reinvent the art of dance theatre at the Fringe.
Translated from its Gaelic origins, siamsoir means ‘entertainer.’ Director Jennifer Hogan founded the company of twelve dancers in the winter of 2005 when she was just 22 years old. A few weeks later Siamsoir was in demand as a fully operational performance act. Booked for the internationally renowned Don’t Walk Charity Fashion Show and eight different venues on their first St. Patrick’s Day Tour alone, Siamsoir’s reputation of excellence was firmly established. In the summer of 2007 Siamsoir was the only Irish dance troupe to appear at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, performing their original show BATTLE FOR EIRE. This year they are dishing up something entirely new.
‘I wanted to pay homage to my two great loves,’ says Hogan, who is the creator, writer, and director of CELTIC CALEDONIA, in addition to her responsibilities as company director. ‘Telling the story of my homeland [Scotland] through the art of dance means a lot to me, and I hope that it will mean something to every person who experiences the show. I think that anyone who loves this place, loves our history and our heritage, will be affected by the story we tell.’
The plot of CELTIC CALEDONIA is based on the 7th century battle between the Picts and the Gaels, and features a few historical figures alongside the fictional. When all the magic has died in the land of Eire (Ireland), the Celts abandon their barren home and take to the seas. They arrive on the shores of Caledonia with the promise of a new life, only to encounter the Pictish clans already in residence. Threatened by the new arrivals, the Picts are forced to summon ancient mystical forces in order to protect their land and their culture.
In addition to the two ancestral tribes, two very different styles of dance will share the stage in CELTIC CALEDONIA. The Celts will perform traditional Irish steps—an upright and vertical style of movement. In contrast, the Picts will be choreographed in the Contemporary genre, characterised by its fluidity and horizontal energy. The pinnacle of this unusual blend lies in the stirring scenes of intermingling and interchanging steps, reminiscent of the company’s previous Fringe performance BATTLE FOR EIRE.
According to Hogan, ‘What really sets CELTIC CALEDONIA apart is the historical context and the love story between Cruithne and Cinead, set against the past love of the Sorceress and the Drow. There’s still that wonderful mystical folklore element we explored in BATTLE FOR EIRE, which captivates children and adults alike, but we’ve taken the next step with CALEDONIA.’
CELTIC CALEDONIA: The Curse will appear 5–15 of August at C Venue 34 on Chambers Street. Performances begin at 11.30am and run about 55 minutes. Tickets £7.50–£9.50; Concessions £6.50–£8.50; Children £4.50–£6.50.
For ticketing information please contact C Venues at 0845 260 1234 or www.CtheFestival.com.
For more information about Siamsoir or CELTIC CALEDONIA please contact Jennifer Hogan at 07886 53 7597 or info@siamsoir.co.uk.
"The Battle for Eire," Siamsoir's first original full-length show, premiered in May of 2007 and appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival that summer. To learn about how the show's unique combination of live music and Irish/contemporary dance fusion came to be, watch the video below.
Add a little theatrical spice to your event! Individual Irish pieces from "The Battle for Eire" are available for performance bookings. Get in touch today!