Cloud Study by John Scott with music by Ryan Vail

Cloud Study by John Scott with music by Ryan Vail, is part dance, part dream, made for two compelling dancers: Mufutau Yusuf, an Irish dancer born in Nigeria and Salma Ataya, a Palestinian – Irish dancer, who use the idea of clouds as a traveling, dreamy mass that float above everything, witnessing, dissolving, and carrying storms. They are running to somewhere or from something, speaking English, Arabic and Yorùbá, communicating with their bodies, hand signs, and dance, chasing dreams, memories and home. Commissioned by Galway International Arts Festival, tours include La MaMa Moves Dance Festival, New York.

Choreography: John Scott

Dancers: Salma Ataya and Mufutau Yusuf

Music: Ryan Vail

Duration +/- 50mins

Image by Ewa Figaszewska.

Press

“effervescent … highly physical and metaphysical … terrific dancing and wonderous rapport” Wendy Perron/Dance Magazine, New York

“Throughout, the chemistry between Yusuf and Ataya is exquisite, as is their ownership of the space, be they combative or cohering around complementary or conflicting patterns …. beautiful and powerful sequences stepped in vitality and immediacy…. “Cloud Study” brings the thunder, delivering a downpour full of powerful and mesmerising moments" Chris O'Rourke, The Arts Review

Performance

Saturday 8th March at 7pm BOOK NOW

(please note earlier time of 7.00pm)

Tickets

£15 / £10 concession

Biogs

John Scott is a Dublin born, choreographer, performer, founder/Artistic Director of John Scott Dance, Dancer from the Dance Festival and member of Aosdána, an affiliation of Ireland’s 250 most outstanding creative artists under the patronage of President Michael D Higgins. He studied and performed at Irish National College of Dance/Dublin City Ballet 1982-85 in works by Anton Dolin, Anna Sokolow, Pearl Gaden and Babil Gandara. His choreographic works include ‘Migration Sonata’, ‘Heroes’, ‘Evolutions’, ‘Dances for Inside and Outside’, ‘Divine Madness’, ‘Inventions’, ‘Cloud Study’, ‘Lear’, ‘Fall and Recover’, ‘Actions’ performed in Ireland and internationally. He has taught at Irish World Academy, University of Limerick, The Body in Performance, Drama Department NUIG and at Drexel University, Philadelphia.

Mufutau Yusuf is a Nigerian-born Irish performer, choreographer, and teacher. He has collaborated with prominent companies like Wim Vandekeybus/Ultima Vez, Liz Roche Company, Irish Modern Dance Theatre, and Emma Martin/United Fall. As a choreographer, his latest work Impasse premiered at Dublin Dance Festival 2024 before touring globally, earning critical acclaim, and performing at major venues like Sadler’s Wells and Maison de la Danse in Lyon. Mufutau is currently a resident choreographer with Luail, Ireland's national dance company, and holds associate artist roles with Solstice Arts Centre and Liz Roche Company. He’s a recipient of several awards, including the Golden Afro Artistic Award 2024.

Salma Ataya (dancer) is a performer and choreographer. Growing up in Ramallah, she was first introduced to dance through Dabkeh (Palestinian traditional dance) and afterwards discovered contemporary dance through workshops delivered by international guest artists organized by Saryyet Ramallah and the Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival. Salma took part in local and international performances from 2012 to 2016. She has worked with Les Ballets C de la B, KVS, A.M. Qattan Foundation, performing and touring in Belgium. She came to Ireland to study at the University of Limerick and in 2017 graduated with a MA in Contemporary Dance Performance. Salma has worked with John Scott’s Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Catherine Young Dance, Séverine Chavrier, Théâtre d'Orléans (Paris), Justine Doswell, Mary Nunan, CoisCéim Dance Theatre, Rob Heaslip,  Laura Murphy, Junk Ensemble and Pan Pan Theatre.

Echo Echo Festival of Dance and Movement 2025

Thursday 6th March - Friday 21st March 2025

Venue

All Festival events are at:

Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company,

Waterloo House,

Magazine Street,

Derry-Londonderry BT48 6HH

Accessibility information

Echo Echo Studios are accessed via rear entrance to Waterloo House at Hangman's Bastion, Magazine Street. 

Echo Echo Studios are wheelchair accessible. A platform lift services both floors in the centre.

Further access information including Social Narrative guide films (also available in ISL and BSL) can be found here: https://echoechodance.com/studios/access

If you have a specific accessibility query please contact us in advance by email: info [at] echoechodance.com or phone: 02871308883 and we will be happy to help.

Tickets

• Performances £15 / £10 concession
• Opening Night - all tickets only £10!
• Matinee group tickets £30 for 4 / £25 for 3
• Other group discounts may be available - please contact us
• Workshops £7

All ticket prices include booking fees.

WeGotTickets - Echo Echo Festival Listings