Mon 14 Nov
Dance House, Cardiff
A resurgent National Dance Company Wales (NDCW) recently completed their Autumn 2016 tour displaying a commitment to entertainment, virtuosity, and conceptualism. At Dance House, Cardiff they closed the tour with three works that showcased the international quality of the company’s performers and choreography.
Roy Assaf’s Profundis isn’t really about Psalm 130, but a view into the depths of a choreographic process. Resisting a response to the question “what is it about?”, in Profundis Assad shares his artistic explorations with the dancers and creative team at NDCW. From the ‘performance within a performance’, to the use of text to change the ‘meaning’ danced gestures, every assertion about Profundis is subverted and re-contextualised. Although conceptual in nature, the work is accessible and light hearted. If you allow yourself to simply ‘watch’, then Profundis is a tapestry of exquisitely detailed gestures adorned with sparkling stories.
They Seek To Find The Happiness They Seem choreographed by Lee Johnston, is a technical, organically flowing duet that explores an intimate, yet distant relationship. As rehearsal director for NDCW, Johnston has authored a work in which the performers have a palpable connection with each other. The bond between the dancers is contrasted by choreography keeps them apart in the most intimate of moments, and in close proximity when they require emotional distance. The ebb and flow of their encounters reflected the very human reality of the struggle to sustain ourselves , our partner, and the developing relationship.
[wpdevart_youtube]l7269i7Pplw[/wpdevart_youtube]
Watching Caroline Finn’s Folk eleven months after my first viewing, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much more fresh and captivating it felt. With a new casting, and a clear belief in their Artistic Director the NDCW dancers gave a thrilling performance of Folk before it leaves company repertoire. The sheer dynamism of this work, and the dancers enthusiasm for performing it, left me looking forward to Finn’s next work with the company for the spring 2017 tour.
words GUNDIJA ZANDERSONA