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Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland and Independent Scottish Publishers Birlinn are delighted to invite you to a special double bill launch of a screen dance and a book under the same title The Bright Fabric of Life. Join us and the creative team, including Mhairi Collie, the author of the book and the screen dance script.The screen dance production uses the body language of traditional African dance choreographed specifically for the camera, to tell stories of motherhood and kinship, love and loss from Scotland and Sub-Saharan Africa. It captures the poignant story of Sylvie - a beautiful Ethiopian girl, who is the protagonist in the novel and the lead dancer in the film. Sylvie is filled with hope and joy but her dreams are destroyed when a disastrous childbirth leaves her broken both emotionally and physically, facing rejection and isolation.
Through thoughtful and tender prose, the book explores Sylvie's life story juxtaposing it with that of Juliet - an insecure yet feisty Scottish doctor who embarks on an rollercoaster discovery in Africa. An unfolding drama brings them both together - an Ethiopian patient and a Scottish surgeon.
The Bright Fabric of Life screen dance production creative team includes:
Script: Mhairi Collie
Filmmaker, film set and costumes: Mare Tralla
Film composer: Chris Lyons
Choreographer: Vincent Hantam
Dancers: Tyra Lopes Sorae, Marios Ento-Enkgolo, Yuxi Jiang, Cate Fenton and Kun Zhou
Producers/Curators: Wendy Timmons and Iliyana Nedkova
Additional support by: Susann Dinnan-Young, Wendy Graham, Marlene Millar, Raquel Ribes Miro, Andy Cooke, Emma Henderson, Daniela Dimova-Yaneva, Robinah Ayakora and Ishbel Campbell.
The Bright Fabric of Life is a new screen dance production by Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland as part of a trilogy of dance films telling stories of motherhood in the context of global crises from Scotland and around the world. This production was funded through sponsorship contributions by MHSCollie Medical Associates, Medtronic, Wellspect, Ethicon and iMEDicare. Additional investment was granted by the Scottish Government through the Culture & Business Scotland Fund. Further in-kind support was provided by Moray House School of Education and Sport and DannsEd, both at the University of Edinburgh, as well as 2024 GLOW conference, supported by the Medical Research Council with focus on women’s and newborn health.
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Established in 2014, Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland is the only national organisation of its kind dedicated to the advancement of all forms of world dance with roots in traditional culture practised in Scotland, including African dance. Based in Edinburgh, but with a national remit this cultural charity is one of the three founding forums of Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland (TRACS). It advocates for and supports trad dance through free membership and three routes - festivals, residences and productions like The Bright Fabric of Life. Further details at https://www.tdfs.org/
Established in 1992, Birlinn is an independent publishing house based in Edinburgh. It publishes books under a number of imprints: Birlinn; Polygon; Arena Sport; BC Books and John Donald. The company is built on traditions of the written and spoken word and is constantly looking to the future. The Bright Fabric of Life book by Mairi Collie is out in hardback on 5 September 2024. Pre-order now. Please note that proceeds from the book go towards treating childbirth injury. Further details at https://birlinn.co.uk/
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
St Cecilia's Hall: Concert Room & Music Museum, 50 Niddry Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1, United Kingdom,Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Tickets
