Agnes
Project Arts Centre, Dublin
*****

Choreographer David Bolger might be best known for large-scale spectaculars such as Heartbeat of Home or the opening ceremony for the 2003 Special Olympics, but in recent years he has created intimate and deeply personal dances.

These works are moments of selflessness, when the choreography is not about him or his craftsmanship, but a precious connection that he needs to artistically recognise.

In 2012 he created Swimming with my Mother , a duet with his mother Madge, and in Agnes he pays tribute to neighbour, friend and mentor Agnes Bernelle.

Bernelle's colourful life provides a tempting template, but rather than celebrate her life, Bolger chooses to celebrate her art, in particular the songs from her three solo albums.

Physical resonance
The excellent cast of six dancers don't so much illustrate the words as provide a physical resonance for the dark emotions evoked in Bernelle's throaty and raw singing.

Every syllable, breath and sigh is punctuated by flowing movement: the story of evolving suicidal tendencies in Julia are physicalised in a quasi-narrative where dancer Justine Cooper is carried aloft, eventually falling to her death.

Later, while sitting on the floor, the entire cast loudly drop their arms to the floor to punctuate a silent beat in In Amsterdam .

Sinéad McKenna’s shadowy lighting design, with its restricted spectrum of purple and dull greens provides an Instagram-like filter for the action, and a follow-spot engages in a short and hilarious duet with Cooper.

Ivan Birthistle and Vincent Doherty’s soundscape is interspersed with Bernelle’s recordings, adding texture to the songs and sustaining the darkly emotional mood.

Towards the end, Emma O'Kane dances a simple but eloquent version of Surabaya-Johnny , one of the many numbers that feature women mistreated by lovers and fathers. It never descends into po-faced homage and humour is always just below the surface.

At the end, her dressing table is revealed and her chair placed centre stage – to reminds us who Bolger and his dancers have shared the stage with.

It is an elegant gesture which, no doubt, she would have loved.