Fri 24 Feb
words: Stephen Nottingham
★★★★☆
This was my first theatrical Street Dance experience. I expected the attitude, energy and loud beats. The creativity and upbeat entertainment value were more of a surprise.
Elektro Kif is the latest show from the Blanca Li Dance Company. Spanish-born Blanca Li studied dance in New York, before moving to France and founding her own company in 1993. Work encompassing a broad range of styles followed (from classical ballet to hip-hop), although her focus is now on emerging urban dance.
Electro is a street dance style born in the Parisian suburbs about a decade ago. It is characterized by free-flowing steps, and fast (often extravagant) arm and hand movements. Elektro Kif is the first theatrical show based on electro.
The show runs for a continuous 75-minutes and is performed by eight young male dancers. Electro is competitive: the cast are all top competition winners. From the start, their individual characters are established in the context of a school classroom. A loose narrative follows them through a typical day. There are freestyle solos, duets, and lots of tightly-choreographed ensemble dancing. Blanca’s big achievement here is the original choreography, which melds eight highly-talented individuals into a cohesive unit.
The music by Tao Gutierrez mixes techno with electro house, afrobeat, classical music and ingenious sampling. The beats in the basketball court scene, for instance, derive from the rhythm of ball and training shoes. Tables and chairs provide versatile stage props. The lighting is inventive; for example, at one point a band of light illuminates just the hand movements. They might not like me saying, but I thought there was some good mime incorporated (another great French speciality).
This tour provides a rare opportunity to see electro dance performed outside France. There were parties of young local dancers attending, who were obviously familiar with voguing, breaking, popping and locking, and the various musical styles. However, insider knowledge is not necessary, because this is an accessible and often very funny show that should appeal to a broad audience. The diverse crowd at this performance certainly left on a high.
Electro Kif can be seen at Sherman Cymru on Sat 25 Feb. 7.45pm.