rambert dance company
http://www.rambert.org.uk/
Scribblings
American choreographer Doug Varone, described as a ‘craftsman' of irresistible intensity, uses his extraordinary musical instincts to present his first work for Rambert. Inspired by composer John Adam's flamboyant Chamber Symphony, Varone draws on the comic exaggeration and the energy in the music, to create a daringly complex work set in an off-kilter world with touches of urgency and humour.
Doug joined Rambert in December 2007 to begin work on this exhilarating new commission for Rambert which will be presented as part of Rambert's 2008 spring tour, and made its world première at His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen on 20 February 2008.
Carnival of the Animals
Set to Saint-Saëns' beautiful and melodic music, Carnival of the Animals is arguably Siobhan Davies' most popular and endearing work. Re-invigorated for the 21st century the work re-unites Rambert dancers with this outstanding, Olivier Award-winning artist.
Anatomica #3
Renowned for his breakneck, athletic movement, Canadian choreographer André Gingras explores the idea of the human body as exhibition site in this high energy work for a large cast.
Featuring an original score from one of the most powerful and intriguing young composers in the UK, Joseph Hyde, and designs from former Rambert dancer, Fabrice Serafino, this exciting project was Gingras' first collaboration with Rambert.
Premièred at Theatre Royal, Brighton, 23 February 2007
at sadlers wells theatre
http://www.sadlerswells.com/show/Rambert-08
Rambert Dance Company is Britain’s premier contemporary dance company. Its drama, scale and spectacle continue to thrill and inspire audiences of all ages from across the UK and throughout the world. Carnival of the Animals is arguably Siobhan Davies’ most popular and endearing work. This brand new production by Britain’s most accomplished female choreographer is set to Saint-Saëns’ beautiful and melodic music. Re-invigorated for the 21st century the work re-unites Rambert’s dancers with this outstanding artist. American choreographer Doug Varone has extraordinary musical instincts and has been described as a ‘craftsman’ of irresistible intensity. His work is daring and accessible, often laced with wit and rich in emotional detail. His latest work, Scribblings, with Rambert’s sensational dancers will make its London premiere this spring. Andre Gingras’ surprising and exuberant Anatomica #3 is thought-provoking and breathtaking, making a perfect climax to this programme of work.
Judith Mackrell
Thursday May 22, 2008
The Guardian
Charm is the most elusive of qualities: it cannot be worked at; it comes as a gift. But it is a quality that Siobhan Davies ensnared back in 1982 when she created Carnival of the Animals for Second Stride. And it has been preserved in this current revival for Rambert, as has Davies' skill in choreographing characters who flicker between animal and human and who sustain a witty conversation with Saint-Saëns's score.
Davies' eye for the image that defines each of the 14 sections is wonderfully acute, from the fastidious, scratchy walk of the rooster and hens, to the gliding elegance of the solitary swan. Pure genius is the lovelorn cuckoo who mimes a beating heart to the dying fall of its own musical call.
In this current triple bill, Carnival is sandwiched between two much noisier and more muscular works: a revival of André Gingras's Anatomica #3 and a new work by Doug Varone. Scribblings is set to John Adams's Chamber Symphony, a score crammed with such clashing jangling cross rhythms that it spills out of the orchestra pit like the unravelling innards of a broken clock.
In the first of its three sections Varone harnesses the music's energy with dance of unbroken ferocity: clumps of bodies that hurtle from side to side of the stage, individual phrases that slam and rebound back on themselves. In the middle duet, however, Varone loses his focus. Although the two dancers sustain the elastic dynamic of the choreography, the thread of connection between them, and to the music, no longer holds.
actually for me i found the first two ("scribblings" and "carnival") pretty light weight, albeit "carnival was pleasingly so. hence my borrowing this review which i pretty much agree with if with rather less excitement for "carnival".
but the huge high came for me in the final piece "anatomica#3" which was much more dynamic and fearless and exciting and wow i thought showed the incredible dancers' abilities in ways that the first two pieces did not.
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