Making their Festival Fringe debut, the outstanding choreographer Katie Armstrong is presenting an impressive double-bill, SKETCHES/GLISK, as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase.
Created in collaboration with multi-award-winning composer and DJ Mariam Rezaei, comes complete with a string quintet, four dancers, and a DJ. Previously described as a brilliantly bizarre and beautiful whirlwind, SKETCHES is a quirky reimaging of Bach’s tremendous Violin Concerto in A Minor.
While GLISK, a work inspired by the dramatic landscapes surrounding Aberdeen and the North East, is an encompassing experimental turntablism, featuring dance, visual art, and an acoustic piano.
Would you mind giving us a brief insight into what your show is?
My name is Katie Armstrong and I am a dancer, choreographer and teacher based in Glasgow.
SKETCHES/GLISK is a double bill of works, coming to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival at Dance Base, in collaboration with Assembly, and presented as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase. Both works are the culmination of a collaboration between myself and multi-award-winning DJ and composer Mariam Rezaei.
SKETCHES manifests as a quirky physical interpretation of Bach’s Violin Concerto in A Minor, intertwined by a fourth movement, composed and choreographed for a string quintet, oscillators, electronics and four dancers. The sound world situates Bach between both genius and apathy. Including movement through sound diffusion and the live musicians, the music invokes both celestial and quiet intimacy. SKETCHES in Scotland is a short montage film which will be shared as
part of our run at Fringe 2023, capturing excerpts of SKETCHES captured in iconic locations during a tour across Scotland in 2023. Encompassing experimental turntablism, acoustic piano, dance and visual art, GLISK is a work inspired by the dramatic landscapes around Aberdeen and the North East. The composition of music and dance in GLISK incorporates ideas in lived experience, time and space,
from liminal spaces to flashbacks, hearing visions and amorphous beings.
Tell us about the creative team and process involved?
SKETCHES/GLISK is the culmination of a collaboration between myself and multi-award-winning composer and musician Mariam Rezaei. Both works involve a group of exceptional Scotland-based dance artists. SKETCHES also incorporates a wonderful string quintet, and GLISK involves stunning live acoustic piano interventions and also incorporates visual art from Dundee-based artist Katie Taylor.
Both works explore ideas of sound manipulation and sound diffusion – physically moving sound through space, and the experience this invokes for the audience.
How does it feel to return to the Fringe?
I’ve been involved in Fringe many times as a performer, but this is my first time presenting my own work. It’s quite a daunting undertaking bringing a double bill to the Fringe, but I’m learning lots along the way, and feel incredibly fortunate to have received the support in order to make this happen!
There are over 3,000 shows at the Fringe. So, what sets your show apart?
SKETCHES/GLISK are a unique double bill of works, which appeal to audiences across music and dance. I think in both works, there’s a little bit of something for everyone… SKETCHES encompasses Bach and an unusual electronic twist, GLISK encompasses dance, electronics, acoustic piano and visual art. Both works are totally different but manifest from the same artistic collaborations and explorations. Come see SKETCHES/GLISK and you get to see two dance shows for the price of one ticket!
Is there anything specific you’re hoping for the audience to take away?
Both works centre around the experience of the audience. SKETCHES has an intimate feeling – where the performers at times become spectators, making the whole piece feel relaxed and creating an environment where performers and audience are in it together. Both pieces are exploring the idea of the Doppler effect, and shifting sound through space, making it a totally unique experience for each individual audience member who bears witness to it.
It’s an intense month, so where you’re able, how do you plan to relax, and are there any other shows you intend to see or want to recommend?
I plan to relax at my home in Glasgow! … When I’m in Edinburgh though, I’m really looking forward to catching some other Fringe shows. I’m really excited to see Solène Weinachter’s show After All, and I’d also love to go see the Tinderbox Orchestra.
I also choreographed a beautiful play Lena, produced by Feathered Productions, which will be at Edinburgh Fringe too, so I’m looking forward to seeing that on a new stage!
In your ideal world, how can we improve the world of the Fringe, of performance, and the industry?
I think having more artists in positions of power/making decisions would be a good thing. This is already happening in some great organisations but I think more of this would be a really positive change.
