Lorna Irvine reviews a production from 'an incredible team at the top of their game right now'.
Motion of Displacement
Bryan Arias' new World Premiere is absolutely sublime—a piece examining frailty in shades of white and grey. When a human chain is broken and things fragment, how can a new world be rebuilt?
There are obvious parallels to be drawn in our current political climate, with the refugee crisis becoming desperate. Solos and group-work reveal vulnerability and strength from unexpected sources. The sense of frustration, of being held back is pushed to the fore, as dancers hamper the movement of others by grabbing them and restraining them. Minimal isolations mirror the throb and scratch of John Adams' gorgeous, uncompromising score. Araminta Wraith, who joined Scottish Ballet last year, is a robust young dancer to look out for, and there is intense work from Constance Devernay, Eve Mutso and Jamiel Lawrence.
Elsa Canasta
Inspired by the life and music of Cole Porter, and first performed by Rambert in 2003, Elsa Canasta is a Scottish Ballet Premiere which is a wry nod to Hollywood's golden era, accompanied by massive live vocals by Nick Holder as The Singer and the fantastic orchestra.
Winding down a staircase, the Company, clad in shadowy colours, chatter, giggle and flirt, powering through sexually suggestive interactions which are cheeky, teasing and in the case of Victor Zarallo and Thomas Edward's So In Love routine, a little bit cruel. Meanwhile, the Ziegfield Follies homage is offset by the slightly nasty bite between Sophie Martin and Erik Cavallari, whose Down In The Depths becomes a sadistic tug of war, until a tacit deal is made and they slink off to an uncertain future. De Frutos' choreography runs the gamut of human emotions from frothy to ferocious, and is a master-class in dark, sleek movement and storytelling.
Maze
As an extra surprise in the billing, Scottish Ballet's own Sophie Laplane has created this stunning piece, which is part puzzle—full of knotty choreography to be unpicked—part study in the shifting dynamics between two women (Madeline Squire and Claire Souet) and two men (Javier Andreu and Eado Turgeman) to the classical sweep of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' cinematic music, and the bubbling electro of Xela.
The quartet move playfully like contortionists, becoming entangled and even pulling at each other's clothes. Laplane is fast establishing herself as not only a formidable dancer but a wonderfully imaginative choreographer in her own right.
Scottish Ballet are an incredible team at the top of their game right now.
www.scottishballet.co.uk
At Theatre Royal, Glasgow, 24-26th September, before touring across Scotland until 10th October.
Images of Scottish Ballet by Nisbet Wylie
RSS