Is there anywhere more atmospheric than a library, with sunlight streaming through the big double doors just before the sun goes down? In a festival season packed with excellent, big-name dance, what a pleasure it is to stumble upon Labyrinth, a beautifully lyrical duet about books and beauty at the end of the world. Setting the production in the stunning Barr Smith Library Reading Room naturally adds another dimension to the piece, as we sit surrounded by stories, learning and all that symbolises.

In a world where books are banned and burned, Labyrinth feels like a blessing. Bella Hood and Kerrod Box dance the booksellers, and their books become a third character as they pack, unpack, stack and scatter them across the space. Hood and Box are well-matched, and their lyrical, loose energy is a pleasure to watch, particularly when their long, languorous movements push against the discordant moments within Michael Wall’s excellent score. Both warning and comfort, this narrative-driven dance can’t fail to move the heart, even as the mind notes the technical precision and skill of all involved. 

Labyrinth, Barr Smith Library, University Of Adelaide, until Saturday 1 March.