Oona Doherty’s Specky Clark
The narrative takes convoluted turns and tangents; the fine lines of the Specky’s reality an ambiguous jumble
UK
Korea National Contemporary Dance Company: Jungle
An hour of extraordinary dance and mesmerising choreography as 16 dancers bring the jungle to the stage, to a music by Marihiko Hara.
Breakin ‘ Convention
Earplugs are handed out as hip-hop theatre legend Jonzi D demands the packed audience ‘make some big noise’ and gets the right response.
Frantic Assembly x Aurora Orchestra: Carnival
The premise of ‘Dr Frompou’s Anatomical Study of an Orchestra,’ that locked up musical instruments escape, is amusing:
Sasha Waltz & Guests: In C
The piece is a sort of improvisational choreographic and musical exercise within a set structure of 53 musical and choreographic phrases.
Pagrav Dance Company in ROOH: Within her
A warm-hearted tale of folk heroism, passed on through the generations with the accent on the contribution of women.
Circa with the London Philharmonic Orchestra: Daphnis and Chloé
A seriously impressive, eclectic display of acro and aerial dance gymnastics, performed on mats, each other, poles, high wires, ropes and drapery
International Draft Works
Watching new choreographers trying their hand… you realise what a supremely difficult art choreography is. But what joy when the elements align
English National Ballet: The Forsythe Programme
Not everyone can carry off Forsythe because it’s about so much more than just steps… English National Ballet have embodied the style fully.
McNicol Ballet Collective: Here & Now
McNicol uses strong ballet technique to underpin athleticism… and he’s not afraid to work on different levels, challenging his dancers at every step
A gleeful, riotous celebration: WAKE by Thisispopbaby
A cross between circus and burlesque. It thumps with energy from start to finish, and is gloriously chaotic and random