Beyond the Fringe

With such a broad gamma of acts in its programme, the Fringe is not only for entertainment or showcasing the latest trends, but also an incredibly powerful tool for participants' networking. Dancers meet other dancers, or choreographers, or even producers. What happens next?

Some of the shows stay on in Scotland for brief tours: but three Scottish companies are taking their work on the road to show the nation what they might have missed.

Last Orders, by David Hughes, has received mixed reactions; this controversial piece leaves critics satisfied, others confused or disappointed. A fascinating blend of different dance disciplines, choreographed by the Dark Clown Al Seed, it takes the legend of Scotland's fiercest cannibal clan as a springboard for a meditation on the carniverous side of human nature.

David Leddy's Untitled Love Story employs the less aggressive art of meditation to immerse the audience in his piece. Contrary to Audience, one of the most talked about shows of the Fringe which saw one critic throw his shoe at the stage, it is not about pushing people to their limits, but rather connecting them to the four other characters on stage. Leddy is a great conceptualist, a gentle and thoughtful author. More than just a play, he offers experiences.

Finally, Strange Bird Zircus and All or Nothing are swinging around the nation with their aerial trilogy Uncharted Waters. One of Dance Base's hits, and featuring music from one of the members of the North Atlantic Trio, it rolls out the Chinese silks and erects the pole for three pieces that prove that the sky is the limit for Scotland's dancers. [Daph Karoulla]