Friday 31 August 2012

ED2012 Physical Review: GOD (Grumpy Old Dancers) and A Beautiful Hell (Citymoves Productions and Edge FWD)

This double bill of new choreography is contemporary dance inflected with ballet, humour and lots of sexual politics. The first piece is choreographed and performed by two grumpy old men, and is danced as an elegant duologue with refreshing self-awareness and a lack of agenda. The second piece is performed by a group of comparatively young male dancers, and is a forceful and occasionally subversive depiction of male aggression and sexuality in groups. Together they are a little disparate, but their pairing does successfully emphasise the issues of masculinity at stake in both, even though they’re stylistically distinct. This is inventive and accessible dance, paired with elements of visual and audio art, with intelligence and artistry at its core.

Dance Base, 1-12 Aug, times vary.
tw rating 4/5 | [Thom May]

Sections: by Thom May - ED2012 Physical Reviews - tw rating 4/5 | Tags: , , ,

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