The Emergence tour hit the Riley Theatre on Saturday night, bringing a fresh triple bill from the postgraduate dance company of Joss Arnott Dance and the University of Salford.
With 20 dancers on stage and a mix of choreographic voices, it was an evening full of energy, ambition and some striking moments of creativity.
The night kicked off with CHIMERA by Sofia Nappi, a piece inspired by the mythological creature – part lion, part goat, part snake. Nappi took that idea and applied it to the diverse cast, weaving together their different personalities and backgrounds into a single, unified work.
There were some really lovely moments where individuality came through and the dancers clearly connected with the material. At times, the structure felt a little loose, but there was a sense of playfulness behind the piece that were revealed and a sense of community that built up by the end.
Next up was 153 8s by Sarah Golding and Yukiko Masui (SAY), a playful, punchy work built like a music album, with each section acting like a different track. This one had loads of energy and personality. The dancers got to show off their own styles, and the shifts in tone, from explosive to tender, kept things interesting. While a few transitions felt a bit jarring, overall, it was a fun, rhythm-driven piece that the rest of the audience seemed to really enjoy, as did I.
The final work, titled Euphoria, came from choreographer Joss Arnott, assisted by Lisa Marie Robinson. This was the longest piece of the three and gave many dancers the opportunity to perform solo. The dancers seemed to be having fun and enjoying the piece, which stood out to me. The movements often felt big, bold, and at times, mesmerising.
The music by James Keane was enjoyable and really added to the feel of the piece. Overall, the piece aimed to explore ego and transformation, ending on a high note of release and joy. Some of the storytelling got a little lost in the scale of it all, but the dancers attacked the movement with full commitment, which gave the piece a strong emotional payoff.
Overall, Emergence offered a great showcase for a talented group of emerging dancers. Not everything landed perfectly, but there was no shortage of passion, skill and promise on display. This year’s company clearly has something special, and it’ll be exciting to see where they go next.
