At their annual show, “The Next Wave,” the polymathic NUS Dance Ensemble – often touted as the premier group in NUS – moved, glided and pirouetted their way through seven items of varying genres on Sep. 19 and 20, at the University Cultural Centre.

And it is not difficult to see why they are regarded as the best even though the style of performance was less eclectic than those of previous years.

The dance troupe showed their technical prowess and versatility as they were put through the paces of performing items by seven different choreographers.

“At the Break of Dawn,” an item by Dan Kwoh, celebrated choreographer and Singapore Ballet Academy scholar, was one of the highlights of the evening because of the enchanting and deftly crafted choreography.

In the 2006 performance, Kwoh choreographed “Breath of Life,” a stunning visual spectacle, which literally took the audience’s breath away.

This year was no exception.

Known for his clever use of props, Kwoh’s item this time saw both male and female performers donning dark-coloured skirts.

To indicate dusk turning into dawn, the dancers simultaneously and synchronically lifted up their skirts, flipped them around and attached them back again perfectly – all within a single turn.

Subtlety was also part of the order of the evening, as one of the more delicate moments saw all the performers lay down on their backs, and a simple movement of their fingers with their coordinated breathing, composed a picture nothing short of trivial.

Renowned local choreographer Shahbirul Zaki Ahmad’s “Hrafnagaldur,” was another outstanding item.

Having done choreography for events such as “Millennium Countdown” and “Project Superstar,” Zaki composed a dance item to adequately challenge the ensemble’s technical abilities.

Dressed in simple white costumes, the performers were forced to strip away all excesses, as they slow danced to a Sigur Rós soundtrack with meditative and eclectic rigour.

However, the concert did sag during certain items.

The opening piece titled “The Physical Space” by Marcus Foo, first-time choreographer for the ensemble, was nothing like a curtain raiser.

The item lacked the energy and punch to kick start the evening. The performers were also not coordinated and did not follow through their movements.

At best, the piece was a series of warm ups in preparation for the actual concert.

While second-time choreographer Zhou Su Li’s “Next Day, Same Time, Same Place” managed to fare better, her piece was brought down by her unfortunate choice of music.

The incessant drone of counting was distracting.

Otherwise, she managed to nimbly showcase the interplay, dependency and relationship between her dancers, while constructing strong and powerful shapes and lines in their bodies.

Hiccups notwithstanding, the closing piece, “4 Short Stories About Boys and Girls,” pulled everything together and gave everyone a fun time. It was perhaps chosen to be the last item in the line-up to erase all previous misgivings.

Choreographed by Zaini Mohammad Tahir, resident choreographer and artistic director of the dance ensemble, this year’s item was radically different from last year’s extremely successful Samsara, a Balinese-inspired dance item.

However, the predominantly NUS undergraduate audience was still enthralled by this year’s cheeky and fun-loving offering. The infective energy of the euphoric performers transposed onto the equally enthusiastic audience.

Siti Fatimah, a fourth-year social science undergraduate from the Singapore Management University, said, “This year’s dance concert was more up beat than last year’s.

“But I prefer Zaini’s Samsara to this year’s 4 Short Stories About Boys and Girls.”

Preferences aside, this year’s concert was the first time an undergraduate was given permission to choreograph an item.

Current president of the ensemble, Koustav Basu Mallick, choreographed “The Love Cycle,” a dance about how love can be a debilitating process as pain takes over, causing a vicious cycle.

It was a commendable effort by the first-timer and relatively new dancer. It appeared seamless in the line up of dance items choreographed by more established dancers from the local dance scene.

Koustav, a third-year communications and new media major, said, “I felt pressured because I feel I am a junior dancer and this is only my second year with Dance Ensemble.

“But I am motivated because the dancers were willing to put everything into this item even though they are more experience dancers. Everybody just wanted to make it into a credible ‘The Next Wave’ item.”

Judging by the thunderous applause heard as the performers and choreographers took to the stage for their curtain call, the audience lapped up the performance.

And there was no short supply of credibility.