TAEKWON ‘DIAMOND’ Sparks fly too late .0.
Martial arts and dance make a compelling partnership. but unfortunately as this show's title suggests. Taekwon 'diamond' are suffering from a minor identity criSis. Opening With urban. industrial sounds. a powerful seguence moved into a peaceful. spiritual piece. which moved into a New York street scene. a 'hip pop' 8 Club style routine. and a clowning double act. While impressive in its variety. the show never really took off until finally in the last scene. the visual. rhythmic. dance martial art potential came alive. Fighting with great big fans like warring. provocative peacocks '3 spark was ignited. It's a shame it came so late in the day. (Ruth Hedges)
I Gilded Balloon Teviot. 226 275 7. until 26 Aug (not 12. 79). 7pm. £94310 (EB—E9).
PIANO & FORTE
Warming continental comedy 0.0
If you ever wondered what it's like to have a grand piano as a toy. this delightful. continental comedy is for you. Performed by the friendliest clown imaginable. we see his development from birth to toddler to adulthood. but always in relation to his instrument. Versatile piano becomes pram. a Citroen car. even a slide for a skiing penguin!
Olli Hauenstein does little bits of everything — magic. slapstick.
acrobatics and piano— playing. His plate— spinning is an absolute wow and his charm and exquisite artistry warms the audience. But the production needs more Visuals. more moments of incredible theatrical magic and COuId benefit from some serious editing.
(John Binnie)
I Theatre Workshop. Hamilton Place. 226 5425. until 24 Aug (not 72. 79) times vary. 5T9 (£7).
PAINTING WITH COLOUR
Energy with conviction 0..
Four dynamic young performers throw themselves with abandon abOut a stage. empty apart from a white canvas. paints and a steel chair. This devised movement piece. directed by Evanthia Katsouraki fuses painting. movement. acrobatics. and emotional acting. The narrative is unclear. yet the company's conviction. energy and sheer talent keeps you marvelled and entertained. Particular highlights are a female artist sensually painting onto a naked male torso and two women fighting for their right to kiss. The Bob Fosse seduction juggling routine. brilliantly executed by Kareh Pahnamsa. feels too show-stOpping. and not part of the whole. The show ends abruptly. but is impressive nonetheless. (John Binniei. I P/easance. 5:36 (5500. until 18 Aug. 72.50pm. £77 43:3).
"Prepare for the
LUMINOUS
Stuart Jackson lights up the International Festival
He may not be able to see it, but light has become an integral part in Stuart Jackson’s life. Blind from birth, the teenager uses sense and touch, rather than sight, to interact with the world. And now, thanks to the creative vision of Saburo Teshigawara, he’s using it to perform on stage, in the Japanese choreographer’s dazzling new show, Luminous. The two men first hooked up when Jackson took part in a series of dance workshops for young Londoners. So impressed was Teshigawara by Jackson’s purity of movement, he invited him to join his company, KARAS, and just two years after taking his first dance steps, Jackson is performing at the Edinburgh International Festival. ‘Stuart’s life changed a lot after he met dance,’ says Teshigawara. ‘Through dance, his sense of space grew wider, and it has the possibility to develop and expand even more.’
A two-part show of solos, duets and group pieces, Luminous is a celebration of light and movement — a coming together of innovative choreography and phosphorescent wizardry. Remarkably, during their Mozart-accompanied duet, Teshigawara and Jackson never touch, simply occupying what the choreographer describes as ‘shared air’.
‘The basis of my dance method is the relation between the body and air,’ he explains. ‘All kinds of rhythm and form arise from the air surrounding our bodies - I call it the dance of air, and in a way it’s closer to music.’ When Teshigawara formed KARAS in 1985, he embarked on what he calls ‘a journey towards a new form of beauty’. It would seem that his relationship with Jackson has helped him further along the path. (Kelly Apter)
I Edinburgh Playhouse. 475’ 2000. Mon 1.” -l'./eu' 7.! Aug. /'..’)’();)ri;. 5‘5) 5‘.”.’>.
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