Dance at the Union

Impulse Dance Theatre

"The programme will contain a selection from the repertoire below". There were twenty four pieces then listed in the programme, each of which had various relevant details as to choreography, music, and the dancers involved.

First we got "Suite For Five", a piece which was choreographed by Jamie Bull to Bo Hans-son's "Lord of the Rings", and involved all the dancers. In the biographical notes Bull states: "My initial career as a Physical Educationalist still influences my life, be it in the pursuit of out door activities in my spare time, or the source of movement for some of my choreography". The P.E. side of things was too apparent in this piece which, while it started well, went on too long.

"...of a Feather" was choreographed by Paul Jenden with music by Bocherini, and while the "Owls" Genden and Bull, and "Flamingo" Debbie Groves were good, the Pengiuns, Liz Davey and Alison Gray were superb: best entertainment of the evening. I think Bocherini could has been dispensed with in this piece and the dance would not have suffered.

"Schmultz" was a rendering in movement of the Nilsson song: "I wonder who's kissing her now?" It featured fine choreography by Peter Robinson, and was danced with just the right feeling by Paul Jenden and Debbie Groves.

"O.K. Eliot, So Let's Go" was T S. Eliot's, poem "The Hollow Men" in dance. That, plus "Room 47" and "Dunedin: Weather or Not" were very nearly as impressive as "...Of a Feather"

It was unclear as to which others in the programme were performed but the rest were not as entertaining as the dances mentioned. There was some talking off-stage which was audible to the audience, and some of the mirror-image dancing had certain not-so-mirror passages.

But, overall, well done Impulse; I like your art, keep it up.

—Bruce Alcorn