The Place, London
September 20, 2024
For two nights at The Place, BOP Jazz Theatre Company presented its latest work, a double bill of Footprints in Jazz and Touches of Miles. Both were accompanied by live jazz musicians, adding panache and class to the evening.
The BOP dancers were at time outstanding, although elsewhere blew a little cooler, the technique seemingly less assured, the performance less together. But what super, unfailing energy and attack, which helped to maintain audience engagement throughout.
Choreographed and directed by BOP founder Dollie Henry MBE, the double bill was full of creativity and innovation. The lead dancer, Nafisah Baba, BBC Young Dancer of the Year in 2017, danced with grace and assuredness, but was rather over-used, and noticeably tiring towards the end.
Photo BOP Jazz Theatre
Also of note was Ilaria Breschi, who graduated from the London Studio Centre in 2018, after which she joined BOP for two years. She returned to BOP for Rewired: Up Close and Personal, and stayed on for Jazz Conversations. She has a winning smile, solid technique, and her style is a perfect fit for the jazz music.
Touches of Miles, Henry’s narration of the life and impact of jazz great, Miles Davis, added an interesting touch to the evening, during which the live band were terrific.
Jazz Conversations opened with a short additional piece presented by Impact Dance, an award-winning hip-hop youth dance group. They were exciting to watch, and if they are representative of the next generation of professional dancers, we have a lot to look forward to.