Emma Evelein on her Rambert debut in Edinburgh

“This feels like the right place, at a great time,” says choreographer Emma Evelein, as she prepares to debut Gallery of Consequence at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, opening 3 July 2025. In an exclusive interview, Evelein shares her vision for this new work, part of the KISMET double bill with Rambert, running 3–5 July. Billed as a moving exploration of life’s fleeting moments, Gallery of Consequence draws on the chaos and connections of airports, marking Evelein’s first UK stage work. The Dutch choreographer’s global perspective and cinematic approach will, I expect, apply a fresh lens to Rambert’s dancers.

A Global Dance Journey

Evelein’s career, spanning stage and screen, is rooted in observing human vulnerability. “For my work I travel a lot, and I have always loved observing people in airports,” she says. “There is stress, excitement, routine, and unexpected meetings. All kinds of people pass by and somehow a public but isolated place like an airport makes their characters shine through, and oftentimes, it’s in their vulnerability.” This inspired Gallery of Consequence: “Once they arrive to their gates, they take off to unknown destinations for unknown reasons. They evaporate, and you will never know. It inspired me. You can zoom in on a life in a moment in time, and then let it go again. It has a lot do to with time, it’s poetic.”

Despite her storied career thus far, however, this Edinburgh debut is a milestone. “It feels great – after a few years mainly producing my own works – to be, in recent years, invited to create work for dance companies, who have known platforms, to work with brands and with other artists,” she says. “I feel humbled to be seen by other artists, and to feel they have a vision that is similar to mine, or where a collaboration feels like a great match.” Popularly considered a pioneer in cinematic choreography, Evelein’s international work, from music videos to dance films, has built her reputation. Collaborating with Rambert, a leading UK contemporary dance company founded in 1926, promises to elevant her vision to a new stage.

“This feels like the right place, at a great time…”

Emma Evelein

Choreographing Airport Life

The KISMET double bill, produced with Capital Theatres and supported by The Thistle Trust, pairs Gallery of Consequence with Johan Inger’s B.R.I.S.A., a playful work featuring leaf blowers and Nina Simone’s music. Evelein’s piece transforms airport dynamics into dance. “It was interesting for me to somewhat hold on to the airport procedures we all go through, which are symbolic for the life stages we go through. The check in, security, the gate, missing a flight,” she explains. “But also to consider those million little stories that are happening in airports every day. In order to translate that to movement, I used conversation, unexpected meetings, goodbye’s, anger, grief, stress. Those all became scenes that I gave movement too, depending on the dynamic of the scene and the musicality.”

Working with Rambert’s 18 dancers was particularly transformative. “First of all, the immense quality of the dancers. Both physically and in how they approach their work. There is energy, enthusiasm, passion for the craft,” she says. “The space and time that was offered, the big beautiful studios, the many great creatives I’ve met and worked with. It was the first time I worked with so many dancers (18) for a staged work, and the tools that were given to my by Rambert were supporting that.” She credits the trust from Rambert’s artistic director: “And last but not least, the great faith Rambert’s artistic director Benoit Swan Pouffer placed in me.”

**Rambert – BRISA – Photo by Yiling Zhao**

A Cinematic Lens

Looking deeper, Evelein’s film choreography experience seems to have shaped the production. “Endlessly. For example, how I love to work with montage, like film does too. A piece that exists out of different scenes where its character or arena is centralized,” she says. “Where dance and choreography become tools and glue to tell the story, and not the end result.” She embraced cinematic elements: “My love for how to create an arena (where we are) around the dancers grew even more, as well for cinematic settings and looks.” Collaborating with dramaturg Amy Baty and sound designer Raven Bush, she utilized projections and sound: “I massively enjoyed working with projection again, how it can rhyme with the dance and the atmosphere. What got confirmed even more is my huge love for sound design, which I worked on with Raven Bush.” The process refined her approach: “Working with a stage script beforehand directed me towards what kind of scene’s I’d like to explore.”

“…In order to translate that to movement, I used conversation, unexpected meetings, goodbye’s, anger, grief, stress. Those all became scenes that I gave movement too, depending on the dynamic of the scene and the musicality.”

Future Inspirations

Looking forwards, Evelein’s creative horizons are clearly expanding. “I’m working now on a new film that explores the cycle of life and the importance of friendship, that shows two dancers being born out of cocoons called ‘Born Into You’. Now is the plan to expand that into art installation at the Art Biennale 2026 in Venice,” she shares. “Next to that, I’d love to create a bigger film on animal agriculture with dancers instead of animals (no horror…) I also have many ideas for music videos, so there is a lot to explore in future work.” These projects reflect her ongoing interest in blending dance with narrative and visual art, building on the storytelling techniques promised by Gallery of Consequence.

Talking of which, with Gallery of Consequence premiering this 3rd of July, Evelein is hoping audiences will find resonance in its universal themes. “If I can wish for anything, it would be a feeling of recognition of the audience in the piece. The reminder that we all go through our own stages, challenges and obstacles. That makes us who we are and there is endless beauty inside of that. Next to that, to be moved, to have a laugh and to watch some beautiful movements performed by outstanding artists…”

Featured Image: Yiling Zhao