A wonderfully stimulating evening at the Coronet. A superbly evocative venue that transports us to a mysterious world. It’s as if the Portobello Road market has been cherry-picked for all the best pieces of objet d’art and placed in the interior of the Coronet. It gives the Coronet a wonderful sense of otherness, atmosphere and expectation. Perfect for a pre-show drink and chat with friends. The other quality the Coronet has is that it attracts the cool crowd. If you’ve wondered where all those 1970s hippies have gone, they’re watching modern dance at the Coronet. So, if you like rubbing shoulders with the in-crowd, the Coronet is the place for you. Last night was a full house as everyone wants to see anything by the doyen of modern experimental dance: Russell Maliphant. He offers a double bill. It lasts just over an hour. Two works; both solo pieces choreographed by Maliphant. The first, “In a Landscape”, is danced by him and lasts 30 minutes. The second piece, “AfterLight”, after a 15-minute interval, is danced by the much younger Daniel Proietto. I’ll take each in turn.
First up is “In a Landscape”: this is billed as a world premiere dance by Russell Maliphant himself. It’s fair to say that Russell is a “mature” dancer now, so he performs, shall we say, in a more measured style. Dressed all in grey topped by a shiny bald head, he makes for an arresting visual stage presence. Wearing grey socks, a grey onesie and working with grey hanging draperies, Russell performed what you might call Fifty Shapes of Grey. Starting with single shots of himself striking different poses, he creates a visually fascinating series of iterated and reiterated images that get ever more complex, interconnected and resonant. The stage space is black, the drapes are silvery grey and the lights work together to freeze-frame Russell as he moves and creates shapes. One theme is the idea of, as it were, Silk Cut. He uses his finger, elbow and head to cut the drapes and create shapes that are backlit. This simple but ingenious technique allows him to create endless variations and iterations. Panagiotis Tomaras’ lighting and Dana Fouras’ hypnotic music provide Russell with a rich, multi-layered canvas upon which to work. The sum is definitely greater than the parts. The overall effect I found eerie, mesmerising and intriguing. I wouldn’t say I “understood” it all but the sheer thrill of the experience of being up close with such a world-renowned performer is more than enough in my book.
The second piece after the interval, “AfterLight”, is breathtaking. It’s danced by the superb Daniel Proietto. He’s like a cross between an Olympic gymnast and a ballet dancer. He moves with effortless grace, power and dynamism. Just as James Joyce wrote twenty pages without any punctuation, Daniel dances seamlessly without breaks. One phase of movement flows continuously into the next to provide fifteen minutes of pure pleasure. Eric Satie’s haunting Gnossiennes 1-4 provides the perfect musical accompaniment to Daniel’s exquisite, exhilarating and effervescent performance. It’s a great shame that so-called modern dance finds itself in a ghetto only appealing to those in the know. I’m convinced that modern dance has the potential to appeal to and provide pleasure to a far wider demographic. So if you’ve never been to a modern dance show before, then take this opportunity. It’s a terrific evening. And if it’s not your cup of tea, well, it only lasts an hour. Give it a punt.
Review by John O’Brien
Russell Maliphant returns to The Coronet with maliphantworks4, featuring the World Premier of In a Landscape, performed by Maliphant himself, and his acclaimed AfterLight, danced by the exceptional Daniel Proietto. Maliphant is celebrated for his visually rich dance works and ground breaking approach to flow and energy, continually exploring the relationship between movement, light and music. He is considered to be one of Britain’s leading modern dance creators, a key figure in the evolution of contemporary dance.
Russell Maliphant Dance Company: maliphantworks4
The Coronet Theatre
10 to 12 March 2025
