“Urban Explorers 18” by Tom Dale Company
Nottingham Playhouse.

The Tom Dale Company (TDC) is one of the UK’s leading contemporary dance companies. Combining electronic Dance Music (EDM) and digital media, making for an exciting and evocative visual experience.

"Urban Exploders 18” is the latest project from choreographer Tom Dale and his group of professional and non-professional dancers. The non-professional dancers are made up of various local dance groups.

The first half of the show was performed by the pro dancers under the collective dance title of "Suncatcher"; a concept piece that flowed from dance style to dance style all with that contemporary thread running through them. Mesmerising and hypnotic, they made each movement look so easy and the fluidity they all have leaves you in awe of their obvious talents.

These dancers are so physically fit - let's face it they have to be to be the success that they are. Knowing and having spoken to professional dancers over the years, the stamina needed to make a dance piece look as effortless as these guys make it look, doesn't come around by not putting the hours of hard work in. They are athletes of the dance arena.

The second half of the show highlighted the talented youngsters Nottinghamshire have when it comes to dance. Under the banner of "Unity", six local dance groups from as far flung as Burton Joyce and Newark gave us an insight into their wonderful dance skills.

A varied selection of dance styles and ages, and what really excites me about all of these groups is the confidence they all have. Here they are working alongside professionals and acting like professionals themselves. The confidence and the energy that they bring to their performances, and the stage is just amazing, some as young as seven years old.

It's not the easiest thing to tell you just how good a dance show is because you really do need to have been there to soak up the "vibes" these groups give out, whether it be a relaxed piece from Worksop's "SANDance", the glitter wigged Burton Joyce group of 7 - 10 year olds' disco inspired set, which really got the audience going, or the incredible street/hip-hop/breakdance routine from MX4 from North Nottinghamshire,

Such variety and such talent, and although it is mainly girls, I was pleased to see a smattering of boy dancers who held their own with the girls, and why shouldn't they. This is a profession
where there are so many highly respected male dancers involved - as shown by the first half in Tom Dale's group - that there should be no stigmas attached. Just go and see anything by Sir Matthew Bourne!

It's a great inspiration for the young dancers to share the stage with the pros and to see where, if they continue doing what they are doing, they could be in a few years time.