The Year in Review - January - March 2011

January

* Fallen - Upswing - The Lowry - 14 January [Dance Moves] ***
Read my review at The Public Reviews
 
* Cinderella - Birmingham Royal Ballet - The Lowry - 19-22 January [Dance Moves] *****
Wonderfuly designed and performed production of Prokofiev's classic ballet.

* come, been and gone - Michael Clark Company - The Lowry - 28 January [Dance Moves] *****
I absolutely loved the Michael Clark Company, despite a tendency to over-literalness and occasional lapses into self-indulgence. Clark's extreme post-modern classicism and stripped-down edgy theatricality makes for mesmerising modern dance - and his dancers are beautiful. Fuller review of come, been and gone here

* ROTOR - Siobhan Davies Dance - Whitworth Art Gallery, The University of Manchester - 28 January - 6 February [Mixed-media dance performances, sound, installation and exhibition: see here for details] ***

For me pushes the boundaries of what constitutes dance a little too far. E V Crowe's Live Feed  is watchable enough but sound performance I'm Going to Show You (someone explaining how to tie a knot while the four performers sat and had a drink) was anti-performance, and Matteo Fargion's Songbook was baffling, nonsensical and eventually tedious. The four performers are great.

February

* Butterly Dreaming - Henri Oguike Dance Company - Liverpool Playhouse - 1 February ****
Read my review for The Public Reviews here 

* 7 - Company Chameleon - Contact Theatre - 5 February *****
Read my review for The Public Reviews here

* Danish Dance Theatre - The Lowry - 8 February [Dance Moves] *****
Read my review for The Public Reviews here.

Three enjoyable pieces presented by Tim Rushton's Danish Dance Theatre on their first UK visit, but final 'narrative' work Kridt  was one of the most beautiful and moving pieces of dance I have ever been fortunuate enough to see. Wonderful touring company of nine impressive and talented dancers.

* Peter Grist & Company - Contact Theatre - 10 February [Queer Contact 2011] **
Read my review for The Public Reviews here 

* Eat Your Heart Out - Contact Theatre - 11 February [Queer Contact 2011] ****
Read my review for The Public Reviews here

March

* Ailey 2 - The Lowry - 15-16 March [Dance Moves] **** (maybe less)
Read my review for The Public Reviews here
 

Ailey 2

* Search & Find - Company Chameleon - The Lowry  - 20 March [Dance Moves] **
Seemingly down to just Kevin Edward Turner through injury, he performed a solo version of Search & Find in a brief appearance outside The Lowry entrance. But Kevin's always watchable.


* Reflected - Phoenix Dance Theatre - The Lowry - 22 March [Dance Moves] ****
Phoenix continue to rise. Four distinctively different pieces performed by the company's appealing and distinctive dancers. Full of great movement, technical skill, content, colour and personality.