Walking into the theatre, before the Shorelines show has even begun, you are aware of the sense of community within the group of people in the theatre. Everybody seems to know each other and the whole room is filled with laughing and talking. You feel as though you are part of a family event, filled with friendly faces and people who are more than happy to share a moment to talk to you.

Following a short skit between two dancers about their trip to the beach, the curtains open and the show begins. The stage is lit with a blue wash and you immediately notice the musicians on the left side of the stage. The show is introduced through light pieces of music played on the flute and violin with dancers moving down the stage, twirling, rolling, and laughing. They are clearly having a great time, and this is very engaging as an audience member to see.

On the back of the stage is a large white screen that covers the whole back wall. This is well utilised throughout Shorelines with lighting but especially with the use of projection. A moment I found very poignant was during the first projection. The clip starts with a shot of the open ocean, rolling in to the shoreline, followed by clips of the beach and the waves. These are beautiful shots, but as this is happening on the screen, on stage two girls are sat with each other, looking up at the screen, sharing an isolated moment where all we see of them are their silhouettes. This is a beautiful moment, the silhouettes of these girls almost imitates the image of the outline of hills at sunset and this image stayed with me throughout the show.

The projection becomes a recurring aspect of Shorelines. Shots of the waves coming in allowed for a very playful moment between two dancers, running in towards the waves and then running back out again to avoid being ‘caught’ by the water. This was a very relatable, and comical, moment during the show and there was a lot of laughter and appreciation during this moment from the audience.

As the show ends, the last projection we see is of the shot starting on the shoreline and then taking us back out to the open ocean, which is a lovely tie in to the beginning of the show.

I was hugely impressed by the way that all of the dancers, regardless of disability, captured the dynamic and quality of all the movement within the show. The live music really enhanced the movement, just as the movement enhanced the music. Each section of Shorelines has a different tone, and the way that each of the dancers responds to the change in tone is wonderful to see. From a solo about the invasion of litter on the beach, to a group section about rowing to get to the shore and exploring the new land, the sections are clearly defined through movement, music, poetry and storytelling, each dancer responding to, and embracing, that change. The connection between the dancers on stage, not only with each other but with the musicians, the music itself and with the audience is something very inspiring.

All of the dancers coming on stage for the end of Shorelines is a very uplifting event. In partners, they hug, and twirl and dance around the stage performing counterbalances and wonderful lifts. A dancer then goes to the microphone and announces ‘one more song!’ and in pairs the dancers come into the audience and pull people on stage to dance for the final number. Being asked to dance with the members of Jolt Youth was a wonderful and unexpected way to end an uplifting and inspiring performance! There was not a person in the theatre who wasn’t smiling, and clapping along with the music, and the standing ovation at the end of the show was a real indication of the support of this community.

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