Tim Podesta’s Visceral is a high-energy performance, which gives the audience an intriguing look into the instinctive drivers of human behaviour. The dancers and music transition smoothly between scenes, the movement fluid and staccato in turns. 

Exploring the subconscious mind, the work is vibrant and cyclical, sometimes repetitive then suddenly breaking out as the dancers unleash themselves and restrain each other. There is a sense of escape and release, with the recurring themes creating a sense of entrapment which can never be completely overcome.

Grotesque and graceful by turns, each movement is precise and performed with a sensual, earthy abandon. Starting together and breaking into pairs, before coming together again, the fast pace continued, with rhythmic jumps, lifts and falls. The transfer of weight and position between dancers is intriguing; their interactions moving from loving to controlling.

Visceral is an expressive and intense work, performed with intensity and conviction. The dancers throw themselves into it and play well with the themes and each other, alternately becoming and escaping from their demons. It captures the boundary of paranoia and lucidity, and hints at the possibility of freedom, which is ultimately unobtainable. 

Anna Bate’s Pro-Posing is harsher and slower moving. It examines the industry of posing and the face of change in an extremely detailed and somewhat unpredictable way.

Mariana Rinaldi, Anna Bate and Kerryn McMurdo portray bodybuilders, wrestlers and cheerleaders with close attention to their postures and facial expressions. These are often emphasised and stressed to the point of caricature, with ironic humour showing through at regular intervals. 

The use of video gives voice to the ideal in the industries and reflects the movement of the dancers, highlighting the similarities between current reality and the recorded past. It also lets audience see the contrast of the female dancers to the male bodybuilders on screen.

Pompoms are used throughout the piece, changing with costumes to create different identities for the dancers. There is a feeling of tension throughout, but it can be slow moving at times, and the dancers don’t seem to be stretched by the work. They use a lot of energy and precision, with a huge amount of focus and strength given to perfectly controlled and timed movements.