As part of the Taiwan Season at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Assembly @ Dance Base are showcasing Proximities, a contemporary dance piece.

Inspired by the social disconnection of the pandemic, examining intimacy between self, others, and communities, Alison Wang asks how our bodies navigate a world in which boundaries and rules are constantly changing Wang believes that dance is not only a form of artistic expression but also a way to communicate with society.

Choreographer Olé Khamchanla has incorporated elements of classical western ballet with traditional Southeast Asian dance. “Proximities” accentuates the theme of distance and intimacy, probing interpersonal relationships across cultures through the language of contemporary dance.

The piece unfolds in three distinct segments. In the first, four dancers emerge from the darkness, each isolated within a pool of light. Their movements suggest an unseen force, as though their bodies are suspended by invisible strings, their limbs held in precise, preset angles. They gradually test the boundaries of their physical limits, both individually and through their interactions with one another.

The second scene opens in subdued lighting, with two bodies lying on the floor. We wait until they begin to move, slowly at first. They struggle onto all fours, attempting to lift themselves from the ground, only to collapse again, repeatedly falling as they search for balance and control.

Eventually, they manage to rise and begin to circle the space in increasingly manic movements. With every turn around the stage, they grow more confident, their movements becoming more assured and purposeful. Gradually, their frantic energy gives way to a newfound confidence, aware not only of their bodies and their own emerging sentience, but also of themselves in relation to one another and to the space around them.

The third segment brings all five dancers together. They started the performance alone, separated by space, and finished fully connected and intertwined, moving with incredible flow and compelling presence. The narrative and cohesion of these dancers are truly phenomenal, and this segment is where the production finds its fullest expression. There is a fluidity here that transcends technical execution; movement becomes conversation, negotiation, and mutual recognition

Individually, the dancers are phenomenal, but together, the dancers paint a mesmerising, detailed portrait of physical experimentation.

In its final moments, Proximities stands as a vivid reminder that connection is not merely found but continually forged, body to body, breath to breath.

Reviewed by Nina Gardner

Four Stars.

Playing at: – DB1 at Assembly @ Dance Base until 30^thAugust

Tickets and further information can be found following the link below

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/taiwan-season-proximities