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Julio Torres and Yanelis Manzanet from the Cuban company, Acosta Daza, bring dance to Birmingham's Grand Central. Pictures: Joe Bailey Dance: Sampled
Birmingham Hippodrome
***** IN AN evening
that celebrates the best of dance from around the globe,
Dance: Sampled
gave audiences the opportunity to celebrate the world of dance in an
evening that presented pieces from all genres, performed by worldwide
companies in a single explosive evening. The programme is enjoying its second year, and
introduced and indeed reminded audience members about the diversity and
range of the genre of dance. Even before the curtain was raised, the audience
were treated to showcases of dance by local companies. Every space in
the Hippodrome area was filled with impressive samples, from English
County dancing to Hip-Hop demonstrations. The companies provided a
lively introduction creating a great sense of anticipation for the main
performances of the night. The main programme consisted of seven
performances with each piece having a video introduction describing its
process and meaning The simple showcase style was executed brilliantly
and gave a welcoming feel. The huge variety meant that there was
something entertaining for everyone. Of the seven performances, each carried a unique style. Some companies had histories of performing at the Hippodrome, such as Birmingham Royal Ballet, and others performed welcoming debuts. The first to be seen
was Aakash Odedra Company’s extract from their piece entitled
#JeSuis. With
a company of dancers from Istanbul, they told the story of oppression
and tragedy. With a distinctly eerie feel, the extract of the dance took
inspiration from South Asian classical dance styles and gave a thought
provoking introduction to the night ahead. We then sampled a piece
from Birmingham Royal Ballet, Lyric
Pieces: Phantom commissioned by BRB
from American choreographer Jessica Lang in 2012. This was an
interesting piece from Birmingham’s own ballet company, introducing the
audience to the more contemporary work of BRB and providing a great
sample from a wonderfully professional company.
Julia Urruty and
Claudio Gonzalez gave us two brilliant performances in the programme.
The first, La Otra Cara de la Maneda,
translated as The Other Side of the
Coin, along with
Buenos Aires aqui y ahora,
meaning Buenos Aires here and now.
Through the genre of Tango, the audience saw a fiery flavour of Latin
dance, whilst being told stories of passion and indeed humour through
their brilliant talent. The Richard Alston
Dance Company gave us Gypsy Mixture
in their folk inspired performance.
Gypsy Mixture was born ten years ago by
Artistic Director Richard Alston and has been revived for the first time
since then for the Birmingham stage. This was a happy revival, with a
piece that exuded vibrancy and fun with a stellar company of dancers. After the interval, we
saw Acosta Daza’s Derrumbe.
The dancers showed styles of both ballet and contemporary to create an
expression towards life’s emotions, and the hardships we may face in
life. The company is from Cuba and had a Latin touch with music by
Eduardo Martin and Ahmed Dickinson. The large company worked
marvellously together to create a strikingly artistic piece. The night also provided
us with a solo performance. This was Connor Scott’s
White Water.
As the winner of BBC Young Dancer of the Year 2015 and having trained in
ballet and contemporary dance, Scott gave us his interpretation of the
feelings of looking back with nostalgia and explored themes of
loneliness in his piece. Scott was bold and unafraid, showing the
audience a sample of contemporary dance at its finest. The last performance of
the evening was Sinestesia
by Iron Skulls Co. Hailing from Barcelona, they demonstrated a story
within the style of contemporary dance about the survivors of a
post-apocalyptic world. The company used the entire space to create a
dark and empty atmosphere, weaving through the auditorium to create
interesting sequences within a new world. In their costume, gas masks
were worn, adding a new layer to the story of survival. They were urban
and feisty, and were a brilliant and experimental end to the evening’s
performances. Dance: Sampled
was a fantastic night, celebrating the best of dance within the city and
around the world. It welcomed audiences from every background and gave
entertainment to everyone. The uplifting atmosphere and vibrant mood was
infectious, and gave way to an amazing night to see the best of
contemporary dance today To 04-03-17. Elizabeth Halpin O3-03-17 |
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