The four dancers of the Daksha Sheth Company are phenomenal. They wind like snakes, dance upside-down or fly on a rope as second nature. Don't misunderstand: this is not a circus. This is unusual modern dance, Indian style.
Based in the south of that country, under the direction of Daksha Sheth and her husband Devissaro, this company brings the control of classical Indian dance and martial arts to the freedoms of modern choreography. The programme for the fringe takes extracts from two longer productions, making the evening a little patchy and including some work that misses the mark. But that aside, both Sarpagati (The Way of the Serpent) and Bukham (The Circus of Earth and Sky) contain quality dancing and some super-sharp choreography.
When Isha Sharvani lights up as an extra-terrestrial, her feet slung over her shoulders from behind and looking as much like an insect as any human has a right to, we are entranced. Live music would be preferable, but the taped stuff fades into the background as you follow the beats made by hands and feet slammed against floor or skin.
Most beautiful of all are the two duets between Sharvani and Anil Kumar. Their bodies seem one, like a many-limbed Indian god, moving together in yogic harmony with such intimacy that it is hard not to believe that some form of conception has taken place. Immaculate.
Until August 24. Box office: 0131-558 3853.
