Combining a range of music and movement to create diverse moods, the
Henri Oguike Dance Company came to the Playhouse to present four contrasting
pieces, mixing vibrant movement with storytelling, operatic effect with
Latin pulse and social commentary with sheer joyful expressiveness.
The music was the key element, setting the mood for dancers and audience
alike. Two lighter, energetic pieces sandwiched the longer, more complex
fable of Dido and Aeneas, the hero who Dido voluntarily relinquishes in
order that he can fulfil his destiny as founder of Rome. A short, sharp
solo by the company's eponymous artistic director and choreographer completed
the programme.
Dido & Aeneas is an ambitious project which seeks to relate
a story as well as expressing the characters' emotions. Set to a resounding
operatic recorded backing which comes dangerously close to dominating
the movement work, the dancing is expressive and superbly timed, yet fails
to provide much needed contrast between scenes. There are intense moments,
such as the pathos conveyed by bodies writhing on the floor to the accompaniment
of minor chords as Dido expires, but the piece at times seems laborious
and one-paced, prone to lose momentum and at times hard to follow.
The shorter pieces sandwiching Dido work better. Front Line is
performed to live music - a string quartet performing Shostakovich at
the back of the stage. The dancing is vibrant and has good momentum. The
dancers' quick-fire movements portray the rapidly changing events and
emotions of battle, conflict and the human reality of war. Change of pace
is the driver reflecting the precariousness of war and life where conflict
and discord turn in a moment to sadness and grief, energy and motion to
prostration and stillness.
Oguike's solo piece, Frames per Second, again has a distinctive
musical backdrop and his lithe, virtuoso performance is set against an
insistent, scratchy string backing.
Finale is the lightest, most effervescent piece, bursting with
irresistible beats, vivacity and colour. The steps are playful and exuberant
and the intense yellow lighting brings a warm glow to the spirits as the
dancers bounce merrily through the Latin rhythms of Rene Aubry's infectious
soundtrack. This was joyful dancing, and it left everyone uplifted and
in a shiny, happy mood.
The show presents a great variety of dance experiences, exploring at
various intersections the relationship between music, movement and light
converging in diverse ways to create diverse effects. Technique and timing
are masterful and a varied set maintained momentum taking the audience
through the full range of feeling before ending on a high and positive
note.
Kathryn Karakaya, 11.10.03
|