We have been privileged to see a program of four very strong contrasting works as performed by the excellent young dancers of NDT 2 ( The ‘second company’ so to speak of Nederlands Dans Theater).
First up was the magnificent ‘Studio Two’, choreographed by Sol Leon and Paul Lightfoot. Breathtaking and mesmerizing with jaw –dropping performances it was performed to Arvo Part’s haunting , hypnotic “Tabula Rasa’ .
Traditional classical ballet is taken and twisted. It has very atmospheric lighting and is dominated by a huge tilted bare ‘over the wall’ white set. It is abstract but includes extraordinary explosive short solos and some amazing very demanding lifts in the pas de deux. One of the men is in white underpants, another, topless, is mysterious and ominous in long black pants. At one point there is a use of the deep Graham plie and I also noticed in one section a favouring of a wide fourth position. There is also an amazing section using the dancers’ reflections and their interaction with the reflection – the dancers seem like amoebas or floating globules.
The second work , ‘Dreamplay’ as choreographed by John Inger was far darker and ominous. Was it in fact a dream ? Are we meant to pick up references to Strindberg’s play ? To Stravinsky’s driving ‘Rite of Spring’? Inger brings us a powerful , disturbing work .It is cyclical , beginning and ending when a man in a red turban sees a woman in a posh fur coat . There are repeated awkward phrases of movement , stomping circular movements in sharp spotlit circles of light and whirling jumps.
The backdrop is a wonderful , tilted ,textured wall that is shifted and becomes a raised platform at one point. The four men are dressed in grey kilts with red lining, the women in stunning short lace dresses with a geometric feature on the back. As in the controversial original Nijinksy version it is about the chosen outsider and harsh relationships between the sexes .There are also possibly allusions to Nijinska’s ‘ Les Noces’ . There is a powerful yet tender pas de deux with angular arm movements. At one point the man is manipulated like a puppet .This was contrasted with large ensemble blocks of movement.
The strangest , least satisfactory work for me was ‘Sara’ , choreographed by Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar. The dancers wore skin coloured unitards making them look like nude shop mannequins. Again, it was about an outsider vs the group – one of the dancers was always separate and every so often one of the writhing , wriggling ensemble would attempt to break out with no success . Isolation and everyday movements were included .Mostly the group was a threatening, sculptural mass with odd ‘dead’ eyes .( Did they wear special contact lenses for this ?) Overly fancy camera work was used to hide the somewhat disjointed, fragmented choreography.
To complete the program we saw ‘Maybe Two’, choreographed by Alexander Ekman , which was about love and relationships and included a magnificent string quartet . Speech was included particularly in the opening section which had a line of brides and grooms in what turned out to be a string of full standing cardboard cut outs. The choreography included frenzied ensemble work, rolls and jumps. Another section, with two large rolled white panels as backdrop, included a ritualised , formalised representation of a couple making love , how that lead to a baby and analysing how that changed their lives. There was possibly an allusion to Matthew Bourne’s ‘Dorian Grey’ at one point with the ‘gay’ ( ? ) couple ultra chic in white tuxedos and black boutonnieres.
Doll like robotic repeated movements are used .There is also a very ‘hot’ and athletic pas de deux on the tilted bed that turns into a confrontational threesome . The ending has the quartet (playing their instruments pizzicato so they sound like ukuleles) and the dancers line up in a row. Fade to blackout.
A most exciting, challenging program of four very different challenging works that showcases the breadth and depth of this company’s wonderful dancers.
Running time 2 hours 15 (approx) including one interval
This was at Dendy Opera Quays and Dendy Newtown and other selected cinemas various dates between 1st -6th June 2013