Introducing one of our volunteer dance reviewers, Jazmine Watts-Moast:

I graduated from Falmouth University in 2016 with a BA (Hons) in dance and performance.
Since graduating I have been pursuing a dance career as a freelance dance practitioner teaching and performing within the South West of England.

Review of JV2 2019 | by Jazmine Watts-Moast
Wednesday 24th April 2019 at Exeter Northcott Theatre 

JV2 is a professional development diploma working at the exclusive Jasmin Vardimon Production
Space, which provides extra training for dancers and the opportunity to work with emerging
choreographers and tour their work nationally. The company consists of dancers and performers at
the start of their careers, developing and widening their performance technique and experience
from Jasmin Vardimon and senior company members.

JV2/2019 presented an eclectic triple bill of work, all 3 pieces were very different. ‘NeverLand’
choreographed by David Lloyd had a strong narrative with the suggestion of characters like those of
the lost boys from Peter Pan. There was use of voice, which was very powerful and an aspect I
always welcome in contemporary dance, whilst the use of elaborate costume and characters made
the audience question the story line and transitions of power.

‘Laboratory’ choreographed by Maria Doulgeri was very contrasting as it was much softer and
seemed to question humanity and the meaning of this. There was a lot of interaction between
dancers but in a different way from the previous piece. It seemed to explore how we interact and
the importance and act of inclusion. This piece was a little more cryptic as the programme states it’s
about ‘the inner working of the performers’.

The third and final piece was repertoire from some of Jasmin Vardimon’s most famous and
celebrated pieces. This was powerful and exciting, by far my favourite of the three. There was
feathers on stage used in innovative and fascinating ways, with dynamic movement that kept me
interested and engaged. Overall, it was really interesting to watch a younger group of dancers
performing such different professional pieces on stage, I had never seen anything from Jasmin
Vardimon Company before but I’m already looking forward to the next one.

Top Image: JV2  (Photographer Bill Knight)