Velvet Petal

Tough girls and pretty boys living life in the margins, dreaming about being at the centre. Velvet Petal explores the transformative power of beauty, created out of whatever is on the bedroom floor. The dancers experiment, seduce and philosophise through their bodies, clothing and ideas.

This fresh new work from Scottish Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Fleur Darkin (Bristol Old Vic, Edinburgh International Festival, Royal Opera House) is inspired by the life-cycle of the monarch butterfly and Robert Mapplethorpe’s polaroids.  Set to a fresh dance-punk score arranged by Torben Lars Sylvest including music by LCD Soundsystem, Spoek Mathambo, and Abul Mogard.

Fleur Darkin said, “Velvet Petal is about change - how humans change by themselves or through relationships with others. It’s about those times in your life when you must transform yourself. I spent a lot of time researching the photographic process and the polaroids of Robert Mapplethorpe-inspired me to see things in a new way. We think we understand at first glance but actually, it’s when we spend time letting the object communicate with us that the magic happens. I think the revealing nature of time is particularly true of dancers. The dancers are the Velvet Petals and they open themselves towards the light and dig deep to pull us through the darkness."

“We had a great experience collaborating with writers, photographers and musicians in the making of this work. All good relationships change us and these collaborations asked for the best of us: the show is full of love, patience and commitment. I hope Velvet Petal will inspire audiences to reflect on their own metamorphoses as they are moved by the marvel of human growth. We are living in tough times and a lot of our depression comes from hearing the news. Velvet Petal is about listening listen to those private desires and connecting with our dreams. I want the audience to leave the theatre thinking: Anything is possible."

Velvet Petal was originally conceived and performed as a collaboration with CEPROMUSIC, supported by Anglo Arts and INBA (Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes) and premiered in Mexico City in November 2016. The full-length work comprises live music from the CEPROMUSIC contemporary music ensemble, who are on stage with the dancers. The re-imagining of this piece for DIG does not include the live or recorded music originally played by CEPROMUSIC. Scottish Dance Theatre are grateful to their partners in Mexico for the wonderful opportunity to create this work together in its full-length version and are planning to bring the full production for it's UK premiere in 2018.   

Part of Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival