The audition only youth company has grown and nurtured enthusiatic young talent for over 10years. I’ve had the pleasure of watching the company grow from it’s promising beginnings, to the utter astounding growth to one of the leading youth companies in the West Midlands, if not further. Before seeing the main productions of ‘Limits’ we were treated to performances from the feeder groups:
Flexus Progression Company
Flexus Foundation Company
Flexus Street

Limits: Choreographed by Katy Dowson

I was eager to see how they would top their previous productions, this is by far their best work to date. Emotional, risky, energetic and thoroughly committed by all dancers. It is plain to see that dance is running through each individuals veins. The set looks simple but no doubt had it’s many challenges, a cube structure in the centre of the space, which homed the dancers for the first part of the piece. The use of voice/words, really channeled the cubes restrictions/claustophobic feelings upon the dancers. Highly emotional, erie moments that exploded with frustration which, gave a real sense of wanting to break out.

As the piece progressed, gorgeous unison moments, which contained scrumptious minimal movement with the breath flowing through, to the set being climbed all over and contact lifts that would rival many professional companies. To the final break out of the cube where the performance took a turn into something rather refreshing: Humour. I have come to know the company as a gritty, forceful nature and at times quite serious with their type of movement and expression. I was exceptionally suprised that they pushed themselves as perfomers using comedy, they pulled it off. The only part I feel maybe didn’t work aswell, was the use of humming/singing. It did create a deep yearning and sadness but this perhaps went on too long and became predictable, maybe because of the use of it in other works. However, an argument here is that it could be seen as a trade mark!

The lighting throughout was quite simple but effective and their use of pulling the cube apart integrated within their piece was clever. What is nice about the company is that you are able to see all the dancers, they all have moments to shine and to play on their strengths. The company works as a unit, it is evident they work well together and the level of trust is plain to see. Katy Dowson is extremely knowledable and supportive in giving her company members opportunties in choreography, administration, leadership and and co-ordination skills to help dancers understand the work needed to put on a tour.

Here at BCDH we celebrate and acknowledge a wonderful hard working youth company and the roots they are planting to help the high quality expectations and attainability that is possible within the realm of youth dance.
Jodie Stus – BCDH Walsall Contact