Rambert reign at Sadlers

I was overjoyed to be at Rambert’s mixed bill last Wednesday and witness such a brilliant programme performed with such energy, elan and artistry. I feared my favourite company was on the slide… I’ve been proved wrong. New additions to the team have refreshed them since I last saw them at Sadlers a couple of years ago and for once, I thoroughly enjoyed a Siobhan Davies work: Carnival of the Animals was not only classy, quirky and brilliantly performed but hearing Saint Saen’s famous work again, interpreted by Rambert, sent me right back to my childhood when this was one of the most inspiring, inspirational pieces of classical music – scrap that – music, that I’d ever heard. One of the reasons I started playing the cello as a kid – the swan – and yes, he was brilliant here.

Anatomica, also, was awesome. There’s nothing better than seeing these incredible dancers throw themselves around the stage and off precipices.

Not had so many WOWS on my part since I first saw Wayne McGregor’s Detritus performed by the Company (Angela Towler still shines, by the way). Nice work.

My review for Londonist.com here.

Wayne McGregor’s Entity

I was lucky enough to see Chroma from the front row of the stalls at the Royal Opera House and it totally blew me away. I couldn’t do a review… I was barely coherent. Edward Watson was stunning up close…. the choreography is just superb on the Royal Ballet dancers…. jibber jibber…. blown away.

So, what a shame that Entity was a total let down in its shadow. Or was it? As Webcowgirl says, other people thought it was genius. One of my non-dance friends was gripped by it, for the full hour. Me & her were bored from the start: whilst appreciating the quality of the production, the calibre of the dancers and the fantastic bodily vocabulary of McGregor, we just didn’t get into it at all.

Where does that leave our critical judgement? Can there be an objective opinion about a piece? Eeeek

Check out YouTube vid on Chroma:

Flamenco flounces into February

The Sadlers Wells annual Flamenco Festival heats up again.

Sadlers goes Samba

As previewed on Londonist the popular monthly dance club at the Wells gets carnival.

Re-Sampled at Sadlers

The hugely successful Sampled returns.

Londonist Review: James Thiérrée – Invention, Illusion, Imagination

Magic & wonderment fill Sadlers Wells.

Shechter at Sadlers: did he pull it off?

I don’t think so. Others do. At least I don’t have to struggle with it anymore.

I’d like to note, though, that Eulalia Ayguade Farro was brilliant in In Your Rooms. Fantastic.

More Savion Glover

Review on londondance.com: here.

Londonist reviews Savion Glover

“On taps…”

A standing ovation for opening night.

Londonist mentions… Breakin’ Convention

Bank holiday hip hop hooray.