Review by Yuxi Jiang

Futuristic Folktales is an experimental dance theatre piece that explores bold ideas around the body, sound, and traditional culture, and themes of reproduction, identity, and the cycles of life. Created by Charlotte Mclean in collaboration with Orrow Bell and Seke Chimutengwende, the performance is described as ‘a dance of hope’. Combining traditional Highland dance with contemporary elements, it creates a work that is both playful and poignant.

At the heart of Futuristic Folktales is the concept of the ‘first womb’, a creation narrative that serves as the foundation for much of the performance. This theme is brought to life through the dancers’ physical interpretations, which include Highland dance movements, contortion, and spoken word all punctuated by moments of humour and playfulness. The choreography is simultaneously structured and spontaneous, creating a sense of unpredictability that keeps the audience engaged.

The soundscape, composed by Malin Lewis, is a key feature of the production. The familiar drone of the bagpipes is distorted and layered with electronic sounds, creating a haunting yet futuristic atmosphere and mirroring the fusion of Scottish dance and contemporary movement in the choreography. The distorted bagpipes serve as a metaphor for the tension between tradition and progress, a theme that runs throughout the performance. At times, the gestures of Highland dance clash with the modern movements, symbolising the struggle between the old and the new.

Mclean’s choreography also explores political themes, particularly the politics of the body. The performers engage with ideas of bodily autonomy, moving through sequences that evoke both the beauty and violence of birth, questioning our origin and identity. Their movements shift from graceful to jagged, reflecting the duality of the womb as both a source of life and a battleground for control. Furthermore, the combination of light and shadow (designed by Emma Jones) creates a dynamic visual experience that complements the complex themes explored on stage.

Futuristic Folktales is more than just a dance performance: it is a meditation on life, death, and the spaces in between. The piece challenges the audience to reconsider the stories we tell about our bodies and our place in the world. Mclean’s creation is a powerful reminder of the potential of dance as a form of protest and a means of exploring complex social issues.

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This review is published by Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland as part of our Traditional Dance Criticism Course, led by dance writer and editor Róisín O’Brien and supported by dance scholar and editor Dr Wendy Timmons.

Yuxi Jiang was one of the six applicants, alongside Vassia Bouchagiar-Walker, Catherine Coutts, Alena Shmakova, Inesa Vėlavičiūtė and Yanmei Bowie, who were selected to participate in this pilot edition of the course in 2024.

Futuristic Folktales was performed at Dance Base, Edinburgh 8-13 August 2024 as part of International Festival Fringe. It was one of the shows with trad dance roots across the Edinburgh’s summer festivals we hand-picked to review. Images courtesy of Charlotte Mclean and Amy Sinead

Please find further details about our #traddance campaign at Edinburgh summer festivals heRE