Any More Legroom?

Any More Legroom? by JMUpstart Dance Company starts under a soft green light, into which enter the girls with shiny green apples. Weaving around each other, playful and light-footed, it feels natural and organic. However, Eve, the title of this first piece, ironically hints that all may not remain well in Paradise.

There are eight parts to Any More Legroom? - five dances and three short films - and the dancers strive to retain a flowing rhythm throughout. Solos become duets which intertwine with dancing in unison and this ever changing construction is interesting to watch.

This episodic performance lets the company explore a range of emotions however, at times it feels frustrating as the dancers clearly have more energy to use but they are containing themselves to fit into the space. Perhaps the title Any More Legroom? is more of a plea than first thought.

On occasions the company break the boundary between stage and audience to great effect. At one point the girls climb a ladder to fix spotlights across the room, including one above the audience. What follows is an intimate discovery of what it means to be on stage as one girl slowly bathes in the light. The audience is involved too - where before we were hidden in the dark, we are now brazenly exposed as the light is swung above our heads, lighting up our faces, one after another.

Any More Legroom? is an interesting collection of pieces by the company from Liverpool John Moores University, but lacking energy and a cohesive narrative, it is not yet complete.