Monday 27 November 2023

STUDENT DANCE REVIEW: Upside Down Under - Main Theatre, City College, Manchester.


Arden Theatre School third year dance students took to the stage today to present their latest offering, a 30-minute contemporary ballet which I believe was self-devised.

Sadly without a programme or any information online, I am somewhat in the dark, unable to credit anyone, and without any idea of what the dance was meant to represent. Contemporary dance is perhaps the most difficult of all styles and genres to watch / review, since the dance relies far more on inner-thoughts and emotions, rather than presenting a story as classical ballet does. 

I can therefore only subject the reader to my own interpretation of what I witnessed. The piece was a fully ensemble work of 20 female dancers, which during the piece took us through many different feelings / emotions; but all connected to love, relationships, desire etc. Perhaps also female independence? It was very sincere and dramatic, and some of the imagery created was visually stunning, especially the red rose petal sequence. 

Being trained in Laban, I was delighted by the beautiful use and juxtaposition of his 8 Efforts. The twenty dancers were fully immersed and totally committed to this piece making it dynamically interesting. My only slight concern being that at times, when the dancers should have been totally in unison, they were not quite as sharp and precise as they could / should have been.

An interesting piece, proficiently danced.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 23.11.23

No comments:

Post a Comment