The Second Coming @ Tramway
There’s something of the magic of the fairground as the Tramway is transformed into a circus venue for aerial dance company Fidget Feet and Hawk’s Well Theatre’s co-production of The Second Coming.
A visitation from W.B. Yeats, on whose poem the title is based, leads to a series of monologues which are interspersed with Irish dance. Yeats’ words echo in the dance just as the bodhrán echoes the sound of the dancers’ feet during a (prop-less) Stomp-like set showcasing their rhythmic abilities.
At times it feels like an evolution of the dance form. The Fidget Feet dancers shake uncontrollably as another tries to contain and channel them into a recognisable form where dextrous footwork is reminiscent of Spanish Flamenco.
While shoes dance out of control it’s not all high kicks and heel clicks. After a brief glance back to Riverdance one of the dancers breaks the line to be catapulted sky high, curled up spinning then flying, simultaneously rooting the dance in the ground while balancing it in the air.
This gives rise to a number of beautiful aerial moments. One scene sees three performers encased in cloth, emerging like an embryo from an egg, all the while swimming in the air. Circles feature heavily; Conor Delaney’s Yeats speaks of circles and cycles. One dancer traces circles in the air to draw another further into the dance. A helix spins and one dancer is spun around by another in glee.
Fidget Feet have captured the romance of Irish dance while loosening it up and imparting a casual grace. As electronic shadows dance behind their real counterparts, this show is a chance to appreciate the airborne athleticism of the dancers and, moreover, their infectious joy.