Spaces Amongst Us is a discrete set of vignettes set to an unusual range of unnamed music by musicians and sound mixers, Simon Watts and Faolan (Manny) Okan. Each vignette explores ‘the moments that pass us by’ and they are a pleasant way to start my 2020 Auckland Fringe Festival experience. TAPAC’S small and dusty space becomes black box venue for a young group of dance performers; Josh Morris, Manuel Solomon, James Luck, Issie Cassidy, Aeyla Samantha Duncan, Talia Howes, Aimee Edwards, Caleb Heartnell, Jessica Hart and Rebekkah Schoonbek-Berridge.

A smallish house does not distract the motley dancers from their provision – caught in space between each other. In their commitment, they demonstrate a shared sentient gaze and muscling movements that support otherwise overly brief encounters. Oddly dissonant real-time gesture and mime are combined with patchy sequences of contemporary dance and nightclub twirls. What is gained, by juxtaposing space with dance lifts and grips, are genuine moments of tenuous connection.

Spaces Amongst Us unwittingly nods to the 2017 American science fiction film, The Space Between Us, with the link to that key role played in tonight’s event by Caleb Heartnell. Our boyish mover presents a calm and confident demeanour in spite of the incessant interactions of his tormentor James Luck and, at times, Caleb holds the nicest dancing line. Other than a couple of sinuous solos by Aeyla Samantha Duncan, the show presents group work, duets and a triangular trio as the choreographic format. Occasionally, in a  latter duet with Rebekkah Schoonbek-Berridge and Manuel Solomon and the group’s finale, these elements come together as subtler, emotional tone. I am not too sure if I should write much more as there are plenty more reviews to read over the next few weeks. Let’s just say this is an interesting early work exploration that will benefit from further renditions and group rehearsal time.

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