Firmly in the realm of contemporary dance, there are traces of more ‘traditional’ (for want of a better word) disciplines that can be seen in Deluxe, presumably a reflection of their individual and collective training - dancers and directors alike. Such beautifully, if unconventional, choreographed movements are a delight to see - and, thanks to world events at the time of writing, are seen close up on video rather than, as planned, on tour. The camera work, too, deserves praise - capturing as … [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.
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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 that 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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Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes at New Wimbledon Theatre | Review
Regular readers of my reviews will know that, while I know very little about dance, I do know what I like. And, someone I like very, very much is Sir Matthew Bourne. I have been enchanted by his work since seeing my first MB show back in 2008. One of the great things is to see a show more than once, and this is the case with The Red Shoes, which I first saw back in 2016 and have just caught as it stopped off at the New Wimbledon Theatre as part of a massive UK tour. The show tells the story … [Read more...]
Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch – Bluebeard | Review
Did you enjoy it? Not much. Did you admire it? Yes. Why? The energy of the movement on stage. The talent and charisma of the new young dancers. Only the two central characters are ‘familiars’ part of the company when Bausch died. (This is her modern legacy.) The work’s contemporary themes interrogating an individual’s capacity for control in society, the subjugation of women and the immolation that’s controlling, surrendering obsessive need dressed as love. And yet Bluebeard was devised by … [Read more...]
Michael Keegan-Dolan / Teaċ Daṁsa – MÁM at Sadler’s Wells
Following the runaway success of creator and choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan with his fabulous Loch na hEala there’s been a sense of excitement about his work and originality. Performed by his twelve strong company of international contemporary dancers, Teac Damsa, MÁM is the first work since Loch na hEala Keegan-Dolan has brought to Sadler’s Wells from where he lives and works in County Kerry. Created in collaboration with his dancers it’s intended to reflect that place from which it … [Read more...]
Annual Dance Taster Festival: Sadler’s Wells Sampled 2020
Sampled at Sadler’s Wells is always fun. Short bursts of different genres of dance performed to different styles of music equates energy. It’s not for children but the format suits their attention spans and they come, dressed in glitter and audibly expressing their enjoyment. It’s not a staid experience. It is an occasion when extracts of some of the work that will be shown at Sadler’s and the Peacock during the forthcoming year are available to be tried to see if the various forms will be … [Read more...]