#LoveDanceScotland awards £70,000 for dance commissions

A new contemporary dance initiative supported by the Scottish Government’s Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund has announced its first two commissions, with each recipient awarded £35,000 to produce new work.

#LoveDanceScotland – a collaboration between Dance Base Scotland, Dundee Rep Theatre, and Scottish Dance Theatre & Tramway – has selected the dance-theatre company Shotput and queer performance artist FRAN.K. Shotput will present a live performance and photography project, while FRAN.K will be creating a durational film installation titled Living in the Space Between.

The commissions are intended to provide much-needed support for dance practitioners in Scotland as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to have a massive impact on livelihoods. Work for 33 freelancers will be created by the two commissions.

A further five artists who were shortlisted for the commissions have received £1000 each.

Lucy Ireland and Jim Manganello, co-artistic directors of Shotput, said: “This commission allows us to continue innovating our rehearsal and performance methods. In 2020, death did a fantastic job of isolating us. Now is the time to dance together, to let death enchant our living world.”