Now if you want a splendid night out at the dance go and see the Nederlands Dans Theater 2. This is dance at its best. It has vigour, style, enthusiasm and wit. In fact it has everything that you would wish for. If you have never experienced dance theatre before this will surprise you and delight your senses. Sixteen young dancers form the world renowned Nederlands Dans Theater.
“Out of Breath” starts the evening choreographed by Johan Inger. The music comes from classical strings and sets the mood of black and grey for the costume of the dancers. Silhouettes are produced by the body shapes of the dancers as they go about their fine dance routines.
Next we experience “Shutters Shut” a piece set to words in black and white choreographed by Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon. The words are of Gertrude Stein who reads them at such a speed you wonder how she manages to get them said before the next one arrives. The original poem written in 1912 is “If I told him: A complete portrait of Picasso”. Superb interpretation makes fine dancing.
“Subject to Change” is how to move the red carpet and dance on it at the same time choreographed again by Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon. Impossible, but these young dancers did it. Sculpture prevails in the dancing and when the girl walks up the man you feel that you are seeing things. Superb.
After the interval you feel it could not get better, but it does, but in a different way. If you arrived late from the bar then you had missed the start for a lone dancer was into interpretation only to be joined by others until the stage was full. Then we get eleven dancers dancing to their CVs. Spanish dance. However, nothing surpasses when they descend on the audience, pick partners and take them back on stage to dance. Everyone is a dancer here. Great fun and great dance. Choreography by Ohad Naharin and various composers.
The dancers are all superb and you must go and choose your own personal favourite. Miss this if you dare, for you will not forgive yourself if you do. A must, Superb. © BA
“Nederlands Dans Theater 2 ” is in Sheffield on the 3rd and 4th of June, 2003 and then continues a nationwide tour.
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