Dance Base in Your Face

 

Aurora Borealis by Edinburgh’s Lazzi was sublime. Possibly because of two magnetic performances from Charlotte Jarvis and Clive Nicholas Andrews, David Johnstone’s attempt to recreate the experience of flying through the Northern Lights became a beautiful, subtle metaphor for the intrusion of the spiritual into the mundane. At first, each character is isolated, ignoring each other, caught up by internal concerns; when the Borealis appear, they are re-integrated, ecstatic, connected.

Most remarkably, Johnstone avoids any illustration of the lights – the bare stage and natural daylight provide a neutral setting. Perhaps more physical theatre than pure dance, Aurora Borealis is hopeful and honest.

In the Heads Up section, Sue Hawksley offered a minimalist solo that suggested ancient hieroglyphs, fervent prayer and the battle between desolation and consolation. Once again, this was something quite special: using music by Bach and Eno, Hawksley captured an abstract melancholy and a repressed hopefulness. It was also pure dance – strong technique, tightly choreographed, precise in intention and thoughtful.

Much has been made of the loss of Aurora Nova, but Dance Base – along with the Zoo venues – more than made up for its absence. Most excitingly, the programme gave space to our local artists – and it was thrilling to realise that they are competing with the best.