From the moment you enter the theatre, this show promises to be visually stunning. With flowing white silks suspended from two metal frames, illuminated with ethereal lighting, the effect is utterly unearthly.
Throughout the performance, the three dancers (Zoe Clark, Thea Solberg, and Freya Jones) manipulate these silks, playing with shadows and silhouettes to create hauntingly beautiful images, and through its floating movement the fabric seems to become another dancer in itself.
The danger of a show with multiple dancers is that it becomes individuals dancing around rather than with each other, but that was certainly not the case here. From physical interaction through lifts, to eye contact and awareness, these three dancers exhibited a constant connection to the point where, at times, they began to move as one being.
From the very first beat, the choreography was dynamic, and the dancers executed it with flawless musicality, hitting every accent in the music. The fluidity of their movement was contrasted by moments of sharpness and precision, and the choreography adapted to each new piece of music, taking the audience on an auditory and visual journey throughout the performance.
Behind the stage, images were projected onto a black curtain to enhance each section of performance. The most striking of these were the videos of childhood memories of dance. Despite the fact that the screen was somewhat obscured from my seat, the sense of nostalgia and joy for dance that these videos induced could be felt throughout the theatre.
As was summed up at the end of the show, it doesn’t matter whether you understand the performance, what’s more important is the enjoyment of the visual arts. The enchanting music choices paired with visually stunning movement makes it hard not to be completely swept away by this show. Even in moments of stillness, the audience was utterly enthralled – a testament to the beautiful way the producers of this show (Jasmine Lam and Faith To) have brought together movement, lighting, and music in this performance.
A must-see for any fan of dance and visual arts – you will certainly not be disappointed by this ethereal and striking performance.
art* / a:t / noun is running until 16 August at the Grand Theatre at theSpace at Surgeons’ Hall.
Buy tickets here.
Image courtesy of Tashi Dema, provided to The Student as press material
