This show is joyous. I am tempted to just write “Perfection” and repeat that word 500 times. London City Ballet present Resurgence at Cambridge Arts Theatre and is an evening of performance that is a privilege to see.
After a gap of nearly 30 years, London City Ballet has returned to the stage with a dazzling cast of dancers who create graceful shapes that make you gasp at the precision and the beauty of what they do.
There are few greater joys in life than seeing people dance to stirring music. You feel you never really heard the music until they painted these pictures for you.
Formed in 1978 by the late Harold King, (he died in 2020) London City Ballet were once resident at Sadler’s Wells. Diana Princess of Wales was their patron. The company closed in 1996 – to national regret.
The show opens with a giant screen showing newspaper reports from the time. Now, three decades on, it has reformed and is touring.
This vibrant show is classical and contemporary ballet with the freshest possible edge – fast, vibrant, inspiring.
The show opens with Larina Waltz, a sparkling traditional ballet (but with zip and zest) to Tchaikovsky’s Larina Waltz from Eugene Onegin.
With the female dancers in glittering white tutus and the men in black, the rapid choreography is by Ashley Page and staging by Ricardo Cervera. It’s magical.
Next is Ballade by Kenneth MacMillan, a chamber work with a cast of four in modern dress. They are all in white with the one female dancer in a 60s style fitted dress and the men in white shirts and jeans.
As the dance opens the four move to sit at a table as if to play cards – then the three men compete for the girl with plenty of graceful lifts. The music is from Faure’s Ballade, staged by Kate Lyons.
Five Dances, choreographed by Arielle Smith, is a modern ballet with a large cast of men and women dressed identically, in either red or blue shorts with a shoulder cloak. They fill the stage with extravagant movement – shapes and lifts.
The music for the five pieces is from John’s Book of Alleged Dances by John Adams. The dances are full of delightful surprises.
The final piece is Eve, evoking the creation in a new retelling. It is extremely moving as Eve, Adam and the Serpent discover each other.
The costumes evoke a primeval time. Eve here is not a sinner but a woman of bravery and curiosity. She bites the apple to gain knowledge. As the dance progresses, other Eves and Adams appear dressed in flesh coloured body suits which at first glance make them seem naked.
There is a beautiful synchronicity to this piece. You feel you are at the beginning of time.
Choreographed by Christopher Marney and staged by Marney and Kate Lyons, who also dances as Eve, the music is by Jennie Muskett.
London City Ballet is at Cambridge Arts Theatre on Thursday, July 24 and Friday, July 25 for evening performances.
See:
https://www.cambridgeartstheatre.com/
