Under the name of “time to respond”, Dance Base Scotland, Scotland’s National Centre for Dance, in collaboration with Two Destination Language, explores a new way to run and share creative residencies in the age of Covid-19.
Based in Scotland, Two Destination Language was founded in 2011, and is the collaborative performance practice of Alister Lownie and Katherina Radeva who create international dialogues in theatrical forms. Their work, that makes connections about how cultures interact and develop, is linked to Alister’s Scottish heritage and Katherina’s Bulgarian background and they have toured to the USA, Azerbaijan, Europe, Israel and the Ukraine. Katherina and Alister will curate time to respond, bringing experience of their recent explorations in to new ways of bringing artists together under the new conditions imposed by Covid-19.
Katherina Radeva said “We are no longer interested in focussing on the way social distancing rules limit us – we are excited to explore the many ways in which digital residencies can enhance and expand creative possibilities for artists.”
The digital format of “time to respond” looks to achieve a broader, and more creatively satisfying, experience for all the artists involved. With each artist able to work in their own space, artists like Lindsay Oliver, who cannot leave her home due to chronic illness, will be able to fully share in conversation and collaboration without compromising her safety. In addition, time to respond will provide space for audiences to engage with and follow the residency in a way that they would not be able to during a face-to-face residency.
The artists participating in this week-long residency will include Glasgow-based performance maker Jian Yi; actor, performance artist, writer and comedian Laura Paterson; mother and daughter writing and performance-making team Lindsay Oliver & Fiona Oliver-Larkin; dance artist and choreographer Lucy Suggate; installation artist Mark Bleakley; dance/performance artist Suzi Cunningham and New Zealand born, Edinburgh-based choreographer, dancer and teacher Tamsyn Russell.
Throughout the residency week, and later in February, each artist will share moments of their practice and creative collaborations with audiences. Dance Base will also share these work-in-progress musings on their social media channels and website, as well as building a full archive of these thoughts from the week for audiences to explore in future. This is a reminder that artists coming together is a vital part of their practice and their role commenting on and examining the world we live in.
Artistic Director at Dance Base, Morag Deyes said “We are so excited to reconnect with our community of artists – supporting and encouraging them to create and to share this with audiences. Myself and our Artist Advisory Group were delighted at the sense of community that Two Destination Language proposed to bring to their residency.”
“time to respond” is one of many artists commissions Dance Base has been able to initiate and is made possible thanks to support from Creative Scotland with funding from Scottish Government via the Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund.
The digital residency will run from Monday 15th to Saturday 20th February 2021.
More information is available on the Dance Base website.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 