March 2007
News: Darcey Bussell - Farewell
Britain’s best known ballerina looks set to retire from the stage this summer. Dates have just been announced for a special show: Darcey Bussell – Farewell presented by George Piper Dances and Sadle… Continue Reading
Henri Oguike Dance Company in Mixed Bill at Queen Elizabeth Hall
‘Great interest, as always, in his choice of music – here is a choreographer whose adventurous spirit seeks to realise scores from a variety of disciplines, and frequently and happily succeeds in clothing them in dance.’
Richard Alston Dance Company in Mixed Bill at Sadler's Wells
‘The dancers in those ballets and indeed all evening, are pretty good too, but what Alston gives them to do leaves something to desire. Why, to this music, does he rely so much on steps that are straight from classical ballet although performed barefoot?’
Richard Alston Dance Company in Mixed Bill at Sadler's Wells
‘This second section also proved a terrific vehicle for the extravagantly brilliant Jonathan Goddard, the 24-carat stand-out in a very talented, physically alluring troupe.’
Richard Alston Dance Company in Mixed Bill at Sadler's Wells
‘Ultimately this programme shows that Alston can put dances together with a facility almost unrivalled in Britain today, and his dancers perform them wonderfully well. But perhaps it’s now time for him to throw a few surprises their way.’
Hofesh Shechter in Uprising/In Your Rooms at The Place
‘In Your Rooms is edgy, fascinating and all embracing, both danced and directed with a raw sophistication.’
Hofesh Shechter in Uprising/In Your Rooms at The Place
‘Initially, his nine dancers seem to function as human building blocks, their language restricted to blind repetition or to flickers of raw emotion, but over 40 minutes the choreography seems to embody man’s desperate project towards meaning, as the moveme…
Hofesh Shechter in Uprising/In Your Rooms at The Place
‘The premiere of In Your Rooms was most encouraging, though not entirely successful. A work for nine dancers (an excellent troupe), it has heaps of atmosphere and its own intelligent logic. What it doesn’t have is enough variety to sustain its 40 minutes.’
News: Candoco Foundation Course faces closure
Candoco Dance Company’s Foundation Course in Dance for Disabled Students is likely to close at the end of this academic year as the Learning and Skills Council has announced that it will not be renewing it… Continue Reading
Review: Union Dance in Heaven on Earth at Linbury Studio
During the interval, I looked around an exhibition of paraphernalia celebrating the 21st anniversary of this dynamic little company and came across a review of a performance it gave in 1988 by Jane King, then da… Continue Reading
Review: Hofesh Shechter in Uprising/In Your Rooms at The Place
Most conspicuous choreographer of the year so far has to be Hofesh Shechter. Landing a plum spot in the fabulous Sadler’s Wells Sampled programme back in February his breakthrough work *Uprising* reached a… Continue Reading
News: Back from the edge
Cambodia’s 1,000 year long dance tradition was almost wiped out in the 1970’s under Pol Pot. Twenty five years later a revival is underway – and performances of Weyreaps Battle at the Barbican … Continue Reading
Royal Ballet in Onegin at Royal Opera House
‘The company are on excellent form. Cranko’s handling of the Pushkin story as dance is masterly.’
Royal Ballet in Onegin at Royal Opera House
‘Kobborg and Cojocaru are one of this generation’s great partnerships, and are clearly drawn to the challenge of portraying extreme emotional states. But Pushkin is not susceptible to quite such gothic treatment.’
State of Emergency in Mission Re-Position at Stratford Circus
‘Mission Re-Position, the feistily titled new show from State of Emergency, is full of good intentions. It has been designed as a showcase for young, black, female choreographers – still poorly represented on the dance stage – and, with an almost old…