In this second installment of Project Plait: The Daily Grind, Naomi Tan and chef Nixon share a concept where food, contemporary dance and the daily routines of citizens are amalgamated in a dance performance – food affair.
At the entrance of Portico restaurant we are advised to roll Naomi on the floor – essentially to help her move around a provisional bed set in the middle of the restaurant. This task becomes less successful then on previous experiences; the audience was ready for fine dinning and not necessarily for an immersive performance interaction, nevertheless the performance succeeded; as Naomi presents segments of her character’s day since waking up and brushing her teeth, to commuting on a packed train on her way to work, stopping for a quick breakfast with half washed face until settling in the office.
The performance unfolds in new simple settings such as an office, where choreography really takes centre stage half way through this fine dinning experience.
Cleverly done, Naomi finds interesting dance material that sometimes resonates ballet lines inspired work, other times seems more grounded and contemporary in the sense that she invades the audiences personal space while everyone is dinning.
Project Plait: The Daily Grind is supported by a clear narrative through both audio and video, unlike the first installment of these series of performances.
Crucial for this successful evening, is the creative presentation of dishes from chef Nixon. Introducing the audience to a 1st course of a 5 course spectacular meal. In this very first encounter with food we are delighted with edible tooth brushes, a cocktail inside a mouth wash bottle and coconut gel instead of tooth paste, the audience delights itself on a daily ritual savouring fine ingredients.
The performance is not so much a confrontation on the boring aspects of people’s working lives, we are reminded at the end that we, the audience make it all worth it for commuting to Portico restaurant on a Thursday night to enjoy a beautiful evening of contemporary dance and fine dining.
As on our previous review this is exactly the type of contemporary dance performance that is inclusive. Project Plait: The Daily Grind, is a great concept at heart and invites new audiences to an art form still hidden in black box theatres nationwide.
We wish to recommend this experience to anyone that likes food and dance as the two merge equally in an entertaining dance and food affair.