Following the light: finding home in motion
Far From Home is a 1 hour 20 minute performance, followed by a 20-minute Q&A with the choreographers and the composer of the soundtrack. It was created a few years ago by identical twin sisters Kristina and Sadé Alleyne, and it remains their longest work to date, having been performed all around the world. Drawing on their athletics background, the sisters blend hip hop with a strong kathak influence from India, all within a contemporary framework.
The staging was striking. Three walls resembling the sides of a cave, or perhaps a maze, enclosed the space. The opening scene showed several ropes laid across the floor, with dirt and sand along the edges. The sand added a sense of dynamism, lifting and scattering as the dancers moved through it.
Without a doubt, the most remarkable visual element was the lighting. A single source was often placed at the side of the stage, and most of the performance took place in near darkness, with the light concentrated on one spot. This created a chiaroscuro effect that made some scenes look like baroque paintings, and it gave the cast’s shadows a leading role. At times, silhouettes of people could be seen through the walls, which felt like a nod to Plato’s allegory of the cave. Light was scarce at the start, simply sitting low and horizontal at the side of the stage. Later it grew stronger, and the dancers were drawn towards it, gathering around it as if guided.
The choreography was where the piece truly came alive. The variety in movement, style and flow was incredible, with the sisters’ different influences blending seamlessly from one moment to the next. Some sections were driven by rhythm, while others were far more acrobatic, showing off the dancers’ strength and athleticism. This constant shift in energy made the performance very engaging.
The music was composed for the piece by Giuliano Modarelli in collaboration with South African artists. They aimed to blend sounds from around the world so that the score would appeal to a wide audience. The costumes were another highlight. Everyone wore different, colourful clothing that was eclectic yet somehow matched. The flowing trousers added to the movement, accentuating the fluidity of the dance.
According to the creators, the storyline was kept vague on purpose so that Far From Home would be relatable to everyone, leaving everything open to interpretation. The idea was originally inspired by the journey the twins’ family made when moving from Barbados to the UK. The piece explores migration and the experience of refugees, not through clear narrative scenes but through brief, fleeting impressions: fear and escape, a divide between “us and them”, attempts to communicate, anxiety and exhaustion, and moments of hope and support.
However, this openness has a downside. A piece lasting 1 hour 20 minutes without a clear storyline can be confusing. There is a narrative, but it is not easy to grasp. Several elements recur throughout, such as the rope, the light, and the water, yet none of them has an obvious meaning or purpose, which made the story hard to follow at times.
Even so, there is plenty to admire. The creators explained that every performance is unique because they work with new cast members each time, some of whom come from the sisters’ own company, Alleyne Dance. The cast was truly diverse in every sense, which suited the universal themes of the piece.
Overall, Far From Home is visually and musically rich, with varied and engaging choreography and unforgettable lighting, even if its deliberate vagueness may leave some viewers searching for meaning.
Far From Home’s run at Sadler’s Wells East ends tonight.