one4review | On 10, Aug 2016

Éowyn Emerald and Dancers are a small, but select, troupe of four, 2 female and 2 male dancers, from Portland, Oregon. They present a programme of 6 dances, all short pieces, in this small and intimate venue.

The dances cover a number of themes and emotions. Love, seduction, jealousy and intimacy are explored with some beautifully graceful choreography, by Éowyn Emerald Barrett . Music and lighting are utilised to great effect (including the ubiquitous Alt-J, whose music I’ve heard everywhere this year, it seems!). Costumes are simple, but work well. Lighting effects which made costumes appear to change colour added interest in the opening dance.

The quality of the dancing, however, renders any such gimmickry superfluous. Although the performance is a contemporary piece, there were many elements of a solid classical technique on show. Strong performances from all four of the dancers made the minutes fly by, and the end came all too quickly.

Reviewed by Shiona

Greenside @ Royal Terrace (Venue 231) – 1b Royal Terrace
5-27 August 13:50 (50min)