UCLU Dance Triple Bill Showcase
LOUISE FARNALL REVIEWS DANCE SOCIETY’S TRIPLE BILL SHOWCASE
In a successful move to promote inclusivity in Dance Society, the Triple Bill Showcase was an opportunity to view all its members, from those who have always loved dance to those who have always wanted to give it a try. The Quad Marquee was suitably full for the event, with a generally supportive atmosphere, in particular from the parents in the audience.
As ever, Dance Society put on a wide range of dances, from Ballet to Street. My favourites in terms of style, skill and performance were the Advanced Jazz numbers, choreographed by Nicole De Silva and Rosie Pegge, the Alumni dances, collaboratively choreographed Contemporary and Hip Hop routines, and the Break routine, choreographed by Dima Richter. Break in particular was both amusing and impressive as the final dance of the night, with the dancers executing an almost slapstick comedy routine about going on holiday. The Contemporary routines in general were very strong, and as someone who has always found tap challenging I must also give commendation to the Beginners Tap, choreographed by Immy Weatherhead, which was well performed with bright smiles and good timing. One stand out performer from the Hip Hop routines was beginner Evangelos Katsarelis, who certainly didn’t look like a beginner and stood out in both dances. The guest performance from Hampstead School was a nice diversion, and an insight into the many things Dance Society does outside of performing.
Although the majority of dances were very entertaining, in certain numbers there were a few minor issues with timing and performance, which can almost certainly be attributed to nerves. Some of the beginner dances required a little more energy and conviction to make the audience forget that they were still ‘in training’, and smiles were often lost to looks of concentration. However, in a show so inclusive of skill, a large cast, and being rehearsed alongside a Bloomsbury show, these slip ups were forgivable and the dancers who are still learning did a very good job on the whole. Technically the show was not perfect, with a few sound and lighting issues, but the dancers never let this faze them and performances never suffered. The space in the marquee was well used, although I did feel like the stage was a little too wide with not enough depth.
Criticisms aside, the evening was enjoyable and I found it a refreshing and fun performance, including many previously unseen dancers and showcasing the up and coming talent that may well be the future of Dance Society.
★★★