Heads Up!
A daily diet of Tepsichorean treats comes from Dance Base
Turning up at Dance Base to see Heads Up is a gamble; you never know what you’re going to get on the bill. However, what you can guarantee is an exciting, if unusual afternoon’s entertainment.
Nothing exemplifies this more than the late addition to Wednesday 19th’s program of Movin’ Melvin Brown, a tap dancer found busking in the Grassmarket and snatched up for an impromptu appearance. Grinning with obvious joy, he sang I Got A Woman by Ray Charles, in husky tones whilst treating the audience to American old style ta
Diversity is a clear benefit of seeing such a show, as Movin’ Melvin was quickly followed by Anwesha Ahmed, a Manipuri dancer fresh from India. This ancient, traditional dance was both sensuous and playful as she spun and stamped, her traditional costume glittering in the ligh
From the ancient and traditional to the contemporary, the next pieces contrasted strongly, perhaps most of all Harriet McAuley’s innovative modern dance piece. With obvious technical ability, she jerked, twisted and stretched her body, to the soundtrack of the speech of a critic, questioning her choreography, asking her to perform something more African. Despite the short time allotted, her provocative set managed to raise issues of race and identity both sensitively and inventively.
The program ended on a rather lighter note, first of all with Alex Broadie’s All Ends in Tears. This animated fight-dance piece starts off as playful and humourous but progresses into a slightly sinister piece of dance manipulation. The final piece, Steve Johnstone’s I’ve Been Waiting, explores the desire to impress those around you. Though rather less technically assured, the soundtrack of lo-fi indie artist Fink established a beautiful, wistful air, whilst the dramatic movement created interesting relationships between the dancers, which ended in an expressive climax with the previously discordant dancers moving in harmon
These tantalising snippets from diverse dance shows at the Fringe should prove ample appetizers for dance aficionados looking for inspiration.