Holy Smoke

Presented as part of the Ignite Programme: Holy Smoke presented by Ultimate Dancer

A gang of hyper-present beings occupy a mystic underworld, seeking answers to life’s big existential questions. Wrapped up in a cosmic sonic blanket, these weirdos go pro in this trip into the unknown. The performance space becomes an alternative reality with dark energies, roaming spirits, occult rituals and loads of smoke.

Holy Smoke is based on investigations into healing and personal-transformative practices using movement and sound. The piece explores the parallel qualities between a guided shamanic journey (a visionary journey into the spirit world in which the participant would seek answers to personal questions) and the experience of live performance. Holy Smoke takes shape as a choreographed healing process, and includes deconstructed messages of love and kindness, dreamy spells cast backwards and a pop song - sung in reverse.

For Holy Smoke, ULTIMATE DANCER is working with an exceptional crew of multi-arts practitioners: percussionist and visual artist Fritz Welch (USA), musician Jer Reid (UK) and shamanic practitioner and performer Divina Kniest (CH/DE). ULTIMATE DANCER delivers a radical, visceral performance, guiding the audience through a vivid landscape of images and colours.

“A quest for spiritual enlightenment - with an immediacy beyond words - so intense your eardrums shiver.”

(The Herald)

“Atmospheric, cheekily humorous, and (ultimately) mesmerising.” (Across the Arts)