Introducing one of our volunteer dance reviewers, Poppy O'Reilly:
After graduating from London Studio Centre with a BA (Hons) in Theatre Dance in 2016, I found myself returning to Devon to pursue a career in dance psychology stemming from my own personal experiences. I’ve combined this with coaching young people in sport and dance, whilst feeding my passion for the outdoors through rock climbing.

Review of Plan B for Utopia | Joan Cleville Dance
by Poppy O'Reilly
Saturday 31 March 2018 at Dartington Live.
How do we make the world a better place? This is a question posed by many, but here it forms both the opening and closing phrase of this playful and quirky piece. With a fusion of voice, music and dance that engages the audience physically and mentally, this piece explores the different journeys that people take in order to find their own Garden of Eden; or utopia. Solène Weinachter and Joan Cleville provide the audience with a mature innocence that plays with emotions. Their raw approach to movement makes the transitions between themselves and the work seem effortlessly organic; creating a depth within which one can loose one’s self.
As I took my seat in the audience I was apprehensive as to whether this piece would stay true to my preconceived thoughts or challenge me to accept that I may have misjudged it. The intimate setting of the studio enabled the performers to captivate my attention from the start, and I soon realised that this performance was truly unique and I was utterly wrong. Almost immediately I was embracing what was about to unfold. Weinachter and Cleville used their voices in an array of cleverly choreographed sound sequences that played on the comical heartstring.
This is a show to be entered with an open mind and leave with it filled with all the wonders of the world. You will laugh, cry and possibly even find yourself questioning whether you would pick up the pieces and start again.
Top Image: Joan Cleville Dance