Surgery is an unlikely inspiration for dance, but Under My Skin, an extraordinary new work from Sadhana Dance, finds three highly skilled performers taking the audience into the heart (and the art) of the operating theatre.

This is a place where intricate detail, perfect timing and precisely controlled exchanges are crucially important, just as they are in dance.

And in creating the piece, choreographer Subathra Subramaniam drew on both classical Indian and contemporary Western dance.

“The piece uses the absolute precision with which surgeons and operating theatre staff must move in relation to each other as its starting point to produce this fascinating, mesmerising piece of contemporary dance,” says dance development co-ordinator at Activate Performing Arts Rosalind Conlon, who is working with the Creative Care Dorset network to explore ways in which the arts can deliver health outcomes.

“There is a vital role for the arts both in preventing people getting poorly and in helping them get better if they do get ill.

“As well as entertaining the public this show will give doctors, surgeons, GPs, clinical commissioning groups, health bodies and representatives of local authorities that are now responsible for public health a wonderful opportunity to see how that works in practice.”

Eminent surgeon Professor Roger Kneebone from Imperial College London will be on hand to host a pre-show talk, The Craft of Surgery, in which he will discuss the performance of surgery.

“As part of the pre-show activities there will also be some puppeteering to illustrate the need for precision and a methodical approach to surgery,” adds Rosalind.

Under My Skin is at Dorchester Corn Exchange on February 12 at 8pm (pre-show events 6.45pm). Tickets: £10, £8, £5 (members, concessions, NHS staff) 01305 266926, dorchesterarts.org.uk After the show, Prof Kneebone will join Quentin Cooper, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Material World, in a Café Scientifique debate.