The theatre is a black box setting and is filled with the sound of plaintive strings. The first set, Haec Mulier, is based on a short story and tells “…of a woman wresting with heartache who finds solace in the people around her.”
I tried to find out the source of this story and the closest I could get on Google was a reference to “a true man and true woman”. Whether or not my search is accurate, the piece was beautifully executed by the 5 barefoot dancers. To perfect music for the piece by Abel Korzeniowski and James Newton Howard, and with poise, skill, balance and perfect timing the young women played different ways of supporting in sorority. It was hypnotic, poignant and graceful.
The second set, The Iron Cage, shows the limitations of human potential to strive within societal rules. With a slight change of line up and an extra dancer on stage, this piece was danced to the harsher more sounds techno in the music of Modeselektor, If these Trees could talk , Christopher Young and Explosions in the Sky.
This was a powerful and very physical piece showing strength, despair, tension, dynamics, conflict and of course a sense of being trapped. The dancers showed this through expressive mechanical and robotic moves that were part of the inventive choreography. Without wanting to take away from any of these able young performers, special mention should go to Julie McNamee for her surefooted expressiveness and to Alex Russell for her particular poise and assuredness in the dance.
This is Shaded Voice Dance Company’s second visit to Edinburgh, having made their debut last year. They return this year with two new works mentioned above, Haec Mulier and The Iron Cage. The Company was formed in September 2008 by Middlesex University graduates Liz How, Louise Kelsey and Jenni Lau who got together to create and perform original contemporary dance work.
Some music between each half would have been helpful, but over all this is a tight ensemble of serious young dancers who are worth seeing and encouraging.
Show times
9-14 August, 4pm
Ticket prices
£7, £5 (concessions)