REVIEW: A PLACE TO DANCE presented by Dance Umbrella at The Place 9 October 2026
‘A kaleidoscopic celebration of rhythm, movement and connection’ ★★★☆☆
A Place to Dance at The Place promises an immersive experience in which “the boundaries between audience and performer dissolve”. Accompanied by drumming from Lucía Martínez and a live soundtrack curated by DJ Oumoukala, Brazilian choreographer Poliana Lima and British flamenco dance artist Yinka Esi Graves draw on their respective heritages to blend contemporary dance, flamenco and Afro-Cuban influences into an intimate display of stamina, chemistry and expressive movement.
The performance begins in a lively, almost rave-like atmosphere, with performers and audience members dancing together in the round. So natural is this interplay that it is initially difficult to distinguish the professional dancers from particularly enthusiastic, free-spirited spectators. This playful ambiguity makes for an exciting opening, immediately challenging the conventions of a traditional theatre performance and establishing a sense of collective freedom.
Yet, as the audience retreats to the sidelines and the performance begins in earnest, this initial sense of immersion gradually gives way to something more introspective. Rather than being governed by any single dance style, the choreography centres on the minutiae of the performers' interactions: their breathing, prolonged eye contact, moments of stillness and alternating improvised and synchronised movements. Their relationship becomes the focal point, with even the smallest gestures acquiring significance.
Lima and Graves are compelling performers, demonstrating remarkable stamina and flexibility throughout. Their movements are often deceptively simple, but their physical control and sustained concentration reveal the skill required to execute them. Particularly engaging is the chemistry between the two dancers, whose exchanges shift between moments of playful spontaneity and intense, almost confrontational intimacy. There is a genuine pleasure in watching them respond to one another, seemingly communicating through movement rather than words.
The production's visual elements further enrich this experience. Shifting lighting, intermittent fadeouts and the vibrant colours of the performers' costumes create an almost kaleidoscopic world, complementing the changing rhythms of the soundtrack. The combination of music, colour and movement gives the performance an absorbing, at times hypnotic quality, transforming the relatively simple staging into something visually striking.
However, the emphasis on presence, stillness and repeated exchanges becomes less compelling as the performance progresses. After the first half hour, the choreography begins to feel somewhat repetitive, with similar movements and interactions recurring without always offering a clear sense of development. Although the dancers' commitment remains impressive, the sustained focus on their relationship occasionally makes the performance feel longer than necessary.
More disappointing is the limited fulfilment of the production's immersive promise. Despite its inviting opening, audience participation is largely confined to the beginning and end, when spectators are encouraged to join the performers in the round. The intervening performance retains a more conventional distinction between those dancing and those watching. While this does not diminish the quality of the dancers' performances, it makes the advertised blurring of boundaries feel somewhat fleeting.
Nevertheless, A Place to Dance remains an enjoyable and visually engaging exploration of movement and human connection. Lima and Graves' chemistry, physical endurance and expressive performances are undoubtedly its greatest strengths, supported by an atmospheric combination of percussion, music and lighting. Although its repetitive structure and limited interactivity prevent it from fully realising its ambitions, the production offers an intriguing reminder of dance's capacity to communicate, connect and celebrate the freedom of movement.
Dance Umbrella is London’s international dance festival, taking place every October across the capital and online.
https://danceumbrella.co.uk/festival/
Cast & Creatives
Direction, Creation & Dance: Poliana Lima & Yinka Esi Graves
Artistic Accompaniment: Juan Carlos Lérida
Percussion: Lucía Martínez
DJ: Oumoukala
Sound Design: Quino Piñero
Lighting & Space Design: Cube.bz
Costume Design: Carmen 17 & Stéphanie Coudert
Technical Co-ordination: Cristina Bolívar
Lighting Technician: T. Andrés Dwyer
Video and Photography: Miguel Ángel Rosales
Graphic Design: Cintia erre
Communication: CultproyectTrans-Forma
Producción Cultural: María González Vidal (Yinka Esi Graves Company), Asociación PCCVL, Isabella Lima (Poliana Lima Company)
Photography credit: Miguel Angel Rosales
