Nederlands Dans Theatre 1

Nederlands Dans Company 1's new triple bill has already received high acclaim throughout the UK. Playing at Edinburgh's Festival Theatre for two performances only, this was one show critics claimed was not to be missed. The foyer was alive and buzzing when the 'one minute to go bell' sounded. With a predominantly experienced audience (dance often attracting an audience of a more mature age), there were few seats to spare. Nederlands Dans Theatre is fast becoming one of Europe's more distinguished companies and the UK tour has been designed to demonstrate this.

Undeniably talented, the eight performers' perfect movements are the brain child of world renowned choreographers Jiri Kylian and Lightfoot Leon. Kylian's opening piece Wings of Wax, involves an enchanted tree falling downwards from the sky, while the dancers perform around it. The clever use of slow shadowing partnered with the eerie movement of the performers presents a gloomy yet beautiful interpretation of Bach and Glass.

Leon's Drawn Onwards involves an enormous door that opens and closes throughout the piece. Through a voiceover containing religious ideas combined with dark and intense movements, themes of battle and struggle are presented. The drawn-out and confrontational choreography adds to the dark atmosphere created throughout the piece.

The production is extremely modern and relevant. The use of simple set design allows the focus to remain on the performers and their exquisite and defined movements. The dancers obviously stem from a classical background but the unique style of choreography allows a more modern approach to dance to emerge. Dance as a performance art can be an extremely interpretive medium but the Nederlands Dans Theatre's new production swiftly guides the mind to the darker side of life.