Company C of Short+Sweet dance continues the exciting season with twelve more short works. Overall there was some very interesting work, but I found several of the pieces unclear and perhaps in  need of more development and polishing .

The opening work however Joseph Simon’s ‘String ‘ was magnificent , a short black and white film where Simon’s is caught in string. He uses angular yet liquid movement to stretch and try and escape but is still tied. How does string affect the body?  Facial expression and tiny subtle changes in skin texture and layers are important.

.Another of my favourites was ‘/Lu:p/’ choreographed and performed by Rosslyn Wythes. It was full of cool pure movement lustrously performed . Choreographically there was an elongated stretched feel and some marvellous jumps. Small repeated movements were taken and expanded.

Gemma Dawkin’s ‘Vanishing point’ was set in a futuristic viewing tower and featured some unusual side lifts and partnering, with a possible Cunningham style influence. It was as if the three were swimmers in their own lanes in a swimming pool, not really interconnecting, and living their parallel lives.

Hayley Raw’s ‘No I would Never’ included speech and was a brilliant ,luminous performance .It was very expressive yet there was a sense of massive control the whole time.  It was angular yet liquid and there was rolling floorwork.

‘The Fear Of ‘, an audience favourite, choreographed by Jessica Young was about phobias and had the dancers dressed as Gothicky vampires and mysteriously moving in and out of a large clear box.  Some of the choreography was frenzied and there was a great mini solo or two.Emphasis was placed on the use of a very flexible back . Tap dancing was also included .

‘Salt’ choreographed and performed by Brianna Kell and Alexandra Andrews had a pulsating throbbing soundtrack and was Butoh influenced I think.It opened with the performers  in the half light pouring salt .There was lots of interesting floor work , with strong arms as if the dancers were  reaching towards the light.

‘ We Step’ choreographed by Jodie Ewing began with tentative first steps and developed  to explosive movement  it was all about balance and stretching towards the light ending with one of the group reaching towards the stars .

For Matthew Mizyed’s ‘September‘ the cast had a dark Goth look to its beeping, humming soundtrack. The unison choreography was  rippling and there were sinuous repeated phrases of movement. Most impressive .

‘May I Please ?‘choreographed by Courtney Scheu and wickedly performed by Mariana Paraizo was a wonderful short piece but a diabetic’s nightmare about a dancers   obsession with a seemingly endless supply of jellybeans. Curved,small, repeated phrases of movement were used . At one point the huge pile of jellybeans become a pillow, at another Paraizo makes ‘snow angels’ with them. At times Paraziao ‘s movement was almost robotic but this was countered with a balletic Sugar-plum like fury  and she sizzled with a  glorious sweeping line .

The final work ‘Swingdancin’’ choreographed by Natasha Crane , with its enormous, exuberant cast in black and white costumes , radiating energy !energy! energy! in its medley of dance styles combining showbiz/musical, swing and jazz , sent the audience home delighted .

Short and Sweet Dance Company C was at the New Theatre 29th & 30th Jan 2014

Running time 2 hours (approx) including interval