The Three Graces

Photos by Rimbaud Patron

The Three Graces premiered as part of Scottish Ballet’s 2019 Digital Season. It was created in collaboration with Scottish Ballet's first ever Digital Artist in Residence, Zachary Eastwood-Bloom and VFX specialist Sam Goodwin. Madeline choreographs a highly manipulated and multi-layered digital film, questioning beauty, artifice, voyeurism and the digital gaze. With multiple limbs and glitchy illusions these Graces are powerful and challenge the stereotype of what is beauty.

Euphrosyne, Aglaea and Thalia were three daughters of Zeus and were said to represent youth/beauty, mirth and elegance. The Graces were created to fill the world with pleasant moments and good will. In Greek mythology they are rarely represented as individual entities but always together, ‘a triple incarnation of grace and beauty.’

Euphrosyne is a Goddess of Joy or Mirth, and the incarnation of grace and beauty. Aglaea is the Greek goddess of beauty, splendor, glory, magnificence, and adornment. Thalia is the goddess of abundance, festivity and rich banquets.
Although sisters Madeline wanted to represent the differences and range within femininity, through these three women. Also the individuality that the three wonderful Scottish Ballet dancers brought to the process. With punchy, hypnotic music by Kinetic Alchemy
and beautiful florist designs by Pyrus Botanicals.

Behind the Scenes

Photos by Tony Currie

Rhona Warwick Paterson was commissioned to write a poem in response to the work. 

Ellipses