BLKDOG, at Arts Centre Melbourne, as part of the RISING festival - 1 hour 6 minutes

Life’s struggle from childhood is captured in captivating form in Botis Seva’s Olivier Award-winning dance theatre production BLKDOG.

Extraordinarily fluid movement, a pulsating original score from Torben Lars Sylvest and Tom Visser’s striking lighting design coalesce and enthral.

Dimly lit throughout, with strategic spot lighting highlighting one, two or all the seven performers, the music is a central conceit.

From rhythmic to crunching, grinding and even sweet, it is mixed with occasional truisms from voices young and old.

Repeated expressions such as “give the people what they want” and “what happened that day wasn’t your fault” to “life doesn’t frighten me anymore” and “let’s start again” pepper the intriguing soundscape.

Exhortations include “maybe we should start with how you are feeling” and “can you read me a story?”

There is a self-destructive edginess to what we are seeing – a combination of haunting childhood memories to adult life traumas.

It becomes a question of fighting through vices to find a sense of peace.

BLKDOG searches for coping mechanisms in the hunt for acceptance.

The artistry – creative, stimulating, thrilling – readily transcends cultural boundaries.

A single row of horizontal lights suddenly appears at the back of the stage breaking the darkness before “creeping” downwards.

BLKDOG began life in 2018, when Botis was commissioned to present a piece of work celebrating the 20th anniversary of dance theatre Sadler’s Wells in London.

It has since taken all before it.

From a sitting or foetal position, dancers are never anything but highly expressive.

They lie, splayed on the floor, roll, tumble, turn, crawl and jump. They stand and confront one another or hover over destruction, even death. They cavort.

Movements are often sharp and always in sync with the music.

Undoubtedly the piece de resistance in terms of choreography sees the company walk in unison, crouched with their knees bent, a repeated refrain – inspired … remarkable. Candidly, I couldn’t get enough of it.

And then there is the costuming, which helps set the tone.

A significant change sees free flowing, nondescript “greys” replaced by hooded caps and white, padded dinosaur-like, clownish outfits with splashes of red and blue.

This is interpretative dance of a calibre rarely seen, theatrical excellence to be appreciated and savoured. Visceral. Powerful. Expressive.

It is on at Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne, until 7th June, 2025 as part of RISING, which runs until 15th June.

To find out more and to buy tickets, go to

https://2025.rising.melbourne/program/blkdog