Life going down the tube

Underground is a Motionhouse festival piece created for performance in the public arena.

Performed by four dancers within a rocking tubular structure, Underground uses stunningly physical dance, poignant imagery and surprising aerial encounters to explore the new reality of train travel: the compressed intimacy of a crowded carriage; the crush of personal space; the studied ignoring of our fellow humans and the tight fear of a dangerous stranger in the current climate of suspicion.

Travellers are thrown together in an unlikely alliance as graffiti artists paint their love in motion. Suspended at odd angles and riding the rhythm of the train, four characters are constantly drawn together then torn apart.

Energetic and thought provoking, Underground is attention grabbing, edge of your seat, in–your-face dancing.

“Elegance and anarchy rolled into one powerful, strong bodied, fully alive, uplifting performance.”

“Fantastic! Great concept and choreography, superb performance by the dancers. Outstanding.”

Audience Members Comments

Motionhouse is well established on the outdoor street festival circuit and Underground has been a phenomenal success since it premiered at the Brighton Festival in 2008. Over the years the show has been invited to attend numerous high profile festivals including, Greenwich + Docklands, X.trax and Stockton International Riverside Festivals in the UK and an increasing number of festivals across Europe  In 2009 it also won the ‘Audience Prize’ at MiraMirO in Ghent, Belgium, and took Fira Tàrrega by storm.  During Summer 2010 it will appear at 15 festivals in seven countries with bookings continuing to come in.

“Of all the participating artists Motionhouse’s innovative performance will contribute the most to the further development of the arts in public spaces.”
The official jury of MiraMirO

Click here for Underground tour dates

“Motionhouse again demonstrates that contemporary dance can find a large new audience without compromising artistic integrity but with a huge dose of choreographic flair, acrobatic flourish, humour, empathy and real life relevance.”

Click here for more information about Underground and technical information