Rambert 2
Last February, audiences at Norwich Playhouse were thrilled by the visit of twelve young dancers, hand-picked from over 800 applicants who, under the guidance of artistic director Benoit Swan Pouffer, showcased their talents in three very different dance pieces. Twelve months later, and Rambert2 return to this riverside location, arriving with a fresh troupe of talented dancers all determined to forge reputations and make lasting impressions on this, the company's second national tour.
The opening piece is 'Terms and Conditions', choreographed by Jermaine Maurice Spivey and performed by six boiler-suited dancers who collectively explore ideas of identity, belonging and isolation. Individual words are repeated, delivered with a spread of syllabic stress and emphasis, and which are simultaneously translated into physical gesture and form. At each call of 'Let's play' the movements assume a collective direction, be it a criss-crossing the stage with hip-hop fluidity, or creating a circle into which each dancer enters and lies. Mirrored circles attached to their backs are removed to become masks, transferring reflection into anonymity and darkness. As an interpretive exercise in reconstructing spoken word into shape and movement, the dancers of Rambert2 may have benefited more from 'Terms and Conditions' than parts of tonight's audience, some of whom (myself included) were left feeling slightly perplexed.
No such problem with 'Sin', originally conceived and choreographed as part of 'Babel(words)' by Damien Jalet and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. An engagingly sensual duet, danced tonight by Prince Lyons and Minouche Van de Ven, 'Sin' is an intertwining exploration of human form, an erotic personification of yin and yan, and a manifestation of primeval sexual tension. Both performers writhe and twist whilst arching their bodies to complete their anatomical circlings, hands and arms teasingly exploring each other's torsos and faces. Totally spellbinding.
After the interval we are treated to Andrea Miller's 'Sama', a vigorous search for physical interaction and meaning in an increasingly digital world. Described as escape from 'the beginning of an apocalypse of the body', 'Sama' involves all eleven dancers in this celebration of both the physical and the spiritual. The vibrancy of the orange sarong-like costumes, the throbbing soundtrack and flashing lights all combine to launch a full-on assault of the senses. There are elements of circus, with incredible synchronised agility from a pair of stilt dancers and, with the energy building to a frenetic climax, there is the atmosphere and potency of an exotic beach party. And, like with any good party, the success, the spirit and the ambience is determined by the conviviality of the host and the vitality of the guests rather than the speed of the broadband, or the strength of the wi-fi connection.
Tonight's showcase from Rambert2 was again a polished and diverse affair, demonstrating the company's commitment to developing young talent, and a brave range of styles employed to further that aim. Here's looking forward to a visit from another intake of rising stars in 2021.
