Review: Exocytosis

**Picture:** *Exocytosis* (Image credit: Creative Futures Photography)

Following successful premiere performances at the 2025 Anywhere Festival, I was delighted to see that the Solstice Dance Collective (SDC) team brought Exocytosis back to the Yeronga Paint Factory Hub. Having missed the show last year, and heard such great things about the dancers and choreography, I was keen to see the work of this impressive contemporary dance collective. Dedicated to exploring unique and innovative ideas, and translating them into a compelling visual language, SDC seeks to ‘ educate and engage audiences, using dance as a medium to explore complex themes that provoke thought and emotions.’ Having had the opportunity to see Exocytosis during the 2026 Anywhere Festival I can see that SDC is a group that has a great future ahead—and is already delivering on their shared aims to educate, engage, and entertain.

Exocytosis is a new word to add to my vocabulary, so I am already feeling educated. I understand, from reading the promotional material and using my trusty search engine, that Exocytosis is a cellular process through which cells move out materials, waste, and hormones. Substances are ‘packed’ into a vehicle which then enables the contents to be discharged. Fortunately, the talented SDC group has taken this microscopic process as the inspiration for a mesmerising contemporary dance work—making the processes that take place within our brains ‘visible.’

In the promotional information about the show, SDC describes how the aim is to transform ‘complicated neuroscience into captivating choreography while following the path of nature’s very own happy hormone.’ The collective has certainly achieved that goal. Esmée Henry (Choreographer) has developed a captivating piece, working closely with SDC dancers Meghan Blackburn, Grace Campbell, Eva Cattarin Mattioli, Kelsey Dell, Noah Hockey, Charlie King, Emily Underwood and Mia Williams (Dancers & Co-Choreographers). In 2025, the dancers and co-choreographers also included Clare Dark, Chloe Järvelä, and Lillian Wright, who I am sure also made their own creative contributions to the original creation of Exocytosis.

Exocytosis is a compelling piece of contemporary dance that, through a series of duets, solos, and ensemble work, conveys a real sense of the urgency and journey of dopamine in the brain. I am no neuroscientist, nor dancer, but the show really gave me a sense of the frenzy of the dopamine hit (those fluttering fingers) and of the tumbling journey of the cells throughout the body. The movements of the dancers are at times fast and fluid, and at others controlled and contorting—creating an inspiring and intriguing performance. The different ‘acts’ include moments of great tenderness and poignancy, of frenzy and transformation, and of grace and strength—all set to a well-chosen soundtrack.

When watching Exocytosis I was also impressed at the way in which each of the dancers communicated the emotion of the piece though the tiniest of movements, and through their facial expressions. At the end of the piece, I wanted to see it all again, as I was moved and inspired by the work.

Compliments to the SDC team on crating such an impressive new work that deserves to reach a wider audience. The Paint Factory Festival Hub provided a wonderful space for the performance, but I am sure that Exocytosis would work equally well on the Thomas Dixon Centre stage. And I am certain that the professionalism of this young collective will impress a discerning contemporary dance audience.

Exocytosis is one of two SDC shows presented at the 2026 Anywhere Festival, with the program also including three performances of the SDC Electric Universe. Keep an eye out for future work by this choreographer, and by the SDC dancers. Regrettably I didn’t get to see Electric Universe, but I can definitely recommend booking if Exocytosis is brought to a performance space near you.

Catherine Lawrence

**Picture**: **Picture:** *Exocytosis* (Image credit: Creative Futures Photography)

Audience information: The 2026 Anywhere Festival Brisbane performances of Exocytosis were at The Paint Factory Festival Hub, 115 Hyde Road, Yeronga, (22-24 May 2026). Tickets $38. PG, no warnings, but ‘bring a jacket, it might get chilly’ (suggest 8+). 40 minutes.

The reviewer attended the 22 May 2026 performance.

Geoff Lawrence