CLOUD STUDY
Cloud Study is part dance, part dream, part theatre, part athletics. Two compelling dancers - Mufutau Yusuf, an Irishman, born in Nigeria and Salma Ataya, a Palestinian contemporary dancer who has also danced Dabka - attempt to run 1,000 kilometres in circles and lines through the space, chasing dreams, memories, and home. John Scott, creator of the stunning 'HYPERACTIVE' and award-winning migration themed 'Fall and Recover,' returns to the stage with a wild explosive running dance: running away, running in circles, which become turns and then falls. Each fall and run generates beautiful, frantic wild movements, lifts, wild shapes in the air. The specially created score by Northern Irish award-winning composer Ryan Vail features everyday sounds blended with voice and electronics culminating in huge orchestral textures, then dissolving into sparse piano. Cloud Study premiered at Galway International Arts Festival in July 2018, then ran at Smock Alley Theatre Dublin in November and at Dance Limerick in December.
Choreography: John Scott
Dramaturg: Lucius Fromm
Assistant choreographer: Muirne Bloomer
Dancers: Salma Ataya and Mufutau Yusuf
Music: Ryan Vail
Lighting: Eric Wurtz
Sound: Barry Hehir
Costumes: Justine Doswell
“Scott is bravely attempting to reposition modern dance in Ireland,
through his challenging themes and his captivating choreography." - Niamh Mongey, Headstuff
“Less a case of cloud gazing so much as cloud bursting,
Cloud Study brings the thunder, delivering a downpour full of
powerful and mesmerising moments... Throughout, the chemistry
between Yusuf and Ataya is exquisite, as is their ownership of
the space, be they combative or cohering around
complementary or conflicting patterns." - Chris O'Rourke, The Arts Review
“It is a subtle and diverse new work that explores some interesting
topics.” - No More Workhorse
Reviews
CLOUD STUDY EXCERPT
Rights on the Rooftop
IMDT preesents an excerpt of Cloud Study, part of Rights on the Rooftop, a live showcase performance of theatre, poetry, song and dance – a personal reflection on equality and rights. Each performance is followed by a State of the Art post-show panel discussion with the key artists. Live performance and post-show panel discussion created as part of State of the Art: The Nation State as both Violator and Protector of Human Rights, funded by The Arts Council. Hosted by Smashing Times.
Choreography: John Scott
Dancers: Vitor Bassi and Tobi Balogun
Roof Garden, Chester Beatty, Dublin
October 15-17 | 2021
CLOUD STUDY
First Fortnight
Cloud Study uses the idea of clouds as a traveling, dreamy mass which floats above everything, witnessing, dissolving and carrying storms. Two compelling dancers: Mufutau Yusuf, an Irish man born in Nigeria and Salma Ataya, a Palestinian dancer, are running to somewhere or from something, speaking English, Arabic and Yorùbá, communicating with their bodies, hand signs and dance. Cloud Study is about witnessing and feeling rather than understanding. It is both hopeful and moving.
Originally commissioned by Galway International Arts Festival.
Choreography: John Scott
Assistant choreographer & costumes: Justine Doswell
Music: Ryan Vial
Lighting: Gearóid O Hallmhurain
based on original lighting by Eric Würtz
Chief LX: Jared Nadin
Dancers: Mufutau Yusuf and Vitor Bassi
Original Cast: Mufutau Yusuf and Salma Ataya
First Fortnight - Smock Alley Boys School, Dublin
January 13-15 | 2022
Watch the trailer:
Video edited by Luca Truffarelli
CLOUD STUDY
La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival 2022
John Scott returns to La MaMa with Cloud Study. Called “powerful and mesmerizing” (The Arts Review), the work uses the idea of clouds as a traveling, dreamy mass that floats above everything, witnessing, dissolving, and carrying storms. Two compelling dancers: Mufutau Yusuf (who performed in Scott’s Fall and Recoverat La MaMa), an Irish dancer born in Nigeria and Taryn Griggs, are running to somewhere or from something, speaking English and Yorùbá, communicating with their bodies, hand signs, and dance.
La MaMa Moves!
La MaMa The Downstairs, New York
April 29 - May 1 | 2022
Photograph: Leon Farrell
La MaMa – Social Media Handles
Choreography: John Scott
Dancers: Taryn Griggs and Mufutau Yusuf
Assistant choreographer & costumes: Justine Doswell
Music: Ryan Vial
Lighting: Eric Würtz
Original cast: Salma Ataya and Mufutau Yusuf
CLOUD STUDY
Uilin West Cork Arts Centre
John Scott makes a welcome return to Uillinn with Cloud Study, following huge New York success at La MaMa Moves Dance Festival. Described by Dance Magazine as “effervescent … highly physical and metaphysical … terrific dancing and wonderous rapport” and the Dance Enthusiast as “bold, innovative … we feel as if we are emerging from a complex and provocative dream” Cloud Study uses the metaphor of clouds as a traveling, dreamy mass which float above everything, witnessing, dissolving and carrying storms.
Choreography: John Scott
Music: Ryan Vail,
Lighting: Eric Würtz
Costumes: Justine Doswell
Dancers: Salma Ataya, Mufutau Yusuf
Originally commissioned by Galway International Arts Festival Irish Modern Dance Theatre is Strategically funded by the Arts Council
Uilin West Cork Arts Centre
November 2 | 2022