‘A unique and mesmerising double bill of contemporary dance. ‘
Walking into the minimalist theatre space, I was unsure what to expect as I selected my seats ahead of the performance for the Kontemporary Korea Double Bill.
First up was Cheol-in Jeong with Melancholy Dance Company’s Flight. This was an instantly captivating duet playing with the contrast between heaviness and weightlessness as each dancer grappled with discovering lightness and then being pulled down by gravity.
Opening with a lone man on stage contorting into positions of airiness before showing signs of frustration as he was instantly drawn back down to Earth, often with a literal thud. The piece starts in silence, a motif which continues as a theme throughout the double bill. This draws the viewer in and holds a tension close to awkwardness whilst the audience wait expectantly for what comes next.
As the second dancer takes his place in the piece, we see moments of manipulation and control as the dancers appear to fight against one another in pursuit of flight. Perhaps, this is a representation of the innate human need to step on one another to further our own desires? The piece continues to build in intensity with a slow addition of components; a dancer, music and the use of shadow which creates a feeling of eeriness. The routine ends in an admirable physical feat that captivated the audience.
What I didn’t expect in a dance with such power, was the moments of humour and light relief weaved throughout. On multiple occasions the audience were left laughing and there was a release of tension in the room. This often followed a particularly heightened motif and allowed the audience a moment to catch their breath before the dance built once more. These much-needed moments of stillness accented the contrasting movement, allowing the viewer to contemplate on the dance’s theme.
The second performance choreographed by Sung Im Her was a social commentary on increasing screen use and the effects of social media. Similar to the first act, the performance began with a single figure twisting their body on stage which continued to increase in energy. However, this piece had a different tone from the outset and created an unnerving feeling which remained throughout the entire performance. As the other dancers join, the motif of silence is there once more, captivating the attention of the viewer. This paired with the dim lighting and unusual movement creates a feeling of unease in the auditorium which invites a jarring contrast to the bright coloured lighting and high energy movement seen as the dance progresses.
The dancers break the silence introducing strange sounds as they move about the stage increasing the stressful atmosphere before the music from Husk Husk begins. We see one of the dancers look at his phone to introduce the story of the dance. The foundation of the performance is repetitive movement, often jerky and erratic in nature. This is balanced with familiar TikTok dances, inviting the audience to reflect on their own experience with social media. The performance used bold, colourful lighting, bright clothing and high energy movement to add playfulness throughout but even in these moments of fun, a darker tone remained overall. The routine is split into chapters discussing different elements of social media from fun light-hearted dances to filter culture and striving for likes.
Again, there were moments of stillness and humour peppered throughout the routine, giving the audience a moment to catch their breath and regain their thoughts.
If you enjoy contemporary dance then this intriguing double bill is well worth a watch!
REVIEWER: Evie Greenstreet