PIXELATED SQUID & THE UNIVERSE | STAGE REVIEW
Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, Mon 22 Feb
Contemporary dance can be an odd and alien thing – especially for the uninitiated. I’ve seen a fair bit of it over the years and whilst I wouldn’t consider myself a huge fan I would say I always appreciate the virtuosity of the artform.
I’m more of a drama man and so was the rest of the audience at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven last night as the Welsh tour of Pixelated Squid & The Universe opened a year-long festival of dance at the west Wales venue. The issue with contemporary dance can sometimes be a lack of narrative or understanding of the plot but this certainly was not the case with the first piece of the night, choreographed by Karol Cysewski.
A three-man ‘documentary dance’ performed by the choreographer himself and two of Wales’ finest male dancers (Wales Theatre Award nominee for Best Male Dancer 2015 Alex Marshall Parsons, and the winner of the same award Gwyn Emberton) this item of the evening was a first for me: a belly-laugh piece of dance.
I use the word ‘belly’ because the midriff of each dancer provided some of the biggest laughs on the night – each acting as narrator Professor Brian Cox during voiceovers from the scientist’s documentary, Wonders Of The Universe.
There were many joyous moments in this Universe section of the title and it was a delight to see a largely young audience, including a young girl sat close to me, shrieking at some of the more mirthful moments. This was clever, witty, accessible storytelling told through contemporary dance – words I never thought I would write.
The second half of the evening represented the first half of the title: Pixelated Squid. And what a treat of many small, fine, beautiful and intense particles of movement this was. Following the hilarity of The Universe came a pin-dropping half-hour that had the audience spellbound. Here we were introduced to Tentacle Tribe, a Swedish/Canadian streetdance duo, Emmanuelle LêPhan and Elon Höglund. They owned every tiny little pixel of their performance.
Flinch-less stillness in their intense opening, trademark dynamic street-dance movements throughout and a stunning, intricate nod to their Cirque Du Soleil appearances near the end as a seated Emmanuelle LêPhan wove with elegance a long aerial silk cloth. This was an event, and one that has provided a big bang to the Welsh dance scene; let’s hope it’s a case of ‘watch this space’ for much more to come.
words JACK BARKER
The Torch Theatre’s Year of Dance continues throughout 2016. More information can be found at www.torchtheatre.co.uk. Pixelated Squid & The Universe tour continues this week at The Riverfront, Newport (Thurs 25 Feb), Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea (Sat 27 Feb), The New Muni, Pontypridd (Mon 29 Feb) and the Borough Theatre, Abergavenny (Wed 2 Mar) before disappearing into the ether. Tickets are available from the venues and www.squiduniverse.co.uk