Review: Collabo, Circomedia

Back in April,  Avant Garde Dance founder Tony Adigun held a speed dating-style event in Bristol at which he chose unlikely pairings of dance talent to come together to create new dance hybrids. The results of these collaborations were on show at Circomedia on Saturday night, and goodness me, did they deliver.

Circomedia was packed to the rafters – all seats occupied and queues out the door. Many had come to support friends and family, but the majority had come to witness the kind of dance show that is too rare in Bristol.

Tony acted as MC, guiding us through ten hip hop/contemporary performances in three categories – Collaborations, Interpretations and Special Guests. Special guests Rise Youth Dance were up first with a very professional opening.  Their performance of Luta was layered and smart – contemporary dance peppered with krav maga. These kids are going to go far.

Georgina Disney performed the first interpretation piece (each of whom were challenged to perform to a track composed by Stefano Ade). Gina was stunning, dancing with an ancient Chinese weapon called a rope dart – rarely seen here in the UK but gaining popularity in the US. She was athletic and controlled, a proper showwoman, and used the music perfectly.

Jack Sergison and Mariana Marcelino gave us the first collaboration piece. They first met just eight weeks ago at the speed date event, but in that time came up with a brilliantly subtle piece about potatoes. You rarely see dance comedy, but this had the audience giggling. From alluding to myocilin to recreating the inside of a microwave, this was quirky and innocent fun.

TDM Youth wowed next to an interpretation soundtrack. Such strong powerful stuff from some so young. Totally flawless.

Closing the first half, Bristol Collective – a foursome born out of the speed dating event – provided a seriously good example of a true collaboration. Combining tango, capoeira, tumbling and contemporary dance, Diffusion flowed between disciplines after a lovely opener without any particular ego vying for the spotlight.

After the interval, we were treated to a stunning second half. Ella Mesma introduced it with Papyllon, using silks and poetry to evoke raw emotion. Dressed in nude underwear to allude to vulnerable nakedness, her use of silks was reminiscent of Martha Graham. Performed to Toni Stuart’s poem of poignant truths, it was truly beautiful and thought provoking. (To see more of Ella, head over to Trinity on July 6 for the Roots of Rumba event).

Sara Dos Santos was the second special guest of the evening, performing Journey’s.  Sara and two other women danced beautiful contemporary choreography to deep break beats – in my opinion the best kind of collaboration out there right now, and very on trend. Journey’s was accessible, smart, and totally delicious.

Sublime & House of Lavota may get the prize for having the most fun on stage. Their collaboration performance was gorgeous and dirty – with spoken word moving into amazing break beat locking, then into soft sad songs suggesting different states of mental health. They certainly enjoyed themselves.

Nicole McDowall was the penultimate performer, a dancer who grew up in Avant Garde Dance and has gone on to do a residency in Florida. One of only two solos, this interpretation piece was a sublime example of smooth and elegant locking, performed by a skilled and beautiful dancer who took up the whole floor..

Guests Jukebox Academy treated us to more gritty elegant hip hop, taking us on a Stranger Things journey – kind of Annie and Karate Kid vs the machine. Like TDM Youth and Rise Youth Dance, the audience was left stunned by the talent of these kids, some of whom seem to be missing a few bones.

What a night! If this showcase is a sign of things to come from the collaboration between Circomedia and Avant Garde Dance, I cannot wait to see what’s next.

For upcoming performances at Circomedia, visit www.circomedia.com/pages/events/category/shows