Christine Devaney, artistic director of Scottish contemporary dance company Curious Seed, tells us all about her new production, PUSH

What made you want to be a choreographer?
I’ve honestly never thought ‘I want to be a choreographer’, but I knew I loved dancing and always relished being involved in the creative process and contributing to other choreographer’s visions. I was with V-tol for nine years, and gradually as the company developed I contributed more and more choreographically. After that company disbanded I had a very strong urge to create my own work, for me to try to ‘say’ something. So I tried. I’m trying. And as dance is my passion I do it with dance at the heart of what I create.

What was the inspiration behind your PUSH?
In the beginning it was the image of a young girl on a swing, a wall and the feelings that are stirred up in me when I watch the news. I watch the news more now than ever, mostly because my partner watches and listens to the news A LOT. I wanted to use some of the questions and complex feelings that come up for me rather than push them aside. I don’t necessarily want the show to be representational of this. I also wanted to work with Luke Sutherland again and we both wanted to work with a cellist and so it rolled on. Another starting point was the physicality of pushing, pulling, resisting and yielding. These seemed like a metaphor for living! Coping, questioning and delighting in everyday life.

What do you look for in a dancer?
That they love to move and are interesting and interested. That they’re not afraid of being fragile and that they can perform without showing their leotard – metaphorically !

What do you hope audiences will take away from PUSH?
Gosh. Feelings, thoughts and images that they can’t quite pin down just with words.

PUSH, Platform, Glasgow, Fri 17 & Sat 18 Feb, then touring.