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mkD: a beautiful back

mavin khoo Dance
devi: the female principle
Linbury Studio, Wednesday 22 March

You know you’re in trouble with a dance review when the notes you’re taking are describing the linear action of the piece rather than gut reactions to the work as a whole. That’s not to say I didn’t like “devi”. Discrete parts I liked a lot. There was serious intent, artful choreography and a brooding simply lit set, yet something was missing. Not quite enough flair, exoticism or emotional intensity to sustain a dedicated 45 minute performance at the Linbury (that’s 33.3p a minute in the arena seats) and not enough overt thematic work to carry it solely on “the sensuality and physicality of the awakening female spirit”.

It was a collage: film, sitar, splendid live vocals from Pushkala Gopal and Michael Harper, dancing solos, duets, interplay between vocalists & dancers, shifting light, an interesting soundtrack of beats overlayed by jingling, jagged breathing, utterances. It should have added up to a bigger whole. Performances were excellent. Ann de Vos has the most expressive (least flesh covered) back. Choreographer Cavanna made sure every bone took part in this performance. She is a gorgeous dancer; at the beginning sinuously rolling, writhing and arc-ing along the floor. I hesitate to say it, but she reminded me of Guillem in her skeletal mobility, build, charm and quirkiness. A very French style of dancing. Mavin Khoo delivered exquisite Bharata Natyam features as well as commendably complementing Ann’s leggy lithe langourousness from his diminuitive status. Only in this piece, about embracing the feminine, could you get away with such a mis-sized partnership. But they worked best in tandem, dancing as equals, twinned in costume and feminine virtuosity.

Right near the end, there was a moment: de Vos and Khoo, both collapsed on the floor, bathed in red light, suddenly locked eyes. There it was, the moment of emotional engagement. I held my breath, they looked away, the moon came out, it finished.  That was what was what I’d been waiting for, what was lacking. Technical excellence and intelligence applied throughout, cultural fusion choreography courtesy of Cavanna and Khoo was thoughtful and at times, beautiful, but this piece failed to move me. Dance needs this kind of innovation and ambition though and all credit to the company and its lowercase letters: mkD. Respect.

Take: South East Asian dance afficionados & those who know Mavin Khoo.