All or Nothing bring the joy of giant swings to post-Covid Scotland

Edinburgh's All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre, one of the UK's leading aerial dance companies, is delighted to announce the Scottish tour of their new outdoor, interactive and family focused production, The Swings.

The Swings is part breathtaking aerial duet, staged on a magnificent, larger than life, five-metre-high swing set, and part installation, where the audience are invited to have a swingwhilst listening to a sound installation of memories evoked from childhood swinging.

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As Scotland opens up for live performance The Swings will be performed at 23 outdoor venues the length and breadth of Scotland from Saturday 26 June 2021, in Lerwick, Shetland, to Wednesday 18 August 2021, for the Lochwinnoch Arts Festival.

Outdoor venues include town, city and country parks and gardens, community centres,an old bowling green, a city centre public square, a rugby pitch, and a car park.

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The Swings, staged using a giant swing set with two swings, is a 15-minute choreographed aerial dance duet performed at intervals throughout the day. Inspired by age old playground games and memories the playful dynamic between the two aerial artists is key. Using the long ropes and swing seats as their apparatus they begin by exploring this unfamiliar environment, swinging, and jumping off, climbing and hanging whichever way they can; their voices unable to contain their excitement. They gradually build the energy performing a range of stunning tricks, flipping, somersaulting, and tumbling, as they soar high above the socially distanced audience below.

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Following every performance, audiences will be invited to have some time on the swings. As old and young experience the sheer joy of swinging they will be accompanied by a soundscape made up of memories, thoughts and feelings of being on a swing. Fragments of these conversations, from the company’s friends, family, neighbours and colleagues, including three-year old Nancy and Gillian in her 70's, can be heard. Ideas of freedom, leisure, togetherness and shared space resonate most strongly with the circumstances we have all found ourselves in for more than a year.

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The Swings, an interactive event for all the family, was conceived by All or Nothing Dance Aerial Theatre's Artistic Director, Jennifer Paterson, who has also directed the production with Nic Green. Jennifer Paterson collaborated with the performers, Chrissie Ardill, Claire Crook, Beverley Grant and Danuta Ramos, on the aerial choreography.

This touring show has been designed by Becky Minto with sound design by Yas Clarke.

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The Swings was originally commissioned by Imaginate’s Family Encounters and the Merchant City Festival.

It has been supported by The Work Room (Glasgow)and Macrobert, with National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance.

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Jennifer Paterson, Artistic Director of All or Nothing Aerial Dance Theatre, said:“The inspiration for The Swings came from spending time in a playpark as a mum, being around swings again and seeing how much joy they bring. Swings are so integral to your childhood. They are in almost every park. If you’re lucky you have one in your garden, or maybe a rope swing on a tree. You hang about them as a teenager. The feeling of being on a swing and the excitement of building it up higher and higher never leaves you. It’s such a visceral feeling -the air rushing past your face, the laughing, the rise and fall of your stomach. Will you jump off? How high can you go? What tricks can you do?”

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Jaine Lumsden, Theatre Officer at Creative Scotland said: “Audiences across the country can look forward to All or Nothing’s fun, inventive and multi-sensory circus experience touring to outdoor spaces this summer in partnership with some of Scotland’s much loved theatres and festivals. This family friendly show is made possible thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week.

”We all love being on a swing and we know you do too! Catch The Swings at an outdoor venue near you this summer.

Watch All or Nothing’s exceptional aerial performers then have a go yourself.