The company opened with Liv Lorent's sure-fire hit Tenderhook, a wonderful piece danced in a honey-coloured glow of light, with flimsy, multi-coloured costumes by her long-time collaborator Paul Shriek. The costumes, like the dancers, float lightly through this appealing work, which is made even more striking by the lighted ribbons the dancers twirl as they move, producing whirling circles of light that become part of the choreography. The title doesn't actually mean anything, but, although this is an abstract piece, the 'tender' part is clearly seen in the quite intimate solos and couplings of the dancers. I say 'couplings', because although there are four men and four women on the stage, they stick to the same partner, apart from the many solo passages.
Ezio Bosso's music starts with a simple, almost childish piano theme, and builds to a climax in which the cast forsake their occasional writhings on the floor and dance joyously in an ensemble full of light jumps and turns. Although the setting is a dimly lit stage, the feeling here is one of outdoors, of young people innocent and joyous and exhilarated. What Lorent has created, with considerable contributions from these fine dancers, is a perfect fusion of choreography, music and lighting. Although we can't see inside these meetings and partings, and although this is essentially an abstract dance piece, it's a work that expresses considerable emotion. It may be personal to Lorent and her dancers, but it affects us, the audience, too.
After the interval came Hofesh Shechter's Dog. Although it's completely different in style and feeling, it's almost as though the choreographer has seen Lorent's piece and decided to subject it to a series of electric shocks. Again, this is a near-abstract work, though dancers occasionally on all fours are clearly a reference to the title. But gone are the gentle lyricism and near-elegiac mood of Tenderhook, and in their place the dancers hurl themselves around to an eclectic soundscape which I believe is of Shechter's own making. There is a lot of formation dancing and jazzed up energetic strutting. It's hard to know what it's all about, but it's fun to watch.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article