Georgina Campbell enjoys a cocktail of dance delights in a dance experience which focused on women's work
WOMEN GOlive was a hypnotising dream that celebrated women's talents in the dance world.
Cast aside were the stereotypes that every female dancer has to be pint-sized, with even smaller costumes and wearing enough make up for five people.
The performers were a breath of fresh air, showing that any woman, from any background and of any age could be a star.
Ffin Dance were electric as the quartet danced to some of the most haunting songs from Björk’s recording Medúlla.
Their energy never faded with a routine full of lifts and interchanging relationships.
The fluidity of their movements set against the atmospheric track kept the hairs on the back of your neck standing and the goosebumps raised on your arm throughout their set.
On a lighter note dance diva and celebrity movement guru, Aliki Mbakoyianni, had the audience's sides splitting.
For once she was not dancing and her lectures to the audience ignited a myriad of emotions – mostly happiness and laughter.
Speaking on the gender dynamics in dance Aliki was passionate vivacious and the best show thrower I have ever seen.
Another memorable performance came in the form of Sarah Kent.
In her improvisation she dredged up sparkling gems of transgressive wisdom for our delectation.
The collaboration between choreographers Roosa Leimu-Brown and Anja Meinhardt saw a beautiful mix of individual styles, movement and background come together in a lyrical and dynamic sequence.
The Old Fire Station, in George Street, was the perfect venue to host the festival – it was unassuming and allowed the dancers to do all the talking.
The festival was a cocktail of dance delights which I would happily sample again, but then you would expect nothing less from dance critic, Donald Hutera.
He has gathered all the gems from outside the mainstream and brought them together to form an emotional festival that will move you more than the chorus in Les Miserables.
The four-day-event is set to return to Oxford's stage next year, where we will be waiting in the front row.
GEORGINA CAMPBELL 5/5
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