mini传媒.

This summer, Dance students Martin McDonough and Maya Aspen will take their original contemporary dance work , to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, marking both a significant first step into the professional world and the final chapter of their time at mini传媒..

The idea for the piece emerged in their first year, prompted by a simple but powerful question: how do you chase your dreams without losing yourself along the way?

鈥淎t the heart of the show are two concepts,鈥� they explain. 鈥淭he star represents your aspirations and dreams. The pearl is your identity: who you are at your core.鈥�

Set between these opposing images 鈥� the star in the sky and the pearl at the bottom of the sea 鈥� the work explores the pressure to succeed and the risk of losing sight of yourself in the process. The piece begins with a child-like sense of uncertainty, before the dancers reach relentlessly and dangerously towards the 鈥榮tar鈥�, culminating in a chaotic central section.

鈥淵ou plummet,鈥� Martin says. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e in your lowest moment. That鈥檚 when you discover the pearl. The pearl is your essence 鈥� by staying true to your pearl, you can then return to reaching for the star without losing who you are.

The result is a 35-minute contemporary work blending abstract movement, partnering, gymnastic elements and flashes of hip hop 鈥� at times playful and funky, at others raw and emotional.

While the journey is shared, each dancer鈥檚 individuality remains central. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all very different as performers, and that鈥檚 celebrated,鈥� Maya explains. 鈥淓veryone goes through the same journey, but in their own way.鈥�

The cast features six mini传媒. students across second and final year, with an international mix including UK and Norwegian performers. Martin and Maya co-lead the project as directors and choreographers.

For the pair, taking work to the Fringe is about defining themselves early as makers, not just performers.

鈥淪ome people follow a more traditional route, going from dancer to dance captain, then choreography,鈥� Martin says. 鈥淏ut Edinburgh lets us say straight away: we create work.鈥�

At the same time, the Fringe represents a moment of transition.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the beginning of our careers, but also the end of our time at mini传媒.,鈥� Maya adds. 鈥淚t might be the last time we all dance together for a while. The first page is also the last page.鈥�

Their training at mini传媒. has been central to making the project possible 鈥� from choreographic development to understanding collaboration, budgeting and producing large-scale work.

鈥淓verything we鈥檙e doing links back to our training,鈥� they say. 鈥淓ven the less creative stuff we鈥檝e done really matters.鈥�

With rehearsals, fundraising and work-in-progress showings ahead, A Star and a Pearl captures the uncertainty and excitement of standing on the edge of what comes next.