Lila Dance Fault Lines @ Appleby Public Hall Sat 10th May 2025
‘A beautiful, faultless performance of modern dance in the old market hall of Appleby’
Contemporary dance is not something that Appleby audiences are treated to often. But Lila Dance’s inspiring performance of Fault Lines, part of Highlights’ Spring Programme, showed how it rightly deserves its place at rural venues.
As we entered, each audience member was greeted warmly by show director and co-choreographer Carrie Whitaker, who had spent the afternoon with the cast and crew making the hall their own. The stage was used for seating, allowing the centre of the hall to be used as the performance space and giving the dancers plenty of room.
After a brief introduction the lights were turned down and the three dancers, Amy Morvell, Madison Burgess and Joe Darby, entered dressed in white. The backdrop was a simple white sheet onto which engaging visuals and text were projected, allowing the audience to understand the storyline clearly and increasing the enjoyment of the spectacle.
We were transported through futuristic settings in which the dancers were faced with life-threatening scenarios that may one day become reality, such as rising water levels and diminishing resources. Simple props were used, including a torch to represent a human heart, but it was the dancers’ remarkable talent, revealed in every minute movement with grace and fluidity, that made the performance so strong and full of meaning.
We were gradually brought back to the present day in a memorable sequence, the dancers humorously portraying the modern government. The performance culminated with an inspiring sense of optimism. Whilst a pre-recorded young voice spoke about the joys of life, the dancers continued their spellbinding movements. I found the way the dancers incorporated the projection of a blossoming tree with shapes formed by their own bodies was mesmerising.
It was a beautiful, faultless performance of modern dance in the old market hall of Appleby and it rightly received a standing ovation. The dancers entranced the audience of young and old, creating a direct connection to individual audience members through eye contact and gestures, offering a unique experience that may not be felt in larger venues.
Following the performance, the cast and crew stayed for a Q and A that offered a fascinating insight into the effort taken to create Fault Lines. Despite having just danced for over an hour without a break, the performers enthusiastically shared their journeys. All of them had studied dance at Chichester University, where Carrie teaches when she is not on tour, and it was evident how much they love what they do and believe in the message they explored through the performance.
It was also lovely to hear the dancers say that they think audiences in rural venues often have a much deeper connection to the themes of the performance. While some audience members might fear ‘not getting it’, Carrie suggested that – like any art – contemporary dance is subjective and it is up to the individual to take away their own interpretation and message. Which made me realise the more we have access to contemporary dance, the more open we can be to interpreting it in a meaningful way.
Review by Katie Laidlow
Katie Laidlow is a student from Cumbria. She is currently part of our Young Promoters Programme, gaining experience in arts journalism and programming.
