Last chance to see S in Melbourne

I’ve seen a lot of circus and a lot of contemporary dance, but I’ve never seen anything like Circa’s S.

Premiered at the Brisbane Festival in 2012, S has toured Australia and the world, and tonight is the last chance to see it in Melbourne. It’s on at the Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre (corner of St Georges and Bell streets, plenty of parking or on the 112 tram line).

Breathtaking is a go-to word for describing great work, but watching S is so sensually encompassing that remembering to breath may be the only thing you’re physically capable of.

Circa are based in Brisbane and with a full-time ensemble of performers, artistic director, Yaron Lifschiz, continues to re-define circus as an art form that’s undismissable and unmissable.

This piece is inspired by the shape, sound and function of the letter S, but is all about the astonishing physical ability of the performers (Nathan Boyle, Jessica Connell, Casey Douglas, Daniel O’Brien, Brittannie Portelli, Kimberley Rossi and Duncan West).  As much dance as acrobatics (and hoops and ariel), it starts by defining the limits of a human strength and flexibility and proceeds to extend and smash its own definitions until you believe that humans can fly.