Nederlands Dans Theater 2, Theatre Royal

May 30 2007 By The Evening Chronicle

Nederlands Dans Theater 2. Sleepless, Sleight of Hand, Chapeau, Theatre Royal, Newcastle

Something in the synchronised movement, the amazing strength of their bodies and the concentration in their faces makes watching contemporary dancers a riveting experience.

Seeing the young dancers of Nederlands Dans Theater 2, in particular, is enough to make you quake with surprise, fright or laughter at what humans, simply moving together, can accomplish.

In bleak dance Sleepless, the dancers seemed to levitate through long slits in a white screen, suspended by unseen forces.

These invisible influences were of course other dancers hidden behind the screen, but the effect was still startling.

Initially the trickery made the audience chuckle, but this was quickly replaced by a feeling of mystery.

Adding to this, the stark lighting created shadows that seemed almost not to belong to the dancers, and heightened the suspenseful and strange atmosphere.

It is impossible to mention the excellent Sleight of Hand without talking about the two imposing (and again strange) figures that dominated the stage - two dancers positioned on very high platforms, wearing floor-length costumes took on the appearance of monstrously tall people. Like some Gothic nightmare, the work was a tutorial in how to make people feel uneasy.

Unusually, the dancers used their faces as well as bodies - grimacing in frightening silent screams. All were clothed in funeral black, and dancers emerged spookily out of the orchestra pit like coffin bearers, giving the audience a real jolt.

The final piece, Chapeau, which was created to celebrate the 25-year jubilee of Holland's Queen Beatrix, was suitably extravagant and entertaining.

The costumes featured lavish gold skirts and colourful hats which were used to great effect to create visual jokes, accompanied by amusing Prince songs. The result was at once surreal and fun.

The whole night was one in which NDT2 played with the audience's perspectives.

There were secret elements to each dance, and moments throughout to make the audience gasp.

Set to return to Newcastle in two years time, it will be exciting to see what the company can create to astonish us next.