LondonTheatre1

London Theatre: Tickets Reviews | News | West End | Off-West End | UK Touring Productions

Dance Direct Offers
  • Home
  • London Theatre Tickets
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • West End Theatres
      • Matinees
      • Seating Plans
    • Come From Away
    • Dear Evan Hansen
    • Les Miserables
    • Matilda the Musical
    • Pretty Woman the Musical
    • The Lion King Musical
    • The Mousetrap
    • The Phantom of the Opera
    • The Prince of Egypt
    • The Woman in Black
    • Tina the Musical
    • Wicked
  • News
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Ballet
    • Cabaret
    • Children’s Theatre
    • Circus
    • Comedy
    • Dance
    • Immersive
    • Music
    • Musicals
    • Opera
    • Plays
  • UK Shows
    • UK Theatres
    • Ambassadors Theatre
    • Duke of York’s Theatre
    • Fortune Theatre
    • Harold Pinter Theatre
    • Lyceum Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre
    • Richmond Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
    • Piccadilly Theatre
    • Playhouse Theatre London
    • Trafalgar Studios
    • Hotels
      • Broadway
  • Shop
    • Vegan
    • Books
    • Digital
    • Home
    • Clothing
  • EMP
    • Things to Do
    • Experience Days
  • Dancewear
Home » Reviews » Dance » Agudo Dance Company – Silk Road at Sadler’s Wells – Review

Agudo Dance Company – Silk Road at Sadler’s Wells – Review

May 7, 2017 Last updated: May 8, 2019 6:46 pm By Marian Kennedy

Agudo Dance Company - Photo by Bee Roy
Jose Agudo – Agudo Dance Company – Photo by Bee Roy

It started with a call for the dance that’s Flamenco in the long drawn out notes of a female voice. Accompanied by the sweet, melodic guitar of Giuliano Modarelli, Jose Agudo, walked quietly across the floor tapping out with blocked heels an echo of the unmistakeable rhythm that’s Flamenco. The world premiere performance of Silk Road had begun, a journey in dance from the influences of Spain to India and back again

Dressed in tight black, Jose Agudo became all masculine attack in the compelling dance choreographed by Rafael Amargo that followed. It was almost impossible to believe Mr Agudo was the same performer in the subsequent Kathak solo when he returned to the stage dressed in white robes this time, spending time winding long strings of small bells around his ankles, a metaphor for the distance of the journey.

Once Jose Agudo was moving again, this time to the beautiful choreography of Nahid Siddiqui, he was all grace and flow. A huge contrast to the flamenco piece, describing his versatility as a performer. There was a gorgeous, poignant moment in this dance when he paused to wonder at the sound of a heated tropical downpour of rain, describing a different home.

After the interval, Jose Agudo and guest artist, Mavin Khoo, danced together. They described through movement the making of silk, from the worms that must die to produce the thread to the weaving of saris. It was fascinating watching the two of them. Flamenco is syncopated, its moves play with the rhythm while Khatak dancers are rigorous about sitting on the beat. By means of the performance of their choreography, the two dancers managed to describe differences between East and West, while often making the same moves. Also finding harmony. It was wonderful and intriguing. What a satisfying dancer to watch is Mavin Khoo, who works with Wayne McGregor and the Akram Khan company as well as being the artistic director of ZfinMalta Dance Ensemble.

There was real regret as Mr Khoo pulled back into the darkness, taking his wonderful dancing away, leaving Jose Agudo alone again as at the beginning of the show but different, describing transformation as the sound of Flamenco returned as a motif. By this point of the evening, I could have sat there all night watching the pair of them dance together.

The lighting by Jackie Shemesh was simple, clever and effective. Tightly top lit at times, powerful cross-beams of light were used at others with darkness employed as deliberate concealment.

The soundscape and music of the evening were extraordinary and lovely. There were just two musicians, drummer, Bernard Schimpelsberger and guitarist, Giuliano Modarelli, also the composers. Recordings of different female sung voices were played to great effect. Mr Schimpelsberger performed as a bridge between the two different dance pieces in the first half the extraordinary Indian conversation of rhythm I have only heard performed by Akram Khan before. Mr Modarelli’s guitar playing was a wonder, which the audience appreciated in their applause at the end of the show.

This is a nuanced, gorgeous, rewarding show.

4 stars

Review by Marian Kennedy

Seasoned performer and choreographer Jose Agudo, who has worked with Shobana Jeyasingh and Akram Khan, launches his company with an evening of specially commissioned works. Silk Road is both a universal and a personal story of East meets West in the 21st century. In collaboration with the renowned classical Indian dancer Mavin Khoo, Jose Agudo weaves his flamenco roots with a unique, contemporary style.

Lilian Baylis Studio
Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R
4 & 5 May 2017
http://www.sadlerswells.com/

Tagged With: SadlersWells

Connect with us on Social Media

Book Tickets for 2021
London Theatre 1 on Amazon
 
Disney Plus

Follow us on Social media

London Theatre 1 and London Theatre One are Registered Trademarks Copyright 2021 www.LondonTheatre1.com
By using our website you’re confirming that you’re happy to accept our use of cookies. Here you can find out more about how they are used.
Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising - About Us - App - Newsletter - Contact Us
Customer Helpline: +44 (0)20 7492 1602
As an Amazon Associate our website receives a commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.