January 2007
Motionhouse Dance Company in Driven at Touring
Coming to Purcell Room, 23-4 Feb 07 ‘My misgivings about Driven grew as the show progressed. Physically Motionhouse’s fit young dancers give their all, but they lack psychological texture and emotional shading.’
News: Ballet Black
perform at the Linbury Studio, Royal Opera House, this week. Cassa Pancho, the Director of the UK’s only Black ballet company talks to the Independent, 30 Jan 07 Continue Reading
Henri Oguike Dance Company at Laban
‘Henri Oguike is one of the brightest hopes of British contemporary dance and it is typical of his range and ambition that his company’s spring tour should begin with a programme that unveils two new pieces. ‘
Jacky Lansley in View From the Shore at Linbury Studio
‘The integrity of Lansley’s raw materials is always exemplary. What’s disappointing in this programme is that the choreography lacks some combination of distance and rigour to make those materials gel.’
News: Glen Tetley 1926 - 2007
The American choreographer Glen Tetley died last week at the age of 80. He trained in dance comparatively late in life, he had already started a chemistry degree. He worked with Martha Graham – before join… Continue Reading
News: Joni Mitchell
is working on a ballet with Alberta Ballet in Canada. It uses several of her songs – and she is also working on the stage designs. Read more in the Guardian, 29 Jan 07 Continue Reading
News: Jude Kelly
The Artistic Director of the Royal Festival Hall talks about her plans for the building. Highlights of its new programme includes pop legend Scott Walker writing a score for resident choreographer Rafael Bonache… Continue Reading
Royal Ballet in La Sylphide double bill at Royal Opera House
‘As the Sylphide, Cojocaru is miraculous. Exquisitely fine-drawn, her jump airy and weightless, she is the ultimate otherworld being.’
Henri Oguike Dance Company at various
‘There are times, however, when Oguike’s note-by-note translation of music into movement can seem a little overcontrolled, so it’s good to see him departing his comfort zone with Green in Blue, a collaboration with the jazz saxophonist Iain Ballamy.’
Henri Oguike Dance Company at Laban
‘As he began his spring tour at Laban, Oguike seemed to be a large-scale choreographer stuck with small-scale resources.’
Henri Oguike Dance Company at Laban
‘Oguike’s strength has always been his ability to find such bold theatrical colour within the pure abstraction of his dance.’
London International Mime Festival at various
All Wear Bowlers, Barbican Theatre ‘Imagine Waiting for Godot played by Laurel and Hardy, designed by Magritte, and you get some idea of the range of reference in All Wear Bowlers by the American clown duo Rainpan 43.’
London International Mime Festival at various
Tangentes, Barbican Theatre ‘By means of conveyor belts set at different speeds the four performers play games with expectation: one pair walk towards each other yet actually move further apart, another pair retreat from each other yet come closer.’
London International Mime Festival at various
Philippe Genty, Lands End, QEH ‘In the best scene, a woman dances with an insect lover, a puppet with a human face, frail legs and twitching beetle body. The whole creature is unsettling and brilliant.’
London International Mime Festival at various
Philippe Genty, Lands End, QEH ‘Nearing 70, this talented Frenchman is an acknowledged master of wordless visual theatre whose themes and imagery are often derived from dreams.’