Dance GB

Wales Millennium Centre

28th June 2012

 

First off the starting blocks was Scottish Ballet’s Run For It, choreographed by contemporary-dance creator Martin Lawrance. This fully fuelled race took place around a beautiful sculptural piece by Turner prize winner Martin Boyce, reminiscent of both Grecian pillars and a modern stadium roof it successfully linked the old tradition of the Olympics and the modern athleticism of the games. Inspired by the strength of the athletes and set to John Adams’ Son of Chamber Symphony, this piece was definitely a showcase of talent and skill.  A pageant of undeniably beautiful strength unfortunately there seemed to be no emotion beneath this display of competence and we were left waiting for a moment of pure exhilaration.

 

At the risk of sounding biased towards the home team, National Dance Company Wales delivered what was undoubtedly the most crowd pleasing performance of the night. The tongue in cheek Dream took a nostalgic look at the games, opening at a 1950’s sports day complete with egg and spoon and sack races. Soon this family fun transformed into a slightly more serious display of dancing talent set humorously to Ravel’s Bolero. Comedy popped up throughout as dancers dived on the stage to begin their attempt at synchronised swimming and men faced each other in boxing and fencing matches. A picturesque reminder of the ordinary people with extraordinary talents that compete for their country.

 

The gold medal winners of the night for me were English National Ballet. Itzik Galili lived up to his reputation as a choreographer who delivers passionate and forceful dance. This sensational piece And The Earth Shall Bear Again was set to a mash up of John Cage’s complicated and diverse pieces for prepared piano. Abstract and sometimes challenging, the beauty came from unexpected patterns in the choreography and music colliding and rebounding from one another. Galili’s inspired lighting added another dimension to this already dynamic display of how we learn and grow. Mind-blowing is the only word applicable to this almost overwhelming piece.

 

These three completely different pieces came together in a truly Olympic display of British talent. Inspiring and entertaining, a great triple-bill for dancer lovers and those new to the art alike.

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Comment by Guy O'Donnell on July 11, 2012 at 0:21

Hurrah for the home team , jolly good show!

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