Wow! This show rocked, just the tonic for eyes hungry for original and innovative movement!

Mariana Rinaldi’s work Exilio was first up featuring strong, stroppy, slightly dangerous females:. Katie Burton, Lucy Miles and Rinaldi in ferocious c**t mode (yes that is the c word!).

A real challenge was thrown out here, exploring the theme of split personalities and at times I was squirming in my seat as the piece teetered on an uncomfortable edge that it never fell over, Rinaldi knowing exactly where that edge was.

Invigorating tension was sustained throughout and I was really happy to look the piece in the eye as I admired its guts and bravery; these cool dancers with their mounds. To begin: a chick, eyes glazed, doll like, slumped against wall in exquisite shaft of light – Rob Larsen doing his magic yet again; he knows this space inside out and really knows how to get the best out of it.

Fast changes and images – two other figures get the curiosity pumping. Their BOLD muscly legs are wide and their gaze staunch, repeating movement, repeating just long enough before sliding into the next movement mantra. In unison out of unison, heads peering through legs, hair swirling; really interesting choices of simple movements and patterns, good choreographic logic, use of space, and the soundtrack by Joaquin Segade pumping it along perfectly.

Have you ever seen a women wear a couple of humans for shoes? Me neither.

Next up, Maria Dabrowska with Solo 2, danced to the inimitable sound of the Tiger Lilies. Ok I’ll come clean, I am a real fan of this choreographer and it is so exciting to see her go from strength to strength with her craft. She has defined a vocabulary for herself and continues to burrow into it revealing more and more possibility, ‘infinity in a grain of sand’, that kind of thing.

She does this arm thingee where she leaves traces in the air that are quite breathtaking. Impressive technique as always, light and fluid yet sharp, her sense of rhythm perfectly entwined with the music. Abstract movement then a precise theatrical gesture appears for a moment, flickers then disappears once again into the flurry of momentum – down into floor, folded knees crossed over the shoulder and back to standing for another character gesture, and on she goes teasing us with her beauty and unpredictability. Give me more!!!!!

Completing the line up in this satisfying evening of dance is Katie Burton’s Scuttle. She, like her colleagues, has a particular vocabulary to explore and in this work she has really excavated the movement to find the treasure.

Ably accompanied by Rinaldi and Geoff Gilson – moving beautifully with strength and speed – the trio fizzes up the space and once again the tension and energy is palpable as they navigate the confines. Fantastic rhythm and lightening sharp locomotion sequences, bodies in sneakers twitch, convulse, bob like crazy boxers then bounce off each other.

There is some nice crafting as two dancers mirror each other in diagonal sequences as the other counterpoints carried along again by a great soundtrack from Sally Nicholas and Josh Tilsley. The piece builds to a fantastic end with a lovely dialogue between light and movement before all three dancers bounce happily together as if the floor has turned into a giant trampoline bringing a smile to the dial.

Keep an eye out for these choreographers – they are going places!

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