Contemporary Dance has come a long way over the years, since the first ideas of this new art form came from the trailblazing works of the likes of of Pina Bausch, Isadora Duncan and of course Martha Graham; and indeed its popularity and format have allowed it to not just be a modern expression of ballet, but it now embraces almost all other dance forms too, as well as strong improvisational roots, mime, physical theatre and even gymnastics.
In this evening's offering from local choreographer and company owner Joss Arnott, we were treated to three substantial and very differing pieces of contemporary dance, performed by recent graduates of Salford University, perhaps most of them taking their first professional dance steps this evening.
The company comprised some twenty dancers, and between them they created three beautifully crafted dancescapes. I think the over-riding difference, for me at least, between contemporary dance and contemporary ballet is that in ballet, there is a definite narrative, they tell a story; whereas here, the dances perform ideas, images, reflections, no actual formed narrative, and so we, as audience, are able to seek out our own stories to the dances we see represented before us.
In the first, 'Our Guests' (choreographed by Jason Mabana), we are (from my perspective at least) are taken into an almost nightmarish world of insects - spiders, scorpions etc dressed ominously all in black, two equal sections of the company work in opposition to each other before coming together, their body shapes and jerkish movements make this a most interesting piece, and was simply excellently executed.
The second piece, 'Rapture', (choreography by Faye Stoeser), was again excellently realised, again utilising a lovely mix of full company, ensemble, duet and solo work, to show our modern club culture in all its grimy 'glory'! It was extremely repetitive, perhaps deliberately so, but I had difficulty personally in truly engaging with this work.
After the interval, and the longest of the three pieces was performed, this time choreographed by Joss Arnott and Lisa Marie Robinson. Titled, 'Euphoria', this was a reimagined version of a work that I had previously seen last year, and again, proved most interesting with what could almost be described as a masterclass in Laban: showing us light / heavy, slow/fast, and pointed / smooth with the BESS principles of movement ever-present.
A superb evening of contemporary dance, deftly directed with aplomb from a company which deserves wider acclaim.
Reviewer - Alastair Zyggu
on - 1/5/26
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