So while I sit here, after seeing the beautiful performance of Deborah Colkers work listening to E.S Posthumus' rather inspiring music, I decided to write up my views of the performance
Firstly, the intention behind the piece: This piece of dance was to explore many, if not all forms of cruelty that can happen within a relationship. It says to of been split into `four movements, the first of which sees an enormous globe shaped chandelier dangle from the ceiling`. Can I just say here, what a beautiful way to start a piece of movement. The lighting, the dancers direction and positions ( who to start of with, were all the male dancers acting with excessive amounts of masculinity in their tight tailored clothing)showing the intention of work was behind this specific phrase of movement. I must say, very suprised with how technical these male dancers were. Two, especially seemed to catch my eye. I mean the girls, were beautiful dancers, machines infact, but the boys were so much more precise with the placement of their feet, arms and their body, whether they be in 4th open or second with a slight tilt.
Secondly, another section of movement which just astounded me was the choreography that took place on a spinning and moveable long table. It was so fast paced and dynamic I believed that for a second these people were infact, robots. The way that timing mattered so much in this piece was incredible. I feel that this is the way a lot of dance pieces, if not all of them should be, in the sense that the audience should feel that the dancers are suspending so much that if they do it too fast they fall and too slow, the phrase falls apart. One woman is this section ( she was a little 5ft blonde lady, probably in her 30's, built like a tank with a body that we would all love and die for now, let alone that age) just had me in absolute awe. The way she moved, all of Colkers intricate details was shown in every piece of movement in this section that she performed. For example, she does a trio piece with two of the male dancers and yeah, it could of been classed as contact i guess but a lot of the work she done by herself was so beautiful to watch. Another female dancer, the only one to be on pointe on both feet while carrying knives for a part of the section, had me gobsmacked. Her precision while on pointe was on top form. She danced with such ease, ease I have never seen before. Ease, with emotion in her eyes.
Of course, the interval draws the curtains after 40 minutes and as I get up to pop to the toilet, I see one of my dance teachers sitting on the same row and we both realised that the college piece I am involved in which 2nd Year Dancers are performing seems to be very inspired by this Colker piece. I don't know, maybe its because of the detailed sections, along with the dynamic and such drastic change in emotion but it was the waltz section too! The dancers perform a very up beat yet earthy contemporary waltz ( it cant be done you say? Oh yes... yes it can) and wow beautiful is all i can say
Okay, so the final act. I must admit, apart from the revolving mirrors, the pieces intention started to lose itself on me. I dont know whether this was because i was so astounded by the dancers climbing about these high mirrors while crawling through holes in it and running everywhere ( manic times!!!) but the piece of cruelty in relationships, I felt, wasnt strongly presented then again, maybe it was, but in a more subtle and personal approach so that Colker and her dancers only understood. I don't think I will ever understand the use of the mirrors, yet there were a lot of points where the dancers would dance frantic then just stop. Motionless just looking at themselved in these mirrors. Intention was there I knew that much and it certainly made me question as to why they were doing it.
All in all, the dancers have an incredible amount of skill and concentration that was obviously on high demand for this piece, as well as stamina of course. The men, sounded like feathers and dust touching the floor on the landings of their jumps. The women, full of emotion and passion from beginning to end. Thoroughly enjoyable piece choreographed by such an excellent choreographer.
C.Muckle
