The famous duet, the Faun, describing the meeting and joining of two woodland spirits by way of the distinguished choreographer, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and the gorgeous music of Claude Debussy usually thrills and this performance in Act II of a triple bill of dance at the London Coliseum certainly does. Vaychesla Lopatin, a principal dancer of the Markinsky Ballet … [Read more...]
Reviews of Dance in London - Reviews of Dance at Sadler's Wells
If you are planning to visit London to see a Dance production on stage at one of the West End theatres, or in one of the many Off West End or Fringe venues, then maybe our Dance reviews section can be of help? Read one of the latest reviews or use the search button to find and view one of our previous reviews. We use a star rating system on our site.
BalletBoyz’ Them/Us at Sadler’s Wells
The first half of the show, a thirty-minute piece choreographed by the dancers is titled Them. It’s not boring because Balletboyz are fabulous dancers and for this reason, it’s enough to watch but the work itself feels shallow. It’s hard to work out what the point is except as a virtuoso display. The cube doesn’t add much either. Andrew Ellis, the lighting designer contributes occasional intense scenes of colour which are beautiful. The music composed by Charlotte Harding provides necessary substance to the work as it sweeps from gorgeous strings to strings with a driving beat which accompany the best section of dance, a virtuoso solo by dancer, Benjamin Knapper. Them has a running time of only 30 minutes which is just about right, not overlong.
Notwithstanding the limitations of Them the second half of the show, Us, after the interval is so satisfying you leave elated, amazed all over again by the impact of great contemporary dance when it happens in front of you again.
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The Snowman – Birmingham Repertory Theatre | Review
The Snowman is an annual favourite at The Peacock Theatre. Without dialogue the music and songs composed by Howard Blake and played by an orchestra that’s present lead the tone and cracking pace of the show, capable of being understood by the smallest members of the audience. The magical illusions of theatre are described on entry to the auditorium even before the … [Read more...]
Les Beaux dormants (The Sleeping Beauties) at The Royal Opera House
Nothing is more important than the replenishing of tradition by creative innovation. This can be achieved in two ways. Most obviously by restaging the classics in new settings. As with Shakespeare in contemporary dress. The other way is to, as it were, use the classic work as a spring board to explore new possibilities. Most famously West Side Story as a reimaging of … [Read more...]
Review of Acosta Danza – Evolution at Sadler’s Wells
Acosta Danza is a Cuban- based dance company founded by Carlos Acosta, the great Cuban ballet dancer and choreographer. He is the Artistic Director of Evolution and also makes a guest appearance as dancer in the final work. Evolution is a terrific show. The first piece of the evening is Satori. Choreographed by Raul Reinoso it’s mysterious and surreal in a … [Read more...]
Another Look at Memory at The Coronet Theatre | Review
The Coronet Theatre is a charming Grade II listed venue, with a candle lit and uniquely furnished and beautiful bar it’s a perfect refuge on a winter’s evening in Notting Hill. Philip Glass’s magnificent work for organ and choral voice, Another look at harmony, accompanies the dance piece, Another Look at Memory presented by Institut francais and performed on The … [Read more...]
Natalia Osipova – Pure Dance at Sadler’s Wells | Review
Natalia Osipova is the artistic director of this show and a principal dancer at The Royal Ballet, London. Pure Dance is a fine programme of seven short pieces varying in tone and form from contemporary dance to classical ballet. Osipova dances in six of the works and the seventh, a solo performed by David Hallberg, a principal guest artist at The Royal Ballet, is … [Read more...]
INALA with the Soweto Gospel Choir and International Dancers | Review
It is more than thirty years since the South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo achieved global fame through the unorthodox route of collaboration with an American rock star. The result of that was the landmark album Graceland, made controversial by the fact that the star in question, Paul Simon, appeared to be breaking the cultural boycott imposed by … [Read more...]
Russell Maliphant Company’s Silent Lines | Review
Silent Lines is a new work choreographed by Russell Maliphant and performed by his dance company. It’s an abstract work relying on movement, music and clever light effects to absorb the audience which it successfully does. Much more so than his other recent work, The Golden Thread. Running at an hour Silent Lines opens with five dancers performing as indistinct … [Read more...]
Dangerous Liaisons an original dance adaptation | Review
This dance production of Dangerous Liaisons is set both at the time of writing and into the near future - perhaps a year or two leading up to the 92nd Academy Awards, not to take place until 9th February 2020, and then its aftermath. To set all the dancing in context, a relatively brief preamble in the form of a news magazine programme called ‘All Access Hollywood’ … [Read more...]