REVIEW

CHOREOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY - DANCING WITH DARKNESS

BRIDPORT YOUTH DANCE 

CHAPEL HILL, ABBOTSBURY

THE relationship between light and darkness in a changing world was explored in a dance production in Abbotsbury. 

Dancing with Darkness was created by Nikki Northover and Bridport Youth Dance.

The production was rich and multi layered, with beautiful music and costume honouring the space; its history, its backdrop, creating a unique experience for all the dancers and audience.

The experience felt spiritual, remembering the setting's history; truly life affirming.

Sold out on both evenings; Saturday, a breathtaking sun drenched experience ending in a sunset and Sunday, swathed in a warm and eerie mist, giving a very different experience.

The audience were immersed in the landscape, absorbing its energy, connecting to its history and witnessing the emotion and commitment from every single young person in the performance.

It was inspirational, illustrating the power of art, dance and music in the landscape. This creation a huge testament to the vision and artistry of Nikki Northover, Aimee Symes and Claire Benson.

The story began under an ancient plane tree, with Louis Donovan, playing Orion, the Caretaker of the Spirit world, introducing Nyra, Queen of Light, played by Izzy Cox. Both performers, strong, slow, presenting moving imagery, beautifully carving the landscape and setting the scene.

Robin Moss, the narrator, took us on a journey, from the ancient tree, to water spirits improvising in the river. The animal puppets set beautifully in the landscape, for audience members to witness as they move past.

The performers are staged in the natural environment. The audience were led to a grassy bank and settled here for a section of choreography mirroring the water.

Orion then invites the “Human”, played by Charlie Green from amongst the audience. Charlie interacts beautifully with this magical world, representing the human footprint, journey and struggle between light and dark.

Here Charlie and Orion dance with Nyra, the light and nature spirits, where Charlie becomes overwhelmed and a responsive duet with Nyra begins to revive him. Nyra’s faithful companion Zyon, the lion, gently begins to move in the background with the nature spirits.

The sound of wolves can be heard in the distance, as Charlie alerts the audience to look at the darkness and the wolves traversing down the steep sections of the hill. The audience are led across the landscape, to an improvisation with feathers, making reference to the prolific bird life around the site and Abbotsbury Swannery over the hill.

Initially the choreography explored the relationship between Charlie, Orion and Nyra but then the darkness is introduced, played by Queen of Darkness, Amber Palfreyman. Her performance is bewitching, powerful, articulate and athletic, with her menacing cast of wolves, introducing their power at the foot of the hill.

The initial scene set, the audience are led by the musicians, Andrew Dickson and Theo Sudbury-Slight through a magical world of puppet installations, created by Holly Miller, immersed in the geology of Abbotsbury’s ancient site.

The audience are met at the bottom of Chapel Hill by the “Light”, Nyra, who with the cast of nature spirits, animals and Zyon, begin their journey up the hill.

The choreography builds with the relationship between the light and the darkness. The duets by Amber and Louis, creating breathtaking lifts, menacing and powerful interactions, setting the scene for what is ahead.

Orion summons the ancient rocks from the walls behind him and through the choreography casts the Queen of darkness away. Robin Moss poetically narrates midway up the hill, making reference to the cycle of life and balance of the natural world, preparing the audience for the gradual climax of the next section of the show.

The scene is set for Charlie to explore the darkness with the cast, exploring dark, powerful meaningful shapes and energetic choreography. His energy becomes overwhelmed by the darkness, as he is driven by the Queen and her wolves from the scene, running up Chapel Hill, leading the audience with the echo of the darkness in the shadows. The Queen of Darkness and her wolves, creating beautiful vignettes and improvisations in the stunning backdrop.

By the Chapel on the hill, Zyon is protected by the cast. However, he is overcome by the darkness, and Zyon is slain by Henry O’Dwyer, the lead wolf. Through deeply moving choreography the lion is revived by the mourning cast and the magical solo of Louis framed by a sunset backdrop by the St. Catherines Chapel, historically a place of pilgrimage and retreat.

The performance builds as the darkness tries to again overcome the light, the Queen of Darkness and the wolves being blocked, the choreography building in dramatic lifts, as the audience is led to the hilltop overlooking Chesil Beach and the sea.

Bridport Youth Dance complete this wonderful show with choreography beautifully crafted in body shape, movement motifs, against the panoramic backdrop, honouring the space, the sea and each other. The wolves and the darkness pass through the cast melting into the distance, overcome by the power of the light.

The show was visceral and deeply moving. It felt like a dose of medicine, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Thank you to all for creating such an awesome and memorable experience.

Choreography Geography was supported by Arts Council England, Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Dorset Council, Bridport Council and Groves Nurseries.