This was the last of the Dance Base medley of choreographers that I caught and, by far, the most exhilarating.
The eccentric Jem Treays opens the program with Walkie Talkie, just as much an exploration of sound as it is of dance. His movements are a bit spastic and in no way graceful, but for some reason, you cant take your eyes off him.
Janis Claxton follows with the stunning, Blue. Through movement (and a few well known songs), she tells the story of every woman, every inch of her body reflecting the strength, power and sadness that can come with the package. It is an honest and completely relatable performance.
The final piece is the Norman Douglas Companys To Have and to Hold. This is, by far, the best of everything Dance Base has had to offer this Fringe. It starts off interactive and fun, eventually evolving into something violent and haunting. It is clear that Norman Douglas is fearless and has no problem taking a chance. He has uncovered something that is very exciting here. To Have and to Hold is one of the most creative works of dance that Ive seen on either side of the Atlantic in a long time.
