Dance Marathon Event Preview

The rumour is that Dance Marathon represents something original - David Greig, himself  impressing the Fringe with The Strange Undoing of Prudentia Hart - has said that it willl "set fire to young audiences, new audiences, old audiences, party people and intellectuals." Video footage reveals expressive solo dances; reviews comment on the mixing of monologue and movement. References to the bleak depression-era set movie They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, which made dance contests a allegory of the despair within hope, mentions of a history of dance music, hints of a live band: Bluemouth Inc slip between genres and make the link between social and stage dance.

The company describe the work in ways that intrigue rather than clarify. "Image, sound and movement are equal in value to the words," they insist. "There are a number of layers of engagement and what you take away from it ultimately depends on what you are looking for or need as a spectator." And despite an imbedded narrative line, there is space for nightly change. "There are spotlights from other dancers, musicians and comedians performing in and around the Fringe . And who knows what Unexpected Guest may show up?"

But is there a story? “Yes, there is a narrative if you are looking for it,” they respond. “If you are looking for a dance party, it is there and that is what you will experience. We have live music, a bar, video projections and number of different competitions though out the evening.”

Bluemouth Inc have been fascinated by “durational” work – the fancy word for long  - and the site-specific. The company admit that there has been rigour in their research  - “we have used the original dance marathons as a template for our show. The embedded performers, the feelings of competition, the rest periods, guest celebrities and derby races to name a few” – and that era resonates now: “There were also a number of historical parallels between the world economy during the depression and the current housing and financial crisis in North America.”

Dance Marathon is a fine example of how the Fringe can enable – by addressing a large potential audience – work that would otherwise never get to Scotland. It’s long, so good value for money. It has a bar, so dancing is made easier. It has a plot, choreography, competitions and the chance to seduce other members of the audience between then set-pieces. It’s probably sold out already.