The Leeds Playhouse – 9th February 2022 then on UK tour until May 2022
Reviewed by Dawn Smallwood
4****
Phoenix Dance Theatre celebrates 40 years of its existence and has put together a diverse, exciting, and eclectic programme of works which personifies what they are positively reputed for. Five works have been curated for this programme however because of indisposition of a dancer only four works have been performed on the opening night.
The programme begins with Henri Oguike’s Signal which is set to Japanese Taiko drumming and with the accompaniment of percussive music and real lives flames which set the mood and ambience for story and message telling. The dancers move intricately and intently to quick tempo drumming and their movements and portrayal reflect the rhythm and physical vibration that one feels to the beating of the drum and its loudness.
Harmonica Breakdown follows featuring one dancer, Yuma Sylla, who dances to Dr S Ama Wray’s Custodian of Harmonica Breakdown. Choreographed by the late Jane Dudley, this content packed three and half minute work explores the roles of women in society along with African American and white working people during the 1920s and 1930s, a period of hardships and adversaries. This moving dance shares the woman’s plight to move forward but at the same time she and one in society are impeded culturally, economically, and socially.
After the interval, Pave Up Paradise is presented and choreographed by Raquel Meseguer Zafe and Ben Duke. Two dancers, male and female, universally portray Adam and Eve and physically explore how a man meet a woman, give into temptations and realising how far their actions have gone. This is expressively performed to live music, by Andrew Burke, and spoken dialogue.
The final piece in the programme is Joanie Smith and Danial Shapiro’s Family which is performed by the cast. It explores the dysfunctional relationship between the parents and the parents and the children and between the family and relatives. With one sofa as sole prop each dancer portrays a family member and its relationship. It answers how a family can bond or un-bond family life whether immediate or extended. This typifies a modern family and how much good is to be found in imperfect relationships. This is a heartening piece of work which invites and encourages one to think about one’s family and ties.
Phoenix Dance Theatre, under the direction of Dane Hirst, has done itself proud in putting together a fitting birthday celebration of the company. The works being shown reflects their proud diverse, open, and universal repertoire over the years and no doubt many exciting works will be created and performed in the company’s future programmes.