Dance 

Words: Trudy Lynn 

4 Stars 

Kat Radeva dances alone surrounded by the audience. As she states in voice overs,  she’s dancing for herself not for us, to give her own body permission, shimmying off societal expectations and allowing herself the joy of movement. And yet, of course, it’s also still designed for an audience – with voice notes acting as explainers, played  to everybody in the round, surtitles on screens either side, lots of nods and winks and smiles as we watch. It’s a well-balanced, well-structured show that plays homage to younger versions of Kat dancing alone without any untoward self indulgence. 

But indulgence is, in part, the order of the day. Kat speaks to the movement of  woman learning to live with their real selves. She starts frenetically with an  exhausting track of ‘play nice, work hard’ showing the expectations upon her and she  talks about the migrant experience of being here to work. In the last few years, she’s learnt to be and to enjoy and, in doing so, spreads that joy. She flows through her last track. Between, she rails against boxes and being told what to do and who to be. 

Some of the audience were dancing in their seats, one mouthing along to Eurythmics. Others seemed unsure what to make of it. But this performance does what it says on the poster and does it well. A love of dance is the centre; it is imperfect on purpose. Kat’s charisma and vulnerability carries it well as she vibrantly dances through the middle of her life. 

40/40
Studio 3 at Assembly Dance Base 
14:30
18-23 Aug