(Pic: Lucy Hind and Dave Toole) A rare insight into physical collaboration through movement. (Review by Caroline Smart)
The day the Laban Centre accepted a young man for a Professional Diploma in Community Dance Studies despite the fact that he had no legs, thus making him severely challenged in the world of movement, was the day Dave Toole was to begin his journey in dance and show the world that anything is possible. All of three foot-two inches, he eventually became a part-time member of CandoCo and went on to major international acclaim by travelling the world with the UK dance troupe DV8. He also impressed viewers and critics alike in the movie, The Cost of Living.
His self-acknowledged greatest fan is Lucy Hind, a former Rhodes University drama graduate, who steeled herself to ask for his autograph after a performance he gave in Manchester. Later they were to work together in The Red Ladder. Since then they have performed their show, Extra-Ordinary, throughout Europe and South African audiences are now privileged to see this production at the National Arts Youth Festival.
Extra-Ordinary is exactly that. Definitely more than “out of the ordinary” - for its performance value; its script; the amusing video presentation that opens the show and - finally, for its emotive value. Emotive in the sense that one cannot fail to be moved by the determination of the creative spirit to find a common “language”, even if physical differences are substantial.
There is a good dramatic element to this dance piece, with Matthew David Scott’s skilfully written script taking the two performers from gauche ballerina wannabee and crusty disillusioned dance personality through a period of self-realisation to one of mutual trust. After the highly amusing sequence in which Lucy Hinds acts as the clumsy and giggly presenter, we get to learn a few home truths about how they feel about each other as they sling insults back and forth – he to get his point across and she to hide the hurt.
When it seems as if an impasse has been reached, he takes control and encourages – nay, insists – that she join him at his level, ie on the floor, chuck out all the standard ballet movements and just learn to “be”. Once she responds effectively, the message is loud and clear: “Alright, you now understand my “language”, let’s dance together!”
The simplest gesture – a pat on the check, a finger to the nose, a nudge to the hand - starts a language of trust as well as one of aching tenderness. At his ground level, she becomes an equal, a consort. With her help, he’s taller and more powerful than she is.
Extra-Ordinary is choreographed by David Toole and Lucy Hind and runs at PJ’s until June 27. – Caroline Smart
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