Tright here’s an irony, after all, in a bit about English identification that’s made by an Israeli choreographer, with a forged from Taiwan, Iceland, Belgium and elsewhere, simply two Britons amongst them. Shechter II is the youthful department of Hofesh Shechter’s firm, all latest graduates (superlatively proficient, evidently). Having newly taken up residence right here they’re getting a crash course in English cultural research. Will it make them wish to get the primary flight residence?
Shechter, to be truthful, moved to the UK 20 years in the past, so he’s had loads of time to look at the contradictions of the nation along with his vital eye. His dance language should be strongly influenced by his time with Batsheva Dance Firm in Israel, however you’ll be able to’t say he hasn’t totally absorbed the topic at hand.
The eight dancers seem dressed at school uniforms, with blazers and ties, and rousing Elgar blasting by the audio system. That is the inexperienced and nice land of private-school self-assurance, however, by the top, these identical college students look totally misplaced. In between, there’s a list of photos and sounds – typically so fleeting you’re unsure if you happen to imagined it: punk rock rebel and raving, the royal wave, heavy rain, clay pigeon taking pictures, soccer hooligans, Hogarthian depravity, the battle wounded, Purcell and Tallis, the clattering of a china teacup (extra like an entire tea store crashing down, truly. There goes the empire …)
The motion has slo-mo curves that slink and slurp, then sudden shocks rocking the dancers’ our bodies. There’s precision management after which the neat seams torn aside; the attribute English restraint and absolutely the bloody violence of historical past. Shechter’s nice at sudden moments of stress or suspense, he embraces theatricality (at all times the dry ice, the dramatic mild). There’s utter seriousness, there’s humour, and typically you’re unsure which – his work is wily like that, courtroom jesterish.
In the event you’ve seen quite a lot of Shechter’s dance earlier than, this all may really feel acquainted, however he nonetheless has one thing to say, and he may be delicate in addition to blunt about it. From England With Love is the work of a satirical agitator, nonetheless offended on the world, indoctrinating his new recruits.
