London Coliseum – Saturday 14 September 2024
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
For one night only, Lazgi – Dance of Soul and Love came to the London Coliseum on its UK premiere. Hopefully, it will return, as this gloriously uplifting show from the National Ballet of Uzbekistan is an unforgettable experience.
Based on an idea by Saida Mirziyoyeva, the traditional dance style is interwoven with a modern ballet beginning on the ancient silk road depicting the origins of love and the timelessness of the loving soul throughout history. A museum scene also celebrates the history and culture of Uzbekistan and Lazgi as living, vibrant forces that should not be simply observed through glass. A humorous scene of modern office life (all office chairs and vertical blinds) shows that even this digital monotony can’t crush the dancing soul, while the stunning finale envisions and embraces the continuity of Lazgi for future generations.
Davidson Jaconello’s score is wonderfully evocative, whether the dance is on the silk road or a bleak modern office. Yoko Seyama’s scenography and Tim Waclawek’s lighting design create magical moments as projections swirl on gold cloth, and a beautiful candlelit climax to the show. Frol Burimski’s costumes are delightful. Raoul Raimondo Rebeck’s choreography is beautiful, with sublime pas de deux from the couples depicting Love and Soul, and mesmeric and powerful ensemble work. When the Lazgi dancer is onstage, the joy and energy if palpable, and the simple section with accompaniment by two traditional instruments was the highlight of the evening. Rebeck fuses Lazgi with ballet to profound effect, and this celebration of this special dance form is an utterly unique and exuberant show.