This is one of those challenging works that sharply divides audiences and critics. Some (most) apparently loved it, were rapt and watched intently while others I noted sat there stony faced or almost dozed off. If you are into cutting edge, rather experimental contemporary dance then this is for you.

Part of PACT’s ‘ Month of dance’ Natalie Abbot’s PHYSICAL FRACTALS originally premiered at the 2012 NEXT WAVE Festival. Abbott is based in Melbourne and this is the first time Sydney has been able to see her work.

The audience enters and is seated in a circle on hard plastic chairs, with a clear performance space established in the centre.

PHYSICAL FRACTALS uses rhythm and repetition in a ‘sensorial study’. Abbott has been ‘inspired by illusion and hypnosis, taking moments and warping them to create something other’.

Natalie Abbott and Rebecca Jensen are dressed identically in denim shorts with detail on the pockets and black t-shirts. The audience is sometimes blinded by blackouts, or extremely over bright floods of lighting.

At other points in the work there is a lyrical gloom or half lighting. The sonic soundscape as created by Daniel Arnott and includes silence as well as beeps, whistles, reverberations and other feedback as generated by the microphones dotted around the performance area and also the larger hand held microphones used by Abbott and Jensen.

There is also use of repeated rhythms, heartbeats, breathing and a warm, dripping pizzicato like sound.

Choreographically, Cunningham like, there was much use of repeated phrases of movement and also frozen poses. The dancers were mostly in unison, with some dialogue and no emotional involvement with the audience.

There was a swimming backstroke like movement, some frieze-like movements and much use of everyday movements like walking , running , skipping /jumping rope etc.

Both Abbott and Jensen were barefoot and the microphones amplified the slap of their feet. In one section they moved like high stepping show horses .In another there was use of ‘fall and recovery ‘ and throughout a particular demand for a long , low , flexible back. Sometimes the arms were quite angular and there was the use of arabesque with head down. The use of rhythm and repetition became almost trance like: time was warped , fractured, liquid.

Towards the end there was a dialogue between the two performers with large hand held microphones held aloft and swung around like bull roarers. Then they both ‘collapsed’ and lay on the floor as if ‘dead’.

A challenging, thought provoking performance that will stimulate much discussion.

The running time is an hour without interval.

PHYSICAL FRACTALS opened at the PACT Theatre, Erskineville on Wednesday May 1 and runs Friday May 10, 2013.