Scottish Dance Theatre: A Visitation

Arranged by Norwegian choreographer, Ina Christel Johannesson, A Visitation is a dramatic piece of dance loosely featuring a supernatural plot in which five ghosts are raised in a spooky attic.

The synchronised dancing of the five ghosts sets the sinister scene, as their perfectly timed jerky movements expose them to be haunting the five ‘living’ characters. The nymph-like ghost, Naomi Murray, stands out due to her graceful, yet animalistic, physical dancing and dramatic expression.

All of the dancers display their skill and the excellence of the choreography through their well-timed, elaborate and coordinated routines. The minimalist music—clunky and atypical—is produced by Swarte Greiner and Elegi. It relies heavily on percussion and an unanticipated piano note to create the eerie atmosphere that simulates at times heavy breathing and the sounds associated with the paranormal.

A Visitation is overflowing with style and elegance, yet is in want of substance and meaning. This avant-garde production is highly recommended if one is seeking purely art for art’s sake.