Another is a quadruple selection of dance pieces by the fledgling company Ballet-works founded by a former soloist of Stuttgart Ballet, Robert Robertson and comprises both contemporary dance and ballet en pointe. ‘Fledgling’ is the operative word since the quality is uneven and the four pieces do not sit together as a show, giving the impression they were hastily cobbled together. However, this is worth seeing for the accomplished performances by these talented dancers.
A fledgling company... yet to take flight.
There is no programme, only, albeit intriguing, art work by Tizziano Portas and Robertson on post cards but the lack of identifiable information as to content takes some time to match them with title or piece performed, apart from the last piece since Satie’s Gymnopédie is so well known.
The first piece, Edge me Away choreographed by Emrecan Tanis starts with dancer, Pablo Von Sternenfels breathing deeply and as a second dancer, Robert Robinson, arrives they seem to be struggling for space. There is an inspired clicking by Robertson, which suggests an embarassing inability to be himself, whether as a stutterer or from a deeper psychological complex of inadequacy. Unfortunately the two males resort to fighting, a depressing, if too true, portrayal of typical male behaviour but which has become a bit too familiar in dance. Another dancer then throws himself on stage followed by a black-out. At great touch of drama.
30 Minimum Visible, a piece with James’ Fisher’s voice-over about touch has the most uncomfortable choreography squashing contemporary and classical together with no understanding of how the two aesthetics and techniques might inform each other. This was followed by a mesmerising solo Ugly Angel, choreographed by Louis Stiens and danced impressively by Robert Robinson.
The highlight of the show was Nuda, classical dance choreographed by Fabio Adorisio to Satie’s Gymnopédie performed by Von Sternenfels and Lowden joined by Martina Verbeni, en pointe, an Italian who has also worked with the Royal Swedish Ballet. This beautifully choreographed and performed piece delighting in the beauty of the body shows that this company is happiest in the classical tradition but their experiments with contemporary work have yet to take flight.
