From an early age, Jasmin Vardimon was inspired by life and its unique, individual stories that she grew up with in Tel Aviv. From the political activism of her father, to the people who inspired her, these aspects of Vardimon’s life contributed to her creative outlook and expression. At the age of fourteen, she came to dance relatively late in life, but it added more depth and expression to her journey. Her path becomes more evident in Now. A celebration and expression of the last twenty-five years she has been making waves in the world of dance… to begin with. However, Now was a beautifully constructed experience of past work with an inspired combination of new, vibrant choreography that compares the past with how we see things in the moment. A memory captured in time.
The themes that ran throughout this performance experience included but were not limited to, fighting for your rights to have a say in how life should be, entrapment, escape, love, freedom, and empowerment. Some may say that it isn’t a narrative piece, as Vardimon normally specialises in transforming popular stories into new vibrant pieces with a twist. However, Now was a dance extravaganza with an extremely clear story of hope despite everything going against you. Where there was a will, there was a way for each dancer as they worked in close harmony with each other.
As each movement blended into one another, the story became more intense and experimental. Using a blank canvas of a stage with nothing but hidden cameras and different projections as backdrops to the action, words became insignificant as war, conflict, and struggles were depicted. Alongside all this was a very clever use of a long piece of rope being transformed into different shapes, such as a tightrope with the dancers using extremely clever floor work showing the fragility of life as we walk on eggshells just to survive or be thrown off. This added a dimension of fragility and power to Now, giving an insight into how the mind captures moments of fear and anxiety.
There were no weak performances here. Each dancer used their bodies in such a way that even the most experienced dancer would learn a lot from just watching them. The use of repeated jumping actions throughout the piece highlighted different emotional states such as frustration and anger, but it also showcased elements of being trapped in a systematic routine that challenged some dancers such as Risa Maki and Evelyn Hart to elevate their craft and convey a sense of robotic puppetry as they jumped and danced. This created a world that fused the here and now in such a way that the lines deliberately blurred and got everyone thinking about whether the past really changed or merely elevated itself to a new level of insight. Even as the mood changed with love and hope breaking through the darkness, there was still an element of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet entwined in Now that continued the edginess of the corrupt reality these people lived in and kept everyone engaged.
Vardimon has created a masterpiece that challenges human perceptions of reality. Now is one to get yourself fully immersed in and not to be missed.
Review by Sascha Cooper
A celebration as much as a reflection on our ever-changing world, NOW examines the beauty of imagination and art.
With a repertoire that includes Park, Yesterday and ALiCE, and a remarkable international cast, don’t miss this journey through Jasmin’s distinctive dance theatre.
Dancers
Donny Beau Ferris
Evelyn Hart
Risa Maki
Sean Moss
Andre Rebelo
Hobie Schouppe
Juliette Tellier
Now and Company Credits
Concept, Direction, Choreography and Artistic Director – Jasmin Vardimon MBE
Set design – Guy Bar-Amotz and Jasmin Vardimon MBE
Lighting and Projection Design – Andrew Crofts
Costume Design – Teresa Pocas
Animation – Michael Klega
Sound Design – Jasmin Vardimon MBE
Sound Advisor – Joel Cahen
Dramaturgy – Guy Bar-Amotz
Rehearsal Director – Andre Rebelo
Artistic Director – Alison Tedbury
General Manager – Anna McCrickard
JASMIN VARDIMON COMPANY: NOW
Sadler’s Wells East
5 to 8 March 2025
