Manipulate Festival: The Rite of Spring

Following a sellout, critically acclaimed run at the Southbank Centre in 2025, Dewey Dell bring this bold new take on Stravinsky’s revolutionary work to Edinburgh.

Offering a fresh perspective on the timeless score, the work solidifies the company’s position as one of the most original and compelling companies on the contemporary scene. The powerful seduction of Stravinsky’s score clashes with the furious energy of the performers’ bodies, creating a visceral experience that captivates audiences.

Drawing inspiration from art history and animal behaviour, the performance delves into the eternal cycle of life and death, with the mystery of spring unfolding in a fierce conflict between sound and vision. The powerful seduction of Stravinsky’s score clashes with the combination of breaking and contemporary ballet, infusing the original revolutionary work with raw, primal energy and creating a visceral experience that captivates audiences.

Since 2006, Dewey Dell has pushed the boundaries of contemporary performance with bold, visceral work exploring human transformation and the interplay of life and death.

As part of the Festival, Dewey Dell will be running a Breakin’ Workshop & Practice , presented by Dance Base.

The Rite Of Spring is part of the Traverse's £1 Ticket Project.

Photo credit: Andre Pattenden

With the support of Emilia-Romagna Region and Societas and Teatro Comandini, and thanks to Paolo Barbero and Andrea “Duna” Scardovi.

Reviews

★★★★★ “Extraordinary” - The Stage

★★★★“A visual feast ... that feels both fantastical and resonant” - The Guardian

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