N.Y.I.D.E. news • May 3, 2008

Fairfields Arts Centre, Basingstoke, England

Review of Visit by NYIDE as part of the International Dance Day, 3rd of May, 2008

Here in the UK, and I am genuinely very sorry to have to say this, we are not too keen on America at the moment. Don't get me wrong; we absolutely really love the American people. And your TV shows and your music, etc. But with our homes falling in value by some $3,000 dollars a month, due to the global recession caused by US sub prime bank lending, and with us being bombed in the streets in London by Muslim terrorists, due to our former Prime Minister's poodle-like following of George Bush's policies in Iraq, I guess you can see the problem we have. (I should say that this is my personal opinion, not that of the organization for whom I work, which, of course, has no opinions on this matter.)

However, in working with Lorienne Beals and Sean McLeod, President of the New York Institute of Dance and Eucation, we saw another side of America first hand. We saw the side that shows why America is a great country with great people who do great things.

And these two individuals' enthusiasm, talent, passion, hard work, dedication, confidence, boundless self-belief, can-do and will-do attitude, and love for what they do, is a shining example and reminder to us in Europe about what is good about America.

And this is just as people to work with. This attitude also clearly communicated in their artistic work. We are very privileged to have three pieces by dancers from their company, called Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre, including a number of premieres, performed in our international showcase. And, I have to say, America came out very well.

In watching "L'Equilibre (Balance)" by the Company Director Sean McLeod, in this international programme with dance from so many different continents, it struck me as being quintessentially American. It is absolutely free in its expression. In watching Lorienne Beals' powerful and empathic performance, she just has to go for it, and go for it she did. Just like Jimi Hendrix playing "The Star Spangled Banner" where he is just on the controlling edge of uncontrollable feedback, in order to create a work of great and wild beauty, the second half of this piece too has this wild sense of unleashed forces, with the dancer buffeted and blown wildly about the stage, to the point where you really wonder is the dancer dancing the dance, or the dance dancing the dancer.

Sean McLeod's "Strength of Women" performed by UK based Brazilian dancer Paula Conduit and Lorienne Beals, is just an absolutely lovely piece. It is very well made, well performed, and is a very accessible and enjoyable synthesis of ballet and contemporary styles, with a flavour of African movement. Many of these crossover style pieces just don't usually work - but this is how you do it, and this is how you do it very well indeed. In fact, we liked this piece so much, we are in discussion with NYIDE about touring it in the UK.

However, it was in Sean McLeod's own performance of his own work, "Cherchant Ma Voix," that one could particularly see the ethos of the company and their work. Sean McLeod immediately takes command of the stage, and his powerful presence and soulful performance grabbed the audience's attention from the start. Sean McLeod knows exactly how to communicate with his audience, and his emotional interpretation, bravura leaps, and innate showmanship, had them eating out of his hand.

I am sorry to say that a lot of UK contemporary, and particularly "new" dance is quite arid, sterile, and suffers from a pseudo intellectualism in its approach that does not compensate in any way at all for the lack of any meaningful dance content. And while these works of Kaleidoscope may not be as avantgarde as some European contemporary dance, this visit by them reminded me of the absolute sheer joy of seeing good work very well performed by good dancers. And who could ask for more than that? In fact, if many of the UK contemporary and "new" dance companies I see had even half the passion, technique, and joy that NYIDE have, then contemporary dance in the UK would be in a much better place, and would be more popular with its audiences.

Lorienne Beals and Sean McLeod of NYIDE have earned my respect, both on and off the stage. I look forward to working with them and seeing them perform again a great deal.

Andrew Buchanan, Centre Director
Fairfields Arts Centre

Click here to see the Sean McLeod Dance Experience
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