Matthew Paluch - Page 5

A satisfying mix of historical, modern and zeitgeist repertoire for graduate students to get their teeth into.

The prospect of a choreographic platform or festival is always exciting. DanceWest Fest at Hammersmith's Lyric saw the first outing of the rebranded Ignition Dance Festival. The night was hosting four dance makers, all presenting new work (or nearly) for an energised audience.

Impermanence Dance Theatre had quite the ride for their opening night (in London) of Venus: a quadruple bill of new work at the Wilton's Music Hall.

Elmhurst Ballet Company, the graduate year students of Elmhurst Ballet School opened their 2023 performance Legacy at the Lilian BaylisTheatre, Sadler's Wells on 14 May. The student company will also be performing the programme at the Elmhurst Studio Theatre(Birmingham) 19-20 May.

What did our critic think of GÖTEBORGSOPERANS DANSKOMPANI at Sadler's Wells?

Vortices and abstract expressionism: easy-breezy inspo for the Russell Maliphant Dance Company (RMDC) then. But definitely not a problem for me. I’ll take experimental over formulaic any day. And this isn't a new trend for the RMDC, as they’ve been taking a similar approach since their 1996 inception. But does experimentation guarantee success? I’d hope it’s more about discovery…and that as we know, can go either way. So fasten your seatbelts!

That uncomfortable feeling when you really want something to be good and it just isn't. That's how the opening night of A Festival Of Korean Dance 2023 (its sixth year) at The Place felt.

I envied the dancers at certain points, repeatedly thinking 'what a mega gig' - getting to work in a troupe of ten and experiencing new commissions as a company. Their commitment levels suggest they aren't taking the opportunity for granted, and that kind of awareness only gives good things. I'm looking forward to the next London tour.

Opening nights tend to be special. So what’s ‘A Gala Celebration’ opening night at the Royal Opera House going to feel like? Spontaneous combustion?! Perhaps from the ticket prices…