Tag dance

FEATURE: Bethlehem Culture Festival x Habibti Nation presents: Watermelon Womxn: a musical journey through Palestine

Reading Time: 2 minutesIt’s difficult to celebrate when such terrible tragedy is happening in your homeland. Watermelon Womxn by the Bethlehem Culture Festival and Habibti Nation was originally planned as a club night, with DJs spinning some tunes to celebrate Palestinian musicians and creators throughout the last 100 years of their history. However due to the events of October 7 and the months since, the organisers decided to tone things down, and create a space for reflection and education.

REVIEW: The Sleeping Beauty: Birmingham Royal Ballet

Birmingham Royal Ballet photocall for The Sleeping Beauty at The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton

Reading Time: 2 minutesBirmingham Royal Ballet's rendition of the timeless classic, The Sleeping Beauty, enchants audiences with its captivating portrayal of Princess Aurora's journey. Directed by Carlos Acosta, the production boasts a level of artistry and finesse that is truly commendable. With coaching support from former Principal, Dame Darcey Bussell, BRB dancers excel, embodying the essence of the story with remarkable skill and grace.

REVIEW: Listen to the Forest

Reading Time: 2 minutesListen to the Forest, the first onstage work of creator and choreographer Valeria Levi, promises to be “an experimental dance performance blending movement together with spoken word, music and BSL,” and “a space to explore our capacity of feeling and empathy for other life-forms through our connection with breathing.” An explanation that perfectly describes and sells this production. 

REVIEW: INK

Photo by Julian Mommert

Reading Time: 2 minutesThis was my main question throughout this piece. Papaioannou (an erstwhile painter before his illustrious career as a director, choreographer and performer) creates beautiful images, awesome tableaus onstage before allowing them to crumble, or in this case melt away. The stage is set under a fair few inches of water which keeps coming for most of the show. Papaioannou, as the Dressed Man is sat contemplatively, spinning a bowl of water, allowing it to spill out again. Eventually Šuka Horn crawls on as the Nude Man and disrupts this peaceful, soggy solitude. What follows borders on erotic, tender, loving and eventually violent, traumatic and sad. Outstanding sound design from David Blouin and intelligent and effective lighting from Lucien Laborderie and Stephanos Droussiotis illuminate the performance which verges on the edge of contemporary dance without ever plunging deeper into it.