REVIEW: German Cornejo’s Wild Tango at the Peacock Theatre

Argentinian Choreographer German Cornejo’s Wild Tango boasts about an evening of South American culture, enticing them with a night of passion and an ‘explosion’ of tango, contemporary dance, urban, malambo and circus. Inspired by the origins of tango, this show features a mostly male cast (there are only three female dancers out of eleven).

The first act opens with a steamy duo surrounded by dancers in hooded black costumes surrounding them, with a live band – drums, piano, a guitar, accordion and vocalist at the back of the stage, adding to the authenticity of the evening. They take themselves quite seriously, but it is nonetheless feisty. Their costumes appeared somewhat of a hindrance, with hoods slipping down, but the overall atmosphere was electric.

The dances aren’t connected by a narrative or apparent theme, but this is unimportant and does not change the slick transitions between performances. Each one is unique, fast-paced and upbeat. When the aerial is introduced, the dancers create impressive positions while swirling in the air, although not completely in unison. Moments of the performance could be cleaned up for the full WOW factor.

REVIEW: The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre

The classic tale of the Snowman is playing at the Peacock from November to January to bring joy to children and families galore. One morning, a little boy (George Nearn Stuart) wakes up and is delighted to find it is snowing. He builds a snowman who comes to life and becomes his best friend. They traipse through the house and cause chaos, try on clothes, play with toys then fly away to the North Pole. They meet Father Christmas, the Snow Princess and snowmen from all over the world who dance and party with them, until Jack Frost comes to spoil the fun. Once he has been defeated, they fly home for Christmas morning. He wakes up and thinks it is all a dream- his friend has melted- but finds a gift from Santa in his pocket. It is magical, funny and thoughtful.

Ruari Murchison’s set is stunning; you are taken aback as you enter the auditorium and Tim Mitchell’s lighting gives the illusion it is snowing heavily. The semi-circular staging is framed with large, snow-covered trees and large set pieces to build up the boy’s home. There are many scene changes as the Snowman explores the house and flies to the North Pole, the transitions were far too long to black out for and could have been made slicker. At times they were long enough for the audience to wonder if the interval had begun. The costumes are standout- from the fluffy snowmen to the woodland creatures, these have all been beautifully created and are one of the best elements of the show.

REVIEW: Some Like it Hip Hop at the Peacock Theatre

It is quite exhilarating when you go to a dance show and it ends like a rock concert! The atmosphere at Some Like it Hip Hop by the dance theatre company ZooNation is high-energy, with the audience bouncing in their seats, audibly reacting and ending up on their feet for the grand finale.

This show tells the story of a closed city whose governor (Christian Alozie) has blocked out the sun and created a place where books are banned and women are kept subservient to men. The only way for Jo-Jo (Lizzie Gough, also Assistant choreographer and Dance Captain) and Kerri (Saskia Davis) to live in the city and to attempt to prove their worth is to dress up as men. 

There are Shakespearian elements to the story, with a narrator accompanying the audience through rhyme, and the themes of cross-dressing and unrequited love (both between men and women and within families). I was often reminded of “As You Like It”.

REVIEW: Beats on Pointe at the Peacock Theatre

Beats on Pointe: Masters of Choreography is on a 2019 World Tour. The Australian dance team, made up of 13 professional performers, take us on a ‘journey’ through a fusion of Ballet and Hip Hop. There is no narrative to the production, but the merging of styles supposedly represents combining two worlds. 

The evening begins with the ‘host’ encouraging us to follow their Instagram page and rapping. As if this was not a strange enough start, we then had a significant break before the show actually began. Not much of a hype-builder. Disappointingly, the music was deafeningly loud throughout the performance I spent the first few dances painfully adjusting to the sound. Completely spoiled the opening. Beats on Pointe is structurally more similar to a showcase rather than a West End show as there is an erratic combination of styles and themes. The transitions are badly planned; one moment we are watching a contemporary duet and the next a beat-boxer and vocalist have a flirtatious feud. The purpose of the show is lost as they integrate comedy sketches with serious choreography and, although the dancers are talented and versatile, it just doesn’t work. 

REVIEW: New English Ballet Theatre - The Four Seasons / Remembrance at the Peacock Theatre

The New English Ballet Theatre (NEBT) is an exciting young dance company in its 7th season and with the endorsement of Dame Darcey Bussell as patron , you can expect captivating and accessible works from them. For this 100th anniversary of the First World War armistice this November they presented Remembrance with choreography from the acclaimed Wayne Eagling and set to the music of Handel's Ode for St Cecilia's Day. It is simple and beautifully told story of Marie Rambert, the founder of the famous Ballet Rambert, and her husband Ashley Dukes who she meets while he was a soldier on leave in 1917. When he is called back to the battle front the Ballet wonderfully explores the fears of the women left behind through dance.

The set design by Nina Kobiashvili uses a combination of mirrors, windows and projection to set the scenes in a London dance studio, Waterloo station and near the battlefield. These simple settings evocatively add and support the dance performed before them and builds to a moving and appropriate finale of remembrance with fields of poppies and red drapes.