New Territories 2011

Offering introductions to the sometimes foreboding world of performance art through winter schools and a series of presentations at the Ramshorn, New Territories has expanded up to Aberdeen and across to Edinburgh, programmed a strand of Scottish work and strengthened its links with The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama via Into The New. The past decade has seen New Territories become a major influence on Scottish theatre and dance, while leading its audience further into the possibilities of experimental performance.

The This Is Performance Art strand takes a look at aspects of the powerful European scene: on the back of Black Market International's residency, it brings across five of Poland's most celebrated artists. Since performance art is, in itself, a challenging genre, the willingness of New Territories to explore and explain reflects the enthusiasm of artistic director Nikki Millican for the new and bracing. The return of Via Negativa, both performing and hosting a symposium, is welcome: last year, their study of Four Deaths combined a warm and witty mediation on mortality with a lively celebration of performance's vitality. And Cabaret Futura, arriving from London, pays tribute to one of the longest running contemporary events that evolves the explosive creativity of DaDa.

Devotees of performance art will point out that it is a form that emphasises freedom, and often captures emotions and ideas that could not be expressed in any other art. Despite its name, Performance Art is more than just "difficult dance" or theatre. It has its own traditions that draw on visual aesthetics and a dynamic intellectualism. And although the New Territories festival was once firmly associated with dance, Millican's programming takes in everything from film, through monologues, through movement to complex fusions that defy categorisation.

The festival's long association with Tramway – this year, the final and larger events are heading to the Southside – makes perfect sense. Long associated with contemporary performance, and now capturing a wave of visual art energy, Tramway has retained its awkward, anti-establishment atmosphere that is echoed in uncompromising performance art. Past years have amazed, disorientated and inspired: New Territories is best taken as a regular dose for the full impact.