Martin ThomassonEnglish National Ballet’s production of Akram Khan’s reimagining of Giselle constructs a wonderful evening of performance art at its most integrated and rewarding. The bare bones of it: Act 1: Rich boy (Albrecht) disguised as poor boy, falls for...
Carmel ThomasonAiley 2, the second company of New York’s Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, arrives at The Lowry mid-way through its first UK tour in over a decade. The company, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is renowned for giving exceptional young...
Whether it has been artists looking forward or looking back, the year 2000 has always held fascination as a turning point in our psyche. Eun-Me Ahn Dragons emerged from an idea to capture the experience of young dancers from across the Asian...
According to dramaturg, Lolita Chakrabarti’s programme note, Message in a Bottle, (the Sadler’s Wells dance show, based on the music of Sting) tells the story of one family, living in ‘a village in a country far away’ whose lives are torn apart by...
The innovative reimagining of classic stories has been an intriguing theme on the Lowry stage in recent weeks. Just last week we watched a 21st century, beatboxing Oliver Twist in Michael Rosen’s Unexpected Twist. And this week, Rudyard Kipling’s...
Georgina WellsIn a time of innovation and reinvention for Birmingham Royal Ballet – with recent announcements of a Black Sabbath ballet and BRB2, a new touring company comprised of ballet graduates – it’s good to see that the company are intent on performing the...
Between Tiny Cities – stopping at Contact on its tour of Australia and the UK – is a truly experimental piece of dance theatre. Choreographed by hip-hop dance artist, Nick Power, it brings performers Erak Mith and Aaron Lim – from the cities...
Nutcracker! was the first big hit for choreographer, Matthew Bourne and his New Adventures company. Thirty years on it still feels edgy, encapsulating the inventiveness and energy Bourne’s work has become synonymous with over the years. This is...
While it’s always special to see Ballet Black, it was particularly special to see this talented, versatile and innovative company at the Quays Theatre for the opening night of their autumn tour – their first live performance since the pandemic hit...
Wim Vandekeybus’ work for Rambert was originally created and streamed live last year, when people were “desperate for old-fashioned physical interaction,” with the camera placed in the midst of the company dancers. It’s impossible to recreate this...