Mill's Mortal Coil

December isn't a happy time for the critic of serious theatre. Of course, sitting next to Jim Davidson at The Pavilion pantomime will always be a fond memory and there are plenty of parties to grace with the critical presence. However, the real hardcore action seems to be, mostly, on holiday.

Fortunately, certain smart artists are using the quiet time to introduce next year's work. Ruth Mills, teacher and choreographer and dancer has announced her latest projects. Most excitingly, there's a lecture demonstration at the start of next month.

This Mortal Coil is a mash-up of performance and lectures. Dr Laura Gonzales, fresh back from Brooklyn, will be talking about the body of the hysteric - a matter of considerable concern to the critic who has one, while Lucy G Weir teams up with Mills to offer a history of contemporary dance from its roots in resistance to ballet through to the latest moves.

Mills is also fresh from working on the NTS' Jump project - an all-male community production. It's interesting to see that she is going to be working on an all-female piece, Girlfriend, for 2013. Mills has taught classes based on pop video moves, and Girlfriend is going to take a closer look at some of the misogynist subtexts behind the perfection of the female body-as-commodity.

She's still teaching all over the place too - and she was a poster woman for The Year of Creative Scotland.


This Mortal Coil

Thursday 3rd January 4:30pm
Sunday 6th January 4pm