L-E-V returns to Sadler’s Wells for the final piece of the Love Cycle trilogy, ‘The Brutal Journey of the Heart’ choreographed by Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar.
The stage is dimly lit to reveal the dancers, dressed in skin-coloured bodysuits, giving the illusion of naked tattooed skin, with a large red heart on the chest, designed by Christian Dior Couture’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri.
Eyal and Behar’s choreography is incredibly stylised, the sharp movements are compelling and a little flirty; as the dancers clutch their throats, gyrate their hips and pulsate in unison. Each dancer (7 in total) expresses themselves individually within the choreography, which almost intensifies the connection between the company.
The music collaborator, Ori Lichtik, has selected a combination of eery and intriguing songs, including a slow rendition of Peter Andre’s ‘Mysterious Girl’, which aids the broken-hearted theme of the performance. To use the word ‘journey’ in the title does seem misleading, as there appears to be no apparent narrative or development in the 55-minute piece. The company are impressive to watch, their versatility from tribal-style movements to entangling in a sticky web of limbs is fascinating at times, but the dynamics do not change throughout the show. The pace stays the same, with no breaks, which is tiring to watch. At times the dark stage gives a cloudy appearance, so each movement is not appreciated or evokes any emotion as it comes across as almost monotonous, with no real ‘ups and downs of love and relationships'.
Review by Hannah Storey
Rating: ★★★
Seat: Stalls F6 | Price of Ticket: £25
