The Sticky Dance at The Place is a fun and enchanting immersive show for families and children, created by Rosie Heafford and Takeshi Matsumoto. Age recommendations are for 3-5 years old and from 5-7 years for autistic/ neurodivergent children.
Everyone attending reclines on placed cushions on The Place’s dance floor. The three charming dancers move among this audience, encouraging children (and adults) to join in if so inclined. If some are shy and don’t want to that’s fine too. Even the shyest children however won’t resist the show’s allure when the ‘sticky tape’ (masking tape) is unravelled around them and they are encouraged to play as they will.
Action throughout is paced into brighter then quieter, darker times when the dancers reveal gently magical illusions cleverly created by set and costume designer, Alison Brown. The accompanying music similarly varies in tone and form, including catchy classical snippets. It’s lovely to see small children moving spontaneously to this as fun.
Tip: Over-enthusiastic placement of tape, can be dealt with by the application of water. Including to the hair, not however recommended.
Duration: You can stay as long as you like but 45 minutes is the recommended time.
Co-commissioned by Southbank Centre, The Place and South East Dance this is a delightful show young children will greatly enjoy.
Review by Mary Kennedy
Three dancers’ shimmy through the audience weaving a tapestry of sticky tape in this tactile dance performance for young children. They invite you to tape, stick and groove, to see and feel sound or to be still, watch and listen. Audiences are encouraged to explore freely, choosing how they engage and turning the rules upside down.
The Sticky Dance is an interactive, engaging and colourful performance installation for children and their families.
Second Hand Dance is excited to present The Sticky Dance created by Rosie Heafford and Takeshi Matsumoto, with designs by Alison Brown (Scottish Dance Theatre, Barrowland Ballet), and a soundscape by Dinah Mullen (Rachel Mars Forge, Kate Cross/Tim Bell Squirrel).
The Place
17 Duke’s Road
London, WC1H 9PY
https://theplace.org.uk/
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