Not What I Had In Mind @ Dance Base

Sudden shifts between ideas. Chaos. Falling to the ground. The thrashing of water Not what I Had In Mind has an undeniably schizophrenic structure. Based on individual day-long sessions with 28 participants, most of whom had no links to dance,  Dingeman's responses are in constant flux.

It is like being teased with mere tastes of the participants' states of mind, flipping from one to the next and back again. But disappointingly not leaving me wanting more.

There is an honest sense of reality and humanity within this work, marked by Dingeman refreshing himself on stage by drinking water, coughing, and his comfortable relationship with the on-stage musician, Manuel Pinheiro. These moments of not being in performance mode emphasis Dingeman's sincerity. There is nothing superficial and the distinct absence of fear and judgement is admirable and uncompromising.

His search for purity and complete honesty is brave, whether he seeks a  pure approach to the choreographic process or a more honest, raw and authentic presentation. Despite possibly alienating the audience, his attempt to take risks is potentially thrilling.

The profound message from Not is that dance, or performance isn't just for dancers, or performers but that it is for everyone - whether they know it or not. The trick is to find the key that unlocks their creativity and then run with it.  Not what I Had In Mind feels like the beginning of this process.