tangled feet Undercover
Naomi Cook VIVIDdreams (Father)
Letizia Mazzeo Is the grass greener?
Another exploration of heterosexual mating antics, a popular theme so far this season, is dished up to us by tangled feet. An attractive, deceptively sturdy double bed (IKEA or Habitat) is the sight of some raunchy sex games; so raunchy in fact, that its wooden slats finally snap in submission. Mario Christofides and Sara Templemen, the nifty executers of these tightly crafted seductions, betrayals and childish pranks, portray a convincing landscape of a couple trying to find a compromise between domesticity and fantasy. Clever athletic tricks are performed under and indeed inside a duvet, transforming the dreary act of changing bed linen into a saucy art form.
Lighting is key to Naomi Cook's trio VIVIDdreams (father), as each wash sets the mood for the action. There's a bright uplifting opening, followed by a harsh intense spotlit transition, culminating in a warm red resolution. The dancers reflect this kaleidoscope of light in their bountiful movement, recalling memories and stories from their past, but much of the intention behind the choreography is too vague. Inspite of Leonard Cohen's distinctive lyrics in The Stranger Song, which leads them down a restless and melancholic path of unresolved relationships, the work, while intended to be dreamy, is too much of an open-ended sketch and for me lacks substance.
Identity issues are dealt with in a superbly witty manner by Letizia Mazzeo's dancers, a European union of nationalities. Each has their own little story to tell, through a slick blend of dialogue, dance and mime. Cliched stereotypes include the French woman lecturing in ‘franglais,' complete with beret and baguette; the Basque man defiantly dancing a solo, all silent and serious; the women from Czech Republic, lip-synching and ingratiating as a blonde and shiny contestant in a Eurovision song contest. Surrounded by her backing group who euro-bop away with fake enthusiasm, she shows the absurdity in how we all try and fit in, yet stand out in this crazy, multi-cultural market.
Josephine Leask
Undercover shed light on how much of our lives are shared under the covers. Flirtation, fun, anger, intimacy, sex, death and renewal were some of the themes explored, illustrating the cycle of life and relationships. Choreographers Kat Joyce and Leon Smith gave us movement that just needed to be danced - it told its own story without the need for theatricality or artifice. Dancers Mario Christofides and Sara Templemen stood out with their agility, seamless partnering and unaffected dancing. Their chemistry and the piece's rock music kept the sexual tension alive and their relationship believable. This was a sexy romp under the covers, with humour, sensitivity and a touch of darkness.
VIVIDdreams (Father) was notable for its grand movement and its courageous dancers, who took falling off chairs from standing height in their stride and ate the space with gusto. However, while the piece was meant to be made up of flashes of life, the lack of history or motivation behind them made it hard to appreciate the work. The different scenes were more like vignettes, denoted by a change in lighting states rather than emotional states or continuity in the narrative. There were some good ideas, but they needed further development.
There was something for everyone in Letizia Mazzeo's hilarious and pointed work about identity. Via dance, theatre, voiceovers and an inspired Eurovision singing contest, she brought to life the frustrations about pre-conceived notions and trying to belong. The stage was a mini-London, with five dancers of different nationalities, and Mazzeo skilfully exploited their individuality with dialogue and quirky gestures. In a brilliant commentary on stereotypes, the French dancer was stripped of her accessories and given a baguette and beret instead. The ideas were well-developed, presented at the right pace, and had the depth to hold it all together. At the end, movement was allowed to speak for itself, which was all the more satisfying.
Jobina Bardai
tangled feet, Undercover
Naomi Cook, Father
Letizia Mazzeo, Is the grass greener?