TWELVE: Going The Distance
New York choreographer Marisa F Ballaro makes a strong Edinburgh debut with TWELVE: Going The Distance, staged inside a boxing gym and following five women through twelve rounds of shifting rivalry and alliance. The mix of pounding beats and sweeping strings work alongside abstracted depictions of familiar boxing tropes to ensure you feel the struggle, sweat and swings of the sport. A standout moment comes when the dancers use elasticated ropes to create the ring, both a visually striking image and a clever depiction of trust as they all rely on each other to hold the lines taut.
At 47 minutes, it doesn't outstay its welcome: this is confident, character-driven dance-theatre performed with real commitment by its cast - a promising first Fringe outing worth catching if you can.
★★★★
