New Wave
What distinguishes a dancer from a choreographer? This is, in the end, an empirical question, one that can only be answered in the theatre.
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World-class review of ballet and dance.
The finest choreographers have not only a signature style, but walk their own creative paths—think Pina Bausch, Merce Cunningham, Crystal Pite, Michael Clark, Botis Seva and Sharon Eyal. All are idiosyncratic visionaries with their own stylistic quirks and traits. All have raised eyebrows, and raised the roof with their work, which may not be rooted in the comfort of traditions and familiarity, but rather, leave indelible marks on the viewer. If you can make an audience member squirm, laugh, feel puzzled, or even aroused—sometimes, all at once—job done! The best artists create worlds within worlds. So it is with genius choreographer and dancer Sophie Laplane. The Franco-British ex-Scottish Ballet dancer turned choreographer creates the most astonishing pieces, characterised by otherworldly balletic patterns and jerky hip-hop moves, like popping and locking, alongside some playful scenes too. She's no stranger to inducing chuckles.
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What distinguishes a dancer from a choreographer? This is, in the end, an empirical question, one that can only be answered in the theatre.
Continue ReadingThere is something charmingly didactic and intellectually generous about American dance companies touring Europe. At the start of a performance, it is not unusual for a director to step forward and offer a brief introduction, explaining the reasons for the tour and sketching the wider context of the programme. Paris audiences experienced this with the Martha Graham Dance Company last autumn, and now again with Dance Theatre of Harlem. Robert Garland, at the helm of the ensemble, took a moment to anchor the performance in lineage, recalling the company’s origins and its illustrious founder, Arthur Mitchell. As Garland recounted, Mitchell...
Continue ReadingHubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Winter Series takes its audience on a journey back through time.
Continue ReadingWhat are you looking for in a night out in the theatre? Do you seek beauty? The ethereal? That may be the case for most at a ballet, but CCN Ballet de Lorraine’s double bill at the Southbank Centre wants to bring us on a whole trip.
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