Shadow Footprints

We went to see Traces tonight. It's another production by The 7 Fingers. Once again I was gob smacked.

It started slower than I was expecting, and I wondered if I had it wrong and we were seeing a modern dance troupe with a small amount of acrobatics. I was soon happy to see some amazing acrobatics.

This enchanting circus show from a troupe of young and exuberant performers mixes eye-popping acrobatic skills with so much more. Traces is a new style of athletic dance theatre, pulling circus out of the big top and transporting it to a highly theatrical context.

Traces begins with the five performers being hurled around the post-apocalyptic set by unseen forces. Time is running out. What will be their fate?

With precision acrobatic skills and a jet-propelled urban street energy, these artists segue effortlessly from one act to another, using anything and everything that comes to hand. From traditional Chinese circus techniques to freestyle moves, basketball to skateboarding, they soar, dance, somersault, jump, spring, balance and catapult in limitless variations, backed by visual projections. You'd swear they have wings, but then they can also play the piano like classical pros.

Traces will leave you breathless and wanting more, just as the countdown runs out ...

See it if you can.