‘Seven Beats’ dance

Press, 6 March 1984, Page 8

‘Seven Beats’ dance

“Seven Beats to the Barre,” choreography by Sally Stopforth. At the Southern Ballet Theatre, Monday, March 5. Running time: 8 pan. to 9.15 pan. Reviewed by John Farnsworth.

In spite of uninformative programme notes, “Seven Beats to the Barre” appears to be a young Wellington company. Whatever their background, some of their work certainly has the tentative feel of a group still finding its way. The four-woman company

performs modern dance (although a strongly classical technique often peeps through), to taped ana live music, usually with a minimum of sets, props and costume.

In the first half, the strongest item was “Little Snacks Big Slacks,” where the central character was tormented, sometimes amusingly, by three idealised female stereotypes of figure, beauty and femininity. The piece picked up the smoothness of Milt

Jackson’s jazz nicely, particularly in the last section.

However, it also highlighted a lack of edge and involvement in surrounding numbers, such as Grace Jones’s song, “Jamaican Guy.” With more stage experience and growing confidence in choreography, the company has the ability to buila on sound ideas and technique and develop a strong sense of their own style and personality.