Tumbuka: Nhinhi, Assembly@St George's West, Edinburgh

Colourful stories of life in a troubled land

With precious little fuel in the country, simply getting to rehearsals was a nightmare. Twenty choir members crammed themselves into one truck to make the journey from Chitungwiza to Harare. Problems and delays with visas from British authorities, nervous in case the visitors sought asylum when here, further tested the company's perseverance.

But the company made it, and, on its UK debut, Tumbuka is presenting a dance programme, Nhinhi, and a sister show, Sing! Zimbabwe, which combines African and Western music with a dance element.

Tumbuka, a Shona word meaning to blossom or flower, began as an outreach programme for underprivileged Zimbabweans. Now it flourishes with, on this occasion, a vividly choreographed show for seven men and two women, drawing on a fusion of traditional African styles, graceful classical shapes and contemporary movements.

In Nhinhi (a local, hard-shelled bean), the sequence of politically inspired solos, duets and ensembles tells its own tale of the challenges of poverty and hardship. If the precise content isn't always clear - and not even those numbers with spoken words, colourfully mimed actions and possibly threatening encounters are always easy to interpret - the energy and agility with which these stories are told is breathtaking. And the structure of the programme is cleverly paced, building towards the bigger ensemble pieces.

Costumes are minimal but effective - tailored suits and red dresses or more traditional dress - and the only props are a few carved stools, spinning plates and a stark metal doorframe.

The music, ranging from Youssou N'Dour, Bobby McFerrin and Umoja to Richard Nwamba, matches the dancers' changing moods. In front of a simple red backcloth, a rising sun at the beginning and a moon at the end, the finale suggests the crumbling or erosion of life as the grim reaper strikes. But that is not really in the spirit of this exuberant, thought-provoking show, which blazes with strength and resilience and needs to be seen.

To 29 August, 2pm (0131 226 2428); 'Sing! Zimbabwe' to 29 August, 12pm (4pm 16, 23 Aug)