Turning 20 – Candoco Dance Company

Candoco Dance Company celebrates 20 ground breaking years with a triple bill anniversary performance premiered at The Lowry.

As a fully integrated company of disabled and non-disabled dancers, Candoco has always challenged an art which by convention elevates physical perfection. The programme is billed as bold and unexpected, and in this respect fulfils its promise. However, while it is challenging and innovative, it is not always likable.

Looking Back pushes the boundaries of contemporary dance into areas which often feel uncomfortable. Rachid Ouramdane’s choreography with recurring themes of falling and isolation is overpowered by Jean-Baptiste Julien’s relentless soundscapes. It is a dark and at times claustrophobic work.

The tone lightens up with This Is It, by Matthias Sperling, a solo danced tongue-in-cheek by Victoria Malin. Dressed as a cross between Wonder Woman and Barbarella, Malin charms the audience with her provocative moves before bursting into song with a bizarre Euro-pop style club mix.

The final piece, Set and Reset/Reset is the restaging of Trisha Brown’s signature work, Set and Reset which premiered in 1983. The orginal piece confirmed Brown as a pioneer of contemporary dance and still has appeal. It is a playful and fast-paced work, with additional choreography this time from the dancers themselves. After a mixed start, this finale reminds us why Candoco has been a success for so long.

Candoco Dance Company is at The Lowry from 14 September 2011 to 15 September 2011.