Fringe review: Embers
A story of longing and love that caters for newcomers and hardened dance afficionados. ★★★★★
This moment of contemplation from Tussock Dance Theater, presented as part of Taiwan Wave, is a stunningly beautiful dance duet. Deceptively simple (the only props are a chair and some clothing that the two dancers peel on and off), it is presented on the floor of the Dom Polski rather than raised up on a stage. This may have be dictated by the room’s restrictions rather than a purely artistic choice, but it adds much to the performance: rather than peering up at the dancers, we are on their level as they move from dark to light and back again.
Tussock’s artistic director Chien-Wei Wu’s choreography makes particularly effective use of stillness. There’s intent in the pause; control, space, room to breathe, particularly when one dancer watches the other perform a solo movement. A joyful pas de deux ignites the whole piece, both dancers so well-matched that even their breathing is in sync as they explore space with their bodies and move as one. It’s surprisingly emotional: according to Wu, Embers is about “the warmth that remains after the fire has been extinguished, showing that within the remnants loss turns into understanding.” But of course, dance allows us to create our own versions of the stories in front of us. More simply, it could just be about love, loss and longing. It’s your choice, but what’s not up for debate is the emotional connection this piece creates with its audience while still remaining accessible. Even if you don’t consider yourself a fan of dance, this beautiful show is worthy of your time.
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Embers is playing at The Garage International at Dom Polski from February 25 – March 7
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