Fuse: Diverse Dance is a project set up by The Barbican Theatre in Plymouth. It brings together dancers, choreographers and art lovers from across Plymouth to create new productions, share dance knowledge and try new styles. The group is made up of all age groups and any dance style is welcome.

The production created for this evening was named Put on your Red Shoes. It was a real celebration of dance culture and what it means to each and every member of the group. It was an experimental and exciting piece of Dance Theatre.

The first half was a ‘promenade performance’. The audience was split into three groups and each group went on its own adventure through various dance styles. We were part of the red carnation group. We returned to the 1930s, visiting various characters and then enjoying a tea dance with live entertainment. We followed the story of ‘Red’ as he explained how his love of dance had led to him meeting the love of his life. The tea and cake were a delightful touch!

During the interval we were free to move around to the other venues within the theatre to investigate the world of Flamenco, 1980s parties, Hip Hop, Salsa, Ballet and South Asian Dance. The second half was set entirely in the auditorium of the theatre. We were treated to the continued story of Red and other members of the group, transported through all of the dance styles and welcomed in to the celebration. The performance was a really great message of respect for every art form. The variety was inspiring and a fabulous advert for the true diversity that Plymouth dance culture has to offer.

Top Image: Put On Your Red Shoes | FUSE Diverse Dance