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People often become accustomed to the dance companies which form their regular diet, which allows certain gems to slip through their would-be nets, and Tom Dale is one such gem. A British Council artist, a resident company at Dance4 (Nottingham), a DanceDigital (Essex) Associate Artist and a Déda (Derby) Associate Choreographer, it's little wonder his company only passes through London fleetingly, with just two tour dates planned: 19 and 20 April at Laban Theatre.

Refugees of the Septic Heart is more than just a dance show. A collaboration with composer Shackleton, it's a concept album with a concept-based narrative brought to life through Tom Dale's choreography, Barret Hodgson's digital arts and Kate Unwin's set design. The result is an exquisite feast for the senses which tantalises the audience for the hour of its duration - and in the case of the opening night audience, stunning them into silence for the postshow Q&A.

The set consists of blocks, apparently scattered randomly, with a disc at their centre and screens above. As the piece starts - preceded by a curtain-raiser skilfully performed by MOTUS (dancers from Birmingham Ormiston Academy) - digital projections cover both floor and set with gridlines, dots and blurry sections, which almost hide the dancers when they appear.

The digital projections skillfully change the set in each scene, from a futuristic apocalyptic setting - accentuated by Shackleton's music - to a tense everyday scene of office windows and characters dressed for work, exuding  consternation and apprehension. A lone character, Hugh Stainer, seeks to distract them by holding up a cardboard sign "Out of time"; the dancers respond by creating tableaux of their bodies around him, while in response to his sign, the music becomes more agitated, and the dancers' movement becomes more rushed.

The true wealth of Refugees of the Septic Heart, though, is in the movement: Tom Dale creates beautiful movement which is a rare joy to watch. Also a joy to watch are Tom Dale's talented dancers, who capture his ideas perfectly: the unique lithe gracefulness, with shifts in dynamics between utter stillness and fast-paced fluid movement, helping to drive the piece forward. It's rare to watch slow movement performed with such effectiveness and control, and even rarer still to watch such an accomplished collaboration between score and choreography, to the extent that both appear to be deftly taking their cues from each other, and the choreography drawing on the voiceover.

Refugees of the Septic Heart is a very rich work, with the audience being taken on a journey by Tom Dale into a futuristic world where existential themes are explored, as is the notion of an end game. It's a feast for the senses, and one to savour every moment of.

Further tour dates are:
Thurs 28 March: Pavilion Dance, Bournemouth
www.paviliondance.org.uk/page/145/Refugees-of-the-Septic-Heart/666

Tues 16 April: Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham
www.lakesidearts.org.uk/Dance/ViewEvent.html?e=2310&c=3&d=0

19 – 20 April: Laban Theatre, London
www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/whats-on/events/dance-events.2535.tom-dale-company-refugees-of-the-septic-heart.aspx