Youngsters Release the Rhythm

Over 60 youngsters from the Axminster School of Dance and Bridport schemes KidsART and artZONE, run by Nikki Northover and colleagues, took to the stage for this collaboration of work developed from their lessons and workshops.

Produced and choreographed by Nikki with creative input from the dancers and guest choreographers this was a fantastically entertaining evening of dance that at various times had the audience gasping and applauding in wonderment with more than a few uttered "wow"s.

Dances ranged from the stunningly moving and balletic to fast paced jazz and tap, with anything from one to 30 or more youngsters on stage at any one time.

There were amazing shapes and movement from the seniors in their jazz and freestyle pieces and fun pieces from the middle classes including a particularly entertaining Hopscotch piece by the Axminster drama group based on playground games.

Interpretative pieces included a couple by the talented and confident Rosa Van Hensbergen and Tess Bide based on text from a Midsummer Night's Dream and King Lear with lines spoken as well as movement. In the first singers from Anna's Apple, a harmony group of vocal talent featuring some of the area's best singers, joined in from the rafters with a beautiful contribution to the piece.

And their songs later on in the programme brought the house down with Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror and the toe tapping Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, both arranged by tutor Sammy Hurden.

With over 26 very different pieces on display it was hard to pick out favourites, but Pulse Reaction featuring Natalie Leppard and Paris Halkes Wellstead showed off superb skill and strength with fast spins and lifts passing by in a blur.

And just when you thought the level of talent couldn't rise any more guest performers Emma Parsons, Greg Bernstein and Chrissy Brown from the West London School of Dance, came along too. Their pieces included Fusion involving different forms of dance and the highly entertaining Copycat with two tap dancers trying to out do each other.

There was also a delightful piece featuring local young musician and singer Douglas Dare accompanying Parsons.

Highlights of the night also included 86,400 Seconds featuring the death defying' aerial work of Lucy Bell, Julio Guarita and Rosa Van Hensbergen as dawn, the moon and the sun set to the hauntingly clever sound effects and music of composer Andrew Dickson.

Instead of a usual trapeze arrangement the trio were using nets supplied by Huck Nets for a clever piece which started off slowly before gradually building up to the stunts including a heart in mouth fall from the heavens for Guarita.

Overall Release The Rhythm was a superb display of invention, movement and music which has to be as good as any other dance show you could see, professional or otherwise.

Looking along the lines of dancers and performers it is clear how fortunate we are to have such pool of a young talent in this area. Another outstanding show from Nikki and the creative team of Zoe Buttling, Sammy Hurden, Layla Rosa, Andrew Dickson, Niki McCretton, Xavi Monreal and Josei Waterson.

DANCERS: Rosie Anderson, Melissa Baksh, Tabitha Barnes Harris, Tilly Barnes Harris, Minna Bates, Emily Beaton, Lucy Bell, Rachel Bennett, Tess Bide, Catherine Butler, Meredith Chamen, Jack Chamen, Rachel Clarke, Ellie Cox, Lizzie Crabb, Shannon Cross, Celia Cruwys Finnigan, Robyn Cummings, Hannah Dale, Molly Ellis, Holly Froy, Julio Guarita, Paris Halkes Wellstead, Tilly Hawthorne, Amba Hudson Skye, Dominic Huxley, Tilly Jeune, Grace Keeler, Natalie Leppard, Cat Lowndes, Emerald McGregor, Alexandra Mcstea, Emily Meech, Isla Mellor, Katrina Millar, Lydia Millar, Isabel Mullen, Yasmin Neylan, Harry Poole, Annie Pownall, Marina Renee, Lucy Sargeant, Harriet Secrett, Elizabeth Shaw, Mia Shurey, Isobel Sally, Charlie Souter Phillips, Chloe Stratta, Polly Sutcliffe, Beth Thame, Connie Treves, Martha Treves, Alice Tuck, Ella Tuck, Lizzie Upton, Rosa Van Hensbergen, Esmerelda Voegle Downing, Josie Waterson, Rebecca Whaley, Leila Whitney, Saskia Wood, Chloe Wood, and Megan Wood.

SINGERS: Georgia Collins, Dougles Dare, Chloe Stratta, Laura Dennis, Emma Dixon, Rebecca Whaley, Natalie Gale, Grace Hancock and Christina Cheyne.