Photo by Simon Kaye
Valerie Green/Dance Entropy was pleased to present RITE at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland this month for a two-week run. It was an experience of a lifetime for us all. Together we are taking a moment to integrate and offer our reflections.
Johnny Mathews III: "Being in Edinburgh with Dance Entropy was such a wonderful experience. I was able to see so many amazing shows and artists, get inspired by new ideas, and learn what it takes to perform every night for two weeks. Performing “Rite” for a new audience every night was very exciting: seeing them lean in and be so enthralled by the performance was such a pleasure. It was powerful to see the effect the work can have."
Tsubasa Nishioka: "First of all, thank you for taking me on such a great trip! I am really, really grateful. This tour changed my life in a big way. With every show I felt I could learn something new, react to the audience, and try different things. I think we were able to bring a fresh and real performance each time, not just the same quality."
Photo by Simon Kaye
Richard J. Scandola: “These days, performing every day for a longer period of time is not necessarily something that a dancer can have the chance to experiment with. Between the flyering and advertising for the show, getting ready for it and the performance itself, it was amazing but also incredibly tiring. Amazing to be able to dance the same piece night after night and being able to go deeper, looking for new things, scratch deeper under the surface of the movement, the emotions. But also, to be able to touch and inspire the audience who came to see us every night. The Fringe is a also an incredible chance to see a lot of different shows, artists performing their art, to meet with them and speak about it, making new contacts and friendships."
Lawson Pinder: "The Edinburgh Fringe festival tour was definitely a different experience. The energy was on a whole other level. Meeting artists and seeing shows from around the world, across so many different disciplines, was incredibly gratifying. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity and the experience."
Aidan Feldman: "This was my first time at the Edinburgh Fringe, and it was a fantastic experience. I’ve never done a run that long, so that was an interesting physical and mental challenge. I tried to maximize my time by seeing as many shows as possible - it was so inspiring to see so many different kinds of work from performers around the world. It was a pleasure to get to share our work with that global audience and hear from people that were moved."
Richard Sayama: "The Fringe Festival beautifully exposed me to an international array of arts that significantly cultivated my artistry. Hearing how our performance impacted, and in some cases, changed people’s lives, brought fulfillment and value to the power of dance. Reciprocally, my perspective on dance as an art form has begun to evolve and grow as a result from engaging with other Fringe performances from around the world. I have immense gratitude to the artists of Valerie Green/Dance Entropy for an inspiration filled journey at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival."
Valerie Green: “While I have many performance and touring experiences under my belt, this Fringe marathon was like no other. I cherished bringing this particular work that means so much to me to an international audience. It warmed my heart that its impact was felt so widely by so many diverse audience members. It confirms the power of art as a mechanism of healing. I am grateful for the privilege to take part in such a renowned event and to share in this experience together with the dancers, it will stay with us for a lifetime.”
Photo by Simon Kaye