An exciting new dance and music collaboration by one of Scotland's leading choreographers is to tour in the Highlands and Islands thanks to financial assistance from HI Arts and the Scottish Arts Council.

Frank McConnell, who set up dance company 'plan B' in 1989, is taking his latest creation, 'Double Helix' to a number of venues including the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness on Thursday 15th November and finishing at the Lionacleit Education Centre on Benbecula a week later.

With awards worth £4,894 from HI-Arts, the arts development agency for the Highlands and Islands Enterprise area, Mr McConnell's latest work is an exploration of spirals and the double helix. The original music for 'Double Helix' has been composed by Highland-based Andy Thorburn who has performed with several bands including Salsa Celtica, Mouth Music and Wolfstone.

Frank McConnell, who was recently awarded a fellowship from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, said: "When I set up 'plan B' I intended exploring new ways of creating and presenting dance and theatre in performance but I also wanted to be innovative in how we delivered performances and I especially wanted to make dance accessible. By taking our performances to isolated and rural communities we can open up dance and theatre to a much wider audience."

Robert Livingston, director of HI-Arts said: "One of our priorities is to take theatre, music and the visual arts to remote locations in the Highlands and Islands which is why we support companies like 'plan B'. It is not every day that the people of Benbecula or Skye will have the opportunity to witness a performance choreographed by someone with a reputation like Frank McConnell's."

The tour dates for 'Double Helix' are: Eden Court Theatre, Inverness on Thursday 15th November; Ardross Community Hall, Ardross on Friday 16th; Macphail Theatre, Ullapool on Saturday 17th; Universal Hall Arts Centre, Findhorn Foundation on Sunday 18th; Arainn Chaluim Chille, Armadale, Isle of Skye on Wednesday 21st; and Lionacleit Education Centre, Benbecula on Thursday 22nd. All performances begin at 8pm.