The X Factor Dance Company, Scotland's dynamic dance theatre company, premiered its brand new double bill, 'Smoke' and 'The After Hours', to great acclaim at The Tron Theatre, Glasgow on Friday 3 February 2006.

The productions by Artistic Director Alan Greig and exciting guest choreographer Colin Poole are now touring Scottish venues during February and March 2006,  including Arainn Shuaineirt (The Sunart Centre) in Strontian, Lochaber on 3 March 2006.

Colin Poole's Smoke, a new specially commissioned work for The X Factor
Dance Company, takes its cue from Merriam-Webster's online dictionary.

1: something of little substance, permanence, or value
2: something that obscures
3: an act or spell of smoking tobacco

These definitions form the framework of a thought-provoking examination into the American Dream - the dream of individualism, democracy, free trade, the spread of 'our way of life' throughout the globe and the nightmare of terror that accompanies this ideal.

'The United States is without doubt, the greatest show on the road. Brutal, indifferent, scornful and ruthless it may be, but it is also very clever.' Harold Pinter, Nobel Laureate Award speech.

Greig's new work The After Hours is presented in his trademark humorous and eclectic style. The production is set in the surreal world of dreams - dreams of love and anger, people, places and the hauntingly unfamiliar. Greig creates a fast shifting mercurial world of athletic dance, spoken text, imaginative lighting and fascinating sounds (blending original music by Tom Murray with Bernard Herrmann and Andy Williams!).

Alan Greig said, 'I decided to make 'The After Hours' as a major development of one of my previous shows 'In Your Dreams'. I have taken some of the themes and created a brand new and inspiring 25 minute piece that is much more eloquent and dynamic. My piece also includes two short sections of structured improvisation, a new direction for my choreography. Although no two shows will be the same there is an element of risk for my dancers!

'I have a fabulous cast of international dancers who are both technical and creative, one of whom is gifted, ex-Rambert dancer Colin Poole. I have known Colin for years and was really excited by the solo / duet work he performed at last year's Edinburgh Festival. I am delighted to work with Colin as a dancer and also to give him a platform for his own choreography.'

The X Factor's six gifted dancers, including the fabulous Colin Poole ('Poole has a flair for theatricality, a tremendous stage presence, interesting ideas and the technical ability to carry it all off – a real pleasure to watch.' The Herald), Lise Manavit (France) and Aneta Szyplak (Poland), will bring an evening of irresistible, engrossing and breathtaking dance to theatres throughout Scotland, guaranteed to excite audiences with their gritty and esoteric moves.

Education is an integral part of X Factor's identity. The company is fully committed to the long-term development of youth and community dance through workshops and residencies and has achieved national recognition for its education work. The spring tour will include a college, schools and youth group education programme with both Alan Greig's After Hour's and Colin Poole's Smoke forming the central inspiration for the dance workshops.

X Factor Dance Company is also working with West Lothian Council and East Lothian Council to create curtain raisers for its performances in the Howden Park Centre, Livingston and the Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh respectively. These curtain raisers will be created with X Factor dancers by dance students of school age.

This new programme follows hot on the heels of the X Factor Dance Company's fantastic double bill - Greig's Uncanny and Stephen Petronio's Lareigne, continuing the company's mission to deliver thought-provoking and entertaining dance productions for everyone to enjoy. Prepare to be moved and captivated by one of Scotland's most innovative and respected companies. X Factor Dance Company has a passion for entertaining and engaging audiences creating dance that explores universal issues with intelligence and humour.

What the media said about The X Factor Dance Company and Colin Poole in 2005:

Alan Greig's Uncanny 'punctuated with humour and a plethora of filmic references, Greig's piece jumps butterfly-like from one scene to the next' - The List

Stephen Petronio's Lareigne - 'This 21-minute blast of fiendishly precise choreography from the inveterate New York rebel ….. they [X Factor] seize the piece by the throat.' – Sunday Herald

Colin Poole's The Box Office 'But Poole is a maverick. And Box Office - his look at black identity in blaxploitation movies - has a confrontational quality rare in dance. It's both edgy and brilliant.' - Sunday Herald

Performance Dates 

Friday 3 February 2006 - Tron Theatre, Glasgow - 8pm – Tickets: £13 (£6) - Box Office: 0141-552 4267 / www.tron.co.uk

Thursday 9 February – Eastgate Theatre & Arts Centre, Peebles - 7.30pm – Tickets: £10 (£8) - Box Office: 01721 725777 / www.eastgatearts.com

Wednesday 15 & Thursday 16 February 2006 – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh - 8pm – Tickets: £12 (£7) £4.50 unemployed - Box Office: 0131 228 1404 / www.traverse.co.uk

Thursday 23 February – The Tolbooth, Stirling - 7.30pm – Tickets: £10 (£8) – Box Office: 01786 274000 / www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth/

 Friday 24 February – The Space, Dundee College, Dundee - 8pm – Tickets: £10 (£8) – Box Office: 01382 834934 /
www.dundeecoll.ac.uk/thespace/
 
Tuesday 28 February 2006 – Howden Park Centre, Livingston - 7.30pm – Tickets: £8 (£5) with West Lothian Schools group bookings of £3 (teachers free). – Box Office: 01506 433634 / www.livingstonalive.co.uk/howdenpc

Friday 3 March - Àrainn Shuaineirt (The Sunart Centre), Strontian - 8pm – Tickets: £8 (£5) £2 under 18s – Box Office: 01463 234234 / www.eden-court.co.uk

Thursday 9 March 2006 – Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh - 7.30pm – Tickets: £10 (£7) – Box Office: 0131 665 2240 / www.bruntontheatre.co.uk