Dusk / Night / Dawn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Whether they were contorting their bodies 20 feet in the air or staggering across a dim stage exploding balloons, the energy radiating from Vertical Dreamscape was hypnotizing. The New York-based Aerial Collective delivered a hauntingly beautiful performance that remained with me long after the lights went out.

Donna Carnow and Gina Alm are the heart and soul of Vertical Dreamscape, a collective specializing in aerial pole art. Dusk/Night/Dawn is their latest vision which comes to life on a low-lit narrow stage in what looks like the hall of a castle. The show is a cumulation of the two artists’ strengths, commanding music, captivating costumes, and all the emotions that come with a night as a dancer. The impressiveness of what they do is evident in their physiques which shine as their bodies glide throughout the space.

Their costumes elevate the story and change depending on the mood of the scene. One outfit, in particular, stood out to me as it evolved with the tone of the performance. Sparkly strands fell off their bodies as they moved through the air until there was nothing left—leaving the performers standing in sad beige sacks, later to be stained with black paint. The shift in disposition in the room was apparent through the changes like these and further emphasised by the music that followed.

While Dusk/Night/Dawn focuses mainly on visual elements, the music feels meticulously chosen for each scene and helps guide the viewer’s experience of the storyline throughout the whole performance—a challenging feat for the nature of the act. After a particularly gritty performance on the ground left me feeling a bit unsettled, I was comforted by the recognizable notes of Cigarettes After Sex used to transition back into the aerial act. It reaffirmed the solemnness of the story and highlighted the duality associated with pole performance.

I’ve always been impressed by aerial acts, but I’ve never seen anything close to

Dusk/Night/Dawn. It was sensual yet painful and gritty yet beautiful. The way the performers demanded my attention and dictated my feelings was exactly what I look for in an artistic experience. Truly an exceptional performance that I’d be honored to witness again and again.

Dusk / Night / Dawn plays at Assembly Roxy Central from the 5th-30th August at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. More information can be found here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/dusk-night-dawn