Profile: Plan B

plan B, led by the inspirational Highland choreographer Frank McConnell, has waited several years for a new dance project to emerge, only for two performance projects to arrive suddenly at the same time. As part of the DNA Festival (Drama Na h-Alba), the company will be presenting two quite distinct projects: Inside - Out, A Double Bill of Brilliant Dance at the newly refurbished McCreadie Suite in the Merkinch Centre; and Fork in the Road – a series of site specific performances in the streets of Inverness.

The company has been making up for lost time in their production output. Artistic Director Frank explains, 'I have been in receipt of a Fellowship from Nesta for some years now but the terms of that funding didn’t allow me to produce work with my own company, plan B. Since the Fellowship came to an end, I have been working at 90 miles an hour to create performance opportunities for both young people in the area and the company.'

The first two projects to be initiated clearly indicate the strong innovative streak with which both Frank and the company are associated. Performing on the inside, at the McCreadie Suite, Merkinch, plan B present two contrasting dance pieces:

Inside - Out

Re: Newal

In a specially commissioned piece created by Louise Marshall - dancer in residence at Eden Court - Re: Newal communicates the excitement of impending birth with the person best placed to convey that expression – an expectant mother. Considerable evidence suggests that women who sing to their babies in the womb create strong bonds with the child following birth. Re: Newal explores this theory with dance.

Far Horizons

Performed as a solo by Frank McConnell and accompanied by the electric improvisations of Fraser Fifield plus four of Scotland’s best jazz musicians, the second half of the programme explores the contrast between a serenity you can find on the inside by meditating on the Far Horizons. Performed only by men, Far Horizons follows a tight improvised structure as it guides the audience from excessive comic vaudeville to an expansive serenity.

Audience reaction has been overwhelmingly positive with Far Horizons being described as 'one of the most beautiful pieces to have been created in Scotland in over a decade'.

Fork in the Road

Performing on the outside as part of the same DNA Festival, plan B will lead the audience on a merry dance through the streets of Inverness via the wonders of text messaging. Fork In The Road is the outcome of a series of community dance workshops for young people that focuses on the decisions we make, and considers how with each decision a parallel life continues in the opposite direction.  We are all at a crossroads and we all know we can turn one way or another.  With an ensemble company of fifteen young performers, plan B will harness the colossal energy of youth for a series of five dynamic performances in dance, song and style. Frank added, 'it’s all go on planet plan B just now, but it feels great to be creating work in the Highlands again. The energy and commitment of the performers can be just as inspiring as our landscape.'

About plan B

plan B’s vision is to be an invaluable source of creativity in the Highlands through creating, producing and presenting original dance performances and by promoting participation in dance at all levels and with all abilities.  In April 2007 plan B was awarded two year flexible funding from the Scottish Arts Council, allowing the company to create and develop dance throughout the Highlands through a variety of community and professional projects. For further information on plan B, please email Siobhan Cain or call on 07766 062222.