{DANCE} Fringe previews
THE BALLET RUSE Ballerinas swap the barre for the bar
The origins of The Ballet Ruse, by seasoned Irish dancers Muirne Bloomer and Emma O’Kane, are simple. ‘In 2009 we were both single and decided to make a groundbreaking piece about dating,’ remembers Bloomer. But things took a turn in the studio. ‘We began reminiscing about the mad things we got up to as ballet dancers.’ Soon these long-time friends ditched the dating idea in favour of a cheeky autobiographical duet.
‘I suspect we’ve created a new form,’ says Bloomer, ‘a melange of classical ballet, physical theatre, comedy, text and ballet mime.’ Accompanied by music ranging from Swan Lake to Lady Gaga, the performance has been described as funny and sexy. ‘Sexy?’ O’Kane repeats. ‘You tell me. We’re still single.’ It’s also been deemed thought-provoking, and this time,
L A V I T S E F
Bloomer concurs. ‘It’s certainly left many an audience member wondering how we can keep dancing after knocking back those pints.’ Both women are experienced performers who share an acute sense of humour. ‘Let’s just say we’ve been there, done that and got the tutu,’ says Bloomer. Their work, O’Kane stresses, is not a ballet parody. ‘It goes deeper and darker than that.’ Perhaps Bloomer sums it up best: ‘It’s for everyone whose hopes and dreams didn’t turn out exactly as planned but perfectly as destined.’ (Donald Hutera) ■ Dance Base, 225 5525, 6–21 Aug, (not 8, 15), times vary, £7. Preview 5 Aug, 5pm, £5.
For even more Festival reviews see list.co.uk/festival
46 THE LIST 4–11 Aug 2011
ROCK THE BALLET Ballet gets a rock and pop makeover
If the word ballet leads you to thoughts of starched white tutus and tight buns, then Rock the Ballet is here to disabuse you of that notion. For although there will indeed be tight buns on stage, they’re considerably lower down than your average prima ballerina’s. Founded by US ballet star Rasta Thomas, the Bad
Boys of Dance are a group of honed-to-perfection dancers able to turn their hands, and feet, to any number of styles. As well as classical ballet, Rock the Ballet also features hip hop, tap, contemporary, musical theatre and gymnastics. ‘Everybody has to come to the table already able to
do multiple dance styles and able to be moulded,’ explains dancer Shane Ohmer, who recently took over from Thomas in the lead role. ‘Because once you join the show, there’s always a growth – we all teach each other new things.’ Set to a soundtrack of rock and pop classics by
Michael Jackson, Queen and Prince among others, the show is billed as pure entertainment – and not just for the audience. ‘I’ve never enjoyed anything more,’ says Ohmer. ‘Even when I’m not performing in it, I’m in the audience. The show is extremely athletic and a lot of fun. It’s all about entertainment and bringing the best of the best from America.’ (Kelly Apter) ■ Assembly Hall, 623 3030, 6–28 Aug (not 8, 15, 22), 6pm, £16–£20 (£14–£18). Previews 4 & 5 Aug, £10.
AGNES AND WALTER (A LITTLE LOVE STORY) Reclaiming the power of daydreams
Since The Secret Life was published in the 1930s, the name ‘Walter Mitty’ has become synonymous with deranged fantasising. Smith dancetheatre has decided to reassess the dreamer.
‘Something in the story struck a chord with me as a schoolboy,’ says Neil Paris, artistic director of the company. ‘Children are always being told to “wake up” or “snap out of it”, but the ability to daydream is a vital part of creativity.’ Paris has also reinterpreted the relationship between Walter and his traditionally naggy wife Agnes; the company describes the work as ‘a love song to long-term commitment’. Casting has been purposefully cross-generational,
with dancers ranging in age from 28–78. ‘Any physical restrictions the older dancers might have provided us with opportunities to develop unexpected movement vocabularies,’ says Paris. ‘Discussing these ideas with a friend whose parent is developing Alzheimer’s, we realised that the focus on Walter’s fantasies actually parallels those shifts of memory and perception that come with age, too.’ (Kirstin Innes) ■ Zoo Southside, 662 6892, 5–13 Aug (not 10), 2pm, £10 (£8).