© place Place Prize 2008 reviews all Place Prize reviews Place website: http://www.theplace.org.uk Aletta Collins reviews Adam Linder reviews Simon Ellis reviews Anna Williams reviews Dam Van Huynh reviews more Emma Stevenson reviews Discuss this review (Open for at least 6 months)

Friday night was a rowdy affair with two rows of frizzy-haired teeny boppers squealing and laughing at inappropriate times, but still the vibe was high. Aletta Collins' piece, 'Lap Dancer' opened the night; a striking monochrome affair depicting a woman’s online life with her laptop. The piece was demanding with sharp, fast, jagged movements to a computer voiceover ranting repeatedly about discounts on prescription glasses, battery power remaining and winning bids on Ebay. Whilst this sensory overload was effective initially, the pace and voice overs got too much and I personally became dulled to them after a while. After the brief change of pace in the middle of the piece, I was waiting for something different in the second half but it never came. Still, technically and design-wise it was sharp and thematically on the beat of society today.

Adam Linder’s 'Foie Gras' followed, an abstract piece depicting the pressures and expectations of society. Credit must go to the two dancers, the lanky-moving Adam Linder and extreme Lorena Randi, who put 120% effort into their performances throughout making it arresting to watch. Despite the piece being too surreal for me and much of it being lost on the audience, I did get the sense of being buffetted by society's winds. Also extremely effective were their stringed costumes and props used, including the ‘permanent smile’ gained after delving into their Happy Meals. Unfortunately, the ending was an unsatisying fade-out, losing the energy they had worked so hard to maintain throughout.

Adam Linder's Foie Gras
© Benedict Johnson

Up next was 'Gertrud', Simon Ellis’ biographical documentary-style piece based around the late choreographer, Gertrud Bodenwieser. Technically it was brilliant with excellent use of lighting, special effects and voice overs, but it was lacking in movement and failed to keep my attention. Profound themes around death and identity were reflected upon but by the end I was left with a feeling of dissatisfaction. Upon reflection I thought perhaps this was because the story being told meant a lot more to Simon Ellis than it ever would to me as an audience member.

After the interval, Anna Williams' 'Clearing' brought a fresh breeze, being a movement piece of touching simplicity and nakedness. An exploration of an intriguing relationship between two women, there was just the right mix of tension and release which we hadn’t been presented with up until this piece. The choreography and connection between Petra Soor and Hannah Shepherd was beautiful, but I couldn’t help thinking that the piece would have been greatly enhanced with more effective use of lighting. Overall though my faith in how much pure movement can convey was reaffirmed.

Petra Soor and Hannah Shepherd in Anna Williams' Clearing
© Benedict Johnson

Finally, the night ended with Dam Van Huynh’s 'Collision' which really took the night to a whole new level. When the three buff men walked on stage in trunks, it was clear we were going to get what was promised – an exploration of the male torso! Gritty, sensual and masculine, the piece was pumping with energy, well-paced and tightly constructed. It was evident that the three performers, all from Phoenix Dance Theatre, were professional dancers and had worked together before. All the elements were there including fantastic lighting which enhanced the sweaty-muscles-effect and an on-stage electronic musician who was really like the fourth dancer. This professional piece was engaging and entertaining from start to end and again won the audience's vote by leaps and bounds.

Audience results
Audience members voted for the favourite work. The following is the percentage vote across the whole audience. My own rating out of five is in parentheses.

1) 'Lap Dancer' – Aletta Collins 14.6% (3)
2) 'Foie Gras' – Adam Linder 6.8% (3)
3) 'Gertrud' – Simon Ellis 9.9% (2)
4) 'Clearing' – Anna Williams 15.6% (4)
5) 'Collision' – Dam Van Huynh 53.1% (4)