Scottish Dance Theatre, Scotland’s flagship contemporary dance company, marks its 40th anniversary with the world premiere of a major new double bill at Dundee Rep Theatre this June. 

Featuring original works by internationally acclaimed choreographers Emilie Leriche (US/Sweden) and Edouard Hue (Switzerland), the programme celebrates four decades of bold, innovative performance and international collaboration. The anniversary double bill -Rotten Work by Emilie Leriche &The Game of Life by Edouard Hue – premieres on Friday 19 June at Dundee Rep Theatre before travelling to Germany as part of the international programme of the ZANT Dance Festival in Ulm. 

The programme will also tour in the autumn across Scotland and the UK, with dates confirmed in London (Friday 23 & Saturday 24 October), Angus (Tuesday 3 November), Inverness (Friday 13 November), Manchester (Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 November) and Leeds (Saturday 21 November).  

Reflecting on the company’s outward-looking identity and enduring commitment to pushing the boundaries of contemporary dance, these new works create an unforgettable evening by Scotland’s flagship dance company.

Rotten Work, by Emilie Leriche, explores the theme of care, unfolding through poetic, slow-burning choreography that lingers in moments of connection, intimacy, and quiet emotional depth. Her message is simple – no one is allowed to be left behind. If we ever arrive, we must arrive together. 

Leriche is a freelance performer and choreographer who has danced with Göteborgs Operans Danskompani and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. As a choreographer she has created work for leading companies including Nederlands Dans Theater II, Whim W’Him, Ballett Hagen, Gibney Company, and Ballet Edmonton. Her most recent creation, Your Ghosts, My Shadows (co-directed by Pascal Marty), premiered in Prague in September 2025.

In contrast, Edouard Hue’s The Game of Life delivers an organic, sensation-driven physical language that combines raw virtuosity with emotional intensity revealing both strength and vulnerability. Inspired by puzzles and patterns, the work examines how individuals form a living, evolving whole without losing their uniqueness, proposing that imperfection may be essential to collective existence.

Hue, founder of Beaver Dam Company in Geneva, has worked as a dancer with renowned choreographers including Hofesh Shechter, Damien Jalet, and Olivier Dubois. He has created internationally acclaimed works, recognised for their physical rigour and expressive power, for companies including Gauthier Dance Company, Ballet Basel and Opéra du Grand Avignon.

Joan Clevillé, Artistic Director of Scottish Dance Theatre, said:

“For 40 years, Scottish Dance Theatre has created and shared new dance for the curious. And it has acted as a bridge between Scotland and the world, connecting people, ideas and cultures across borders through dance. We are excited to welcome Emilie and Edouard to Dundee to work with the company and to be able to share with audiences in Scotland where dance is going next in the international scene”

Extracts of these two new works will be included in the 40th Anniversary gala on 31 October at Dundee Rep Theatre.

As part of the anniversary year celebrations, Scottish Dance Theatre also draws on 40 years of shared history in RECollect, a new work inspired by Scottish Dance Theatre's archive and performed by local participants from Dundee and Tayside. The piece is created by Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre’s ENGAGE tutors in collaboration with the participants and Dance Artist and Choreographer Bridie Gane, drawing inspiration from historic images, videos and costumes from the archive. RECollect promises a vibrant, multigenerational evening of dance created with and performed by 45 participants aged 8 to 55+.

Bridie Gane, Dance Artist at Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre said:

“RECollect celebrates our local dance community within Scottish Dance Theatre’s living history. It has been a pleasure to explore SDT’s archive for the 40th anniversary and to create a joyful new work with our dance tutors and participants across generations that tells the continuing vibrant story of dance in Dundee.”

It takes over the stage of Dundee Rep Theatre on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 June.