Dans Theater

Circumstances this week brought a double viewing of the NDT1 programme at Sadler's Wells, which I didn't mind at all. Holland's flagship company has, to leading order, the best dancers in the world; I have no idea how they do, but it really does seem to be the case. These people are utterly gobsmackingly perfect, stupefying epitomes of effortless strength and grace in human form. They just boggle the mind.

Given such a resource, you can forgive choreographers for going to town. The evening's middle section -- and the running order is shockingly wrong, there can be no question but that Lightfoot/Léon's Signing Off should be the finale -- is a brazen show-off piece, putting the unflinchingly brilliant performers to the test with every casual eye-wateringly-difficult step. Anyone who has ever danced will be agog for the piece's duration. But it's not merely hard, it's also beautiful.

Signing Off is bracketed by two Jiří Kylián pieces, Wings of Wax and Tar and Feathers. The former is rather lacking in overall structure, but never less than lovely; it would take a hard heart to dislike it. The latter, well... I must say I enjoyed it a lot more on second viewing, but it is appallingly self-consciously avant garde, in a sort of naïvely old-fashioned way that makes one think, "Oh, bless." (Ian, who lacks my sentimentality in such matters, hated it with an absolute passion.) The dancers, again, are put through dizzyingly difficult paces, but it is difficult to imagine most of the audience caring.

Thursday, meanwhile, brought Les Ballets C de la B to the Purcell Room, performing choreographic newbie Lisi Estaràs's Patchagonia. Although very much in the C de la B house style -- and smoothly arranged and performed -- and altogether very entertaining -- it seemed oddly lacking in the passion and vehemence and extremity that normally characterises this Flemish ensemble. There was little in the way of blood, sweat or tears. It was likeable enough, but therein lies the problem. C de la B's stock in trade is discomfort and anguish and misery, a bringing face to face with the marginalised and disenfranchised and despairing. Patchagonia was, at best, just a bit disgruntled. On the whole, a disappointment.

Posted by matt at April 5, 2008 12:09 AM