Jo Turbitt reviews SKAL & Silent Space and The Rooster & Partial Memory.
Every year Dance Base's fringe programme is peppered with double bills that are melting pots of culture, of talent, of styles and artistic genius; this year the combinations are spot on. Going on title and show description, as ever with fringe shows, one doesn't know what to expect, but these two shows will restore your faith in trusting the show's name and blurb.
SKAL (Lin Dylin) & Silent Space (Dance Ihayami): ****
Two very distinctive works which compliment each other in their juxtaposition of styles and content but marry together beautifully in their artistry and voice.
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SKAL (Lin Dylin) takes us into the world of two dudes, two hip-hop dudes who are contemplating/reflecting on stuff. Combining hip-hop with contact and an injection of the dry, understated yet very funny Swedish sense of humour, Pontus Linder and Olov Ylinenpaa flip, tumble, spin and swirl through the space with the ease, grace and fluidity of mercury. Both have a relaxed, natural performance quality, which adds warmth to the work. Prompted by props, projection and music, Linder and Ylinenpaa explore a range of ideas and responses to experiences and social constructs through a range of succinct bite sized chunks of hip-hop-physical choreography, knitted very loosely together to form the structure of the work; a few more hooks to link the piece together, to guide us a little more along the path that we're on through all the different parts would catapult this piece into a complete idea.
Overall, a very entertaining and heart warming piece which eschews the arrogance associated with hip-hop.
Silent Space (Dance Ihayami) is a very clever piece using South Asian Dance and playfully experimenting with an array of musical styles, visuals and relationships in the space. The work is responsive, it's strong in content and in creativity; having seen quite a few pieces from this company over the years, Silent Space is by far their strongest. Who'd have thought that Shostakovich and South Asian Dance could work so harmoniously? Priya Shrikumar, that's who, and by heck does it work. In all of the dancers, there is a beautiful confidence and honesty in how they perform the work; their projection and intention is strong, expressing their joy in being playful with such a deeply traditional art form. Shrikumar has taken her movement voice and skilfully set it with live flute, voice, classical music, traditional and modern music filling the ‘Silent Space’ with a polyphony of exciting juxtapositions.
The Rooster & Partial Memory (El-Funoun Palestinian Dance Troupe/ Shams Association/ Marhabtain Organization): *****
This show is masculine dance at its most macho. It's gritty, it's raw, it's brash and gutturally honest. Two pieces of work performed by this extraordinary company, and both are brutally powerful in terms of physicality and subject.
In The Rooster, the work examines the pack mentality and the isolated exclusivity that comes with the need for power. Drawing on Lebanese 'dabke' folk dance, the companies movement sweeps you into a whirling dervish of driving rhythms; throw in earthy, powerful prowess and five stunningly honest and strong performances, and what you've got is a deceptively simple concept delivered in a fantastically layered and structured way. The men exude physicality and the message of the work drives their performance, runs deep in their veins, powering them through and they're digging deep into the truth that lies behind the piece.
Blown away doesn't cover it. After they build you up, where do they take you next? Straight into an emotionally heart and gut-wrenching piece which will pull you apart, that's where.
Partial Memory is the most honest, beautiful and humble piece of work I think I've ever seen. Autobiographical but not a hint or sniff of self-indulgence or gratification, you're with Ata Khattab in every step and every emotion that he goes through. Believe me: he's not acting. This is a cathartic piece for both performer and audience member.
Take tissues: you'll leave the theatre feeling like you've been wrenched apart.
Part of this year’s Dance Base Fringe Festival programme. For dates, times and further details visit their website.
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