LONTANO + INSTANTE at Scotiabank Dance Centre

For these two dazzling shows, Juan Ignacio Tula and Marica Marinoni start with a simple concept: one human being plus a large aluminum ring called a Cyr wheel. In LONTANO, Marica spins the Cyr with her body while ducking and rising, twisting and pushing, moving in and out of the circular object. The sheer physical skill on display is a delight to witness, with the accompanying sound and light creating the feel of a sports bout: human versus object.

INSTANTE has Juan spinning the Cyr as well, but this time the hula-like movements are less acrobatic and even more symbolic. Using paper cards and a sheet of foil, Juan enacts a dance of entropy, with perpetual motion and personal breakdown running in tandem. The result, as in Marica’s performance, is trancelike and meditative, yet also dynamic and thrilling.