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Bolero

 
Lisa Simonis Review by Lisa Simonis 3 Published: 13 Aug 2025 Assembly @ Dance Base Show Dates: 12 Aug 2025-23 Aug 2025

Step behind the scenes into the world of dance with Bolero as it explores the painstaking, arduous backstage process of putting together a dance show.

Technically skilled and soulfully delivered

On entering the space, the dancers are already on stage, warming up in their colourful joggers and white vests. A man steps on stage, loudly talking on the phone. He’s the director of this fictional dance company.

In this play-within-a-play, dark-comedy combo, audiences soon discover they are attending a rehearsal for a brand-new show. The director loudly and obnoxiously critiques the piece, giving notes and making the dancers repeat sections multiple times. His absurd requests and over-the-top commentary keep the audience laughing, even as the dancers push themselves to their limits.

The routine blends acrobatics, floor work, and contemporary dance with strong partner work, all phenomenally executed by the two performers. Technically skilled and soulfully delivered, the choreography is captivating to watch. The show’s simple set design, minimal props, and straightforward storyline allow not only the dance, but its focus, to shine through.

As the piece is performed several times, Bolero becomes an exploration of how music transforms movement. From metallic tones to primal percussion, the same choreography feels entirely different with each iteration. Layered with the director’s evolving notes, the performance subtly shifts before the audience’s eyes. Whether these changes improve the piece is left for each viewer to decide.

Beyond physical demands, Bolero examines the psychological pressures dancers face – their personal lives shaped by the demands of the company. Funny yet painful, exaggerated yet truthful, Bolero offers a revealing glimpse into the creative labour behind performance, illuminating a process often hidden in a truly imaginative and beautifully crafted work.

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The Blurb:

Two dancers specialised in acrobatics and floor technique have become tools of the classical artist's genius, but inspiration is running low and the choreography is not progressing. The pressure is high, and emotions are heating up as they struggle to create something final. The work atmosphere is tense, the humour is dark and the dance is dangerous. The Bolero duet is built on the foundations of Kinetic Orchestra's partner technique and the performers' extensive skill set. It is a combination of black comedy and skilled, fast-paced dance, full of techniques from different acrobatic disciplines.