OneTouch Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness, 6 October 2009

‘WHAT if I found her in a letter?’ says Michael Sherin early on in this intimate, intricately crafted work choreographed by Christine Devaney for her company, Curious Seed, and described by her as ‘dance theatre with a living soundtrack’.

The letter is not addressed to him, but he reads it – that is the seed from which the narrative of the piece emerges. Clad in chinos and a poplin shirt, Sherin doesn’t look very much like a dancer but his unexpected grace and quality of focused stillness make him the perfect partner for the restless, elfin Devaney.

Dancers Christine Devaney and Michael Sherrin from Curious Seed

Whether curled into a foetal position, thumb towards mouth, moving sinuously across the stage, or scuttling sharply backwards like a startled crab, her movements flow naturally, effortlessly – the delusion that dance strives to spread. Ars celare artem… the art is to conceal the art.

Are the dancers responding to the music or is it responding to them? Impossible to tell. Musicians Luke Sutherland and Jer Reid are playing live, always watching the dancers, acting as a bridge between audience and performers. Sutherland and Reid’s music and Devaney’s choreography evolved together in a series of joint improvisations, some lasting for hours.

The difference this complete collaboration, this living soundtrack, makes to the work produced is a revelation. All the elements on stage – the projected images of a blossoming cherry tree, danced movements, created sound – make one indivisible, interwoven whole.

Elements repeat in flexible, fractal patterns that are only dimly understood by the brain but make total sense to the heart. No wonder this show won a Fringe First during its Dance Base run – it’s beautiful, beguiling, engaging, unique. What a shame the OneTouch was barely half-full.

© Jennie Macfie, 2009

Links

• Curious Seed
• Jennie Macfie