This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Ritual & Rhythm

A fast ticking rhythm counteracts the slow, hyperextended movements of a solo dancer. Her back to the audience she moves with creeping extensions, her articulate body creating enticing distortions. Eventually a man enters and parades in circles around her, the statuesque stillness of his slow walks the antidote to her rippling, insect-like contortions.

Performance

L-E-V Dance Company: “OCD Love”

Place

Sadler's Wells, London, UK, September 19 & 20, 2016

Words

Rachel Elderkin

L-E-V Dance Company's “OCD Love.” Photograph by Regina Brocke

subscribe to the latest in dance


“Uncommonly intelligent, substantial coverage.”

Your weekly source for world-class dance reviews, interviews, articles, and more.

Already a paid subscriber? Login

As is the case with much of the movement in “OCD Love,” this scenario continues for longer than is comfortable. This tendency could be construed as a reflection of the inspiration behind the piece, a text entitled OCD by poet Neil Hilborn. The resulting dance work marks the Sadler's Wells debut for former Batsheva Dance Company dancer and choreographer Sharon Eyal, and collaborator Gai Behar, the artistic force behind Israeli collective L-E-V. “OCD Love” explores the idea of a love that never quite co-operates, littered by the ticks and repetitive drive of OCD.

The Israeli contemporary style can be seen in Eyal's movement language, characteristics that have become recognisable from companies like Batsheva and Hofesh Shechter. The dancer's scurrying, pulsating movements, their convulsing torsos, the impossibly deep pliés and distorted extensions. Eyal crafts these movements into an intriguing language that is at once astounding and absurd. While each of the six dancers in this company are incredible movers, Eyal's style has a way of making their great facility and muscularity appear grotesque. It's absorbing to watch.

Fabulously surreal images are scattered throughout—there's a moment when the rest of the company enter, carrying one dancer like a battering ram between them. Repeatedly she is used to poke the solo female in her hip. It leads to a duet that ends with a jab in the eyes.

The soundtrack, mixed live by Israeli underground DJ Ori Lichtik, morphs from percussion to club-style dance beats, with film score worthy moments thrown in. Dressed in variations on skin tight black leotards, their bodies pulsating to the techno beat, the dancers, and this piece, feel irresistibly hip.

Yet despite the fascination their movement creates “OCD Love” somehow forgets to speak. There are instances of clarity—the repetitive movements that embody the necessity of OCD and a duet between two male dancers where, despite their attempts to connect, they can never quite reach each other. As they strut and mark time to the pounding beat, their bodies seem to draw in energy, before they break into movement sequences that remind you how achingly good these dancers are.

There is no denying the brilliance of these dancers and the intriguing absurdity of Eyal's choreography, but at times we are simply drowned by the sheer quantity of dance presented to us.

Rachel Elderkin


Rachel Elderkin is a freelance dance artist and writer based in London. She is a contributor to The Stage and a member of the UK's Critics' Circle. She has previously written for publications including Fjord Review, Exeunt, British Theatre Guide, londondance.com, the Skinny (Scotland) and LeftLion (Nottingham) where she was Art Editor.

comments

Featured

Interwoven Threads
REVIEWS | Karen Hildebrand

Interwoven Threads

Dreadlocks are not the first thing that come to mind, looking at UK artist Nicola Turner’s fiber sculpture currently installed at Carvalho Park gallery in Bushwick. But I hesitate to open a review with a vision of the poop emoji.

Continue Reading
Borderline
REVIEWS | Victoria Looseleaf

Borderline

Inspired by breaking, neo-classical ballet and dance theater, Rubberband, founded in Montreal in 2002 by Victor Quijada, presented two works at BroadStage over the weekend in what was seen as a homecoming of sorts for Quijada.

Continue Reading
Art Under Attack
REVIEWS | Karen Greenspan

Art Under Attack

The Batsheva Dance Company returned to the BAM Opera House this week bringing their latest evening length work, “Momo.” This was the ninth Batsheva production that BAM has presented since 2002. New York City dance lovers packed the venue amid tight security and outdoor protestors to see this foremost contemporary dance company perform a masterpiece of haunting and reflective beauty.

Continue Reading
James Boyd, the Light Inside
TALKING POINTES | By Penelope Ford

James Boyd, the Light Inside

Today I have the immense privilege of speaking with Bangarra Dance Theatre’s James Boyd. James is a proud Aboriginal man with connections to the Kunja and Muruwari people of southwest Queensland. Born on Wiradjuri country in Orange, as a little boy, James wasn't quick to use his words, and had delayed speech. James's mum and dad then began to notice other things—James kept getting bruises. At just five years of age, James was diagnosed with Leukemia. In this most incredible episode, James shares his journey through cancer, the lows of hospital life, and also the highs when James was introduced...

Continue Reading
Good Subscription Agency