Dannsa at Paisley Arts Centre
Step Change – Making connections across Scotland
Step-dancers and musicians from Scotland and Cape Breton to tour new Scottish audiences with driving rhythmic footwork, fresh new dances and finely crafted music on pipes, fiddle, guitar and Gaelic song.
Following the huge success of a Dannsa’s north of Scotland tour in April 2012, Creative Scotland have strengthened their backing for the Highland-based traditional music and dance company by supporting their first central belt tour as part of the Scottish Government’s Year of Creative Scotland.
Although Dannsa have performed and taught throughout Scotland for many years, the tour that runs from 11th to 22nd September to six venues in the central belt is expected to bring a new audience to traditional music and step-dance.
Dannsa’s ‘Connections’ tour interweaves Scottish song, music and dance with the step-dancing and music of Cape Breton; exploring the connections between both countries’ living heritage with a warm and personal approach.
Connections is not simply a traditional dance and music show; its uniqueness is in the way music and dance are intertwined to create a great evening of entertainment. The dancers and musicians choreograph the show together, making pieces which are fresh, new and different and that reflect the performers’ rich background in the traditions of song, story and dance.
Dancers Caroline Reagh, Sandra Robertson and Frank McConnell are joined by Matheu Watson, multi-instrumentalist and guitarist for the soundtrack of Pixar’s Brave, Mod Gold Medallist Catriona Watt and step-dancer musicians Fin Moore from Perthshire and Mac Morin from Cape Breton.
Connections will tour to Stirling, Paisley, Glenrothes, Musselburgh, St Andrews and Cumbernauld, and also to Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire.
Thursday 20 Sept – Paisley Arts Centre, 7.30pm
Tour Dates and links to venue ticket booking
- Tues 11 Sept – Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, 7.30pm
- Thu 13 Sept – Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, 7.30pm
- Fri 14 Sept – Dickson Hall, Laurencekirk, 7.30pm Tel: 01561 376896
- Sat 15 Sept – Cumbernauld Theatre, 7.45pm
- Thu 20 Sept – Paisley Arts Centre, 7.30pm
- Fri 21 Sept – The Byre, St Andrews, 8pm
- Sat 22 Sept – Tolbooth, Stirling, 8pm
More information
- enquiries@dannsa.com
- Website : www.dannsa.com
Also Dannsa have a Paisley connection with our very own Frank McConnell..
Frank McConnell
Frank McConnell was born and brought up in Glasgow of a family with strong Hebridean ties and no interest in the arts. He trained as a PE teacher but found an escape route into dance from which he has never returned. After training with Royston Maldoom and the Arts in Fife, he cultivated at a deep interest in creativity but has maintained a passion for education in its broadest sense.
He is the founding member of three significant dance companies in Scotland: Dundee Rep Dance Co (now Scottish Dance Theatre); Dannsa (with whom he continues to perform); and his own company plan B.
He has performed and collaborated with Communicado Theatre company on seven occasions
but it is principally known as a choreographer. Having created work for Northern Stage (England), Freshmess (Scotland), Le Groupe de la Place Royale (Canada), and the National Opera in Holland, Frank feels equally at home working with a small community group in Achiltibuie (Scotland).
In May 2000, he was one of the first people in Britain to be awarded a Fellowship from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and used this time to explore his own creativity within a Highland landscape and culture.
Frank set up his own company plan B in 1989 (with Caroline Docherty) to explore new ways of creating and presenting original work. The company is now based in Easter Ross and contributes to dance developments throughout the Highlands. plan B’s most recent production “The Shoogle Project” is currently touring Scotland – a collaboration with the band Shooglenifty.