Nottingham Royal Centre – until 26 February 2022
Reviewed by Louise Ford
4****
Just consume and enjoy…
The NDT were founded in 1959, by a group of dancers from the Dutch National Ballet, in The Hague (Netherlands), it has created a modern ballet style; a fusion of classical ballet and modern dance. The NDT2 was set up in 1978 for young dancers. The current company’s ages range from 20 to 26 and come from a wide range of countries not just the Netherlands.
The current UK tour started at Sadler’s Wells in February 2022, the last time they were touring in the UK was 2016. There are three pieces in the current tour, two of which new to the UK. The pieces explore current themes of loneliness, connection and death.
The Big Crying by Marco Goecke, written in response to the death of his father. The melancholy score composed by Tori Amos, is married with the sounds of roaring trains and the dancers’ screams, it finishes with a pared back version of REM’s Losing My Religion. The dancers create angular and mechanical moves and shapes in various groups and formations.
After a brief interval the second piece Simple Things by Hans van Manen, set to a soundtrack of modern piano, the accordion and Haydn. It is a complete contrast to the opening piece. The set is bathed in a deep blue light which sets off the dancers beautifully. The opening and closing pieces of music are a little difficult however they contrast with the longer middle section perfectly. The gentle piano pieces and the classical ballet moves are just lovely.
The final piece is Impasse by Johan Inger which opens with a trio of young dancers (Annika Verplancke, Austin Meiteen and Emmitt Cawley) and builds to a full cast finale. For me this was the strongest and most enjoyable piece. The music by French Lebanese jazz trumpeter and composer Ibrahim Maalouf was inspiring and perfectly complemented the piece.
An evening of energy and confidence, the company are young and athletic and clearly enjoy performing. It’s at times a challenging watch but one that lingers in your thoughts and in your mind long after the pieces have finished.